For a long time, Texas 6+ remained in the shadow of other poker disciplines. However, in 2019, several tournaments in this format were held as part of the WSOP series, after which poker rooms began actively adding it to the list of supported poker variations. Thanks to this, today Texas 6+ is available in almost all online rooms and enjoys great popularity.
Rules of the Game
The main feature of this discipline is the use of a short deck for dealing cards. It does not include cards from deuce to five, inclusive, and is played with a deck of 36 cards. This imposes restrictions on the maximum number of participants at the table: no more than 6 people can play simultaneously.
Another feature of this discipline is the presence of antes. All participants in the hand are required to make mandatory bets. In addition, the player on the button also posts a larger blind. These bets form the initial pot.
Next, the game of Texas 6+ follows classic rules, which include the following stages:
Preflop: Participants receive two hole cards, which are dealt face down and not visible to opponents.
Flop: Three community cards are revealed on the board, visible to all participants. Players use them to form their poker hands.
Turn: An additional community card is revealed on the board.
River: The final fifth card is placed on the board.
Each stage is accompanied by a round of betting, where participants announce their decisions regarding further play. They can call the big blind, raise an opponent's bet (raise), make an equivalent contribution to the pot (call), or fold their cards. Starting from the flop, players can also check, passing the action to the next player without adding money to the pot.
Each betting round continues until the highest bet is called by all opponents. If someone refuses to call it, they must fold. When all opponents fold in response to an opponent's raise, that player wins the pot.
If, at the end of the river betting round, there are two or more players left in the game, the final stage begins—the showdown. During this phase, participants compare their combinations, and the player with the highest-ranking hand wins the entire pot.
Combinations in Texas 6+
Combinations in Texas 6+ are formed according to classic poker rules (with the exception of the lowest straight). However, the ranking of some of these combinations differs from the traditional hierarchy. This is due to the absence of low-value cards in the deck, which changes the probabilities of getting certain combinations.
Here are some key features:
The lowest straight is formed by the cards A-6-7-8-9.
A flush beats a full house.
A straight is lower in rank than a three-of-a-kind (set).
To better understand how combinations are formed and their rankings, here is a table:
Recommendations for Choosing a Strategy
When playing Texas 6+, it's not advisable to use traditional Hold'em strategies as they are ineffective due to different probabilities for combinations. You need a different approach. Your preflop strategy should be based on the following principles:
Always enter the game with Jacks or higher pairs, high Broadway cards A–J+, K–Q.
If one of your opponents raises, you should fold any pairs lower than tens.
You can play offsuit connected cards from 7–6.
It's acceptable to call with suited connectors regardless of their value.
It's better to fold offsuit connectors with Aces and weaker starting hands.
On the flop, it's crucial to choose the right bet sizes. Raises should be higher than what's typical in Texas Hold'em, meaning you should raise the size of the pot or 5–7 big blinds (BB). Avoid 3-betting as it's highly risky and commits a significant portion of your stack to the pot.
Limping from middle or late positions is not recommended. You should always announce raises, even if there are aggressive players at the table. Limping can be viable only from the two earliest positions when you have strong starting hands.
Differences Between Texas 6+ and Other Poker Variants
The primary difference in this discipline is the use of a short deck. This leads to changes in the ranking of certain combinations and the formation of the lowest straight. Additionally, players post antes instead of traditional blinds. There are no other significant differences between Texas 6+ and Hold'em. When comparing it to Omaha, the difference lies in the number of pocket cards, with Texas 6+ having four instead of two.
Where to Play Texas 6+ Online
Over the past few years, Texas 6+ has become a highly sought-after poker discipline. As a result, enthusiasts of this game have no trouble finding places to play – there are plenty of options available.
Against Real Opponents
The most exciting way to play is against real people. To do this, you should register at one of the poker rooms. For example, you can play on "Pokerdom," which offers both free tables and tables with real-money stakes, freerolls, and low buy-in multi-table tournaments (MTTs).
Against a Computer
Another option is playing against a computer. In this case, you'll be facing bots as opponents, and the stakes are always in play money chips – you cannot win real money.
This format usually involves downloading an application. You can find it on developer websites or torrents. After installing the software, you can choose the difficulty level, the number of bots, and start playing.
With a Friend
You can also play Texas 6+ with a friend. One option is to gather at home, purchase a deck of cards and some chips, and play in person. An alternative to this format is online play. You can download the "Pokerdom" app and create a private table to invite your friend to join.
Limits and Other Features
In large online poker rooms, the blinds for Texas 6+ tables start at $0.02 and can go up to $200. In less popular rooms, the maximum limit for cash tables usually doesn't exceed $10.
There are also restrictions on buy-in sizes. At the lowest limits, they are usually around $2–$3, while at higher stakes, they can reach $2000–$3000.
How to Download Texas 6+
Playing poker through a downloadable application is more convenient. Poker rooms typically provide these applications for free. The download process is straightforward, and here's how you can do it, using "Pokerdom" as an example:
1. Go to the official website of the poker room.
2. In the side menu, select the "Poker" section.
3. On the page that opens, click on the "Download" button.
4. Confirm the download.
5. Find the downloaded file on your computer.
6. Double-click it to run the installation.
7. In the program window, click the "Install" button and wait for the process to complete.
How to Start Playing Texas 6+ for Beginners
To play in poker rooms, you need to have an account. To create one, you'll need to go through a registration process. In "Pokerdom," this process is straightforward and involves the following steps:
1. Open the poker room's website.
2. At the top of the interface, click the "Registration" button.
3. Provide your email address.
4. Create a password.
5. Choose your preferred account currency.
6. Specify your country of residence.
7. Click the "Create Account" button.
If you have a social media profile, you can also log in to "Pokerdom" using it. Supported platforms include Odnoklassniki, VKontakte, Google+, Facebook, and others.
After registration, you should log in to the poker client you installed earlier. This will give you access to all the cash tables and tournaments in the room. To play for real money, make a deposit. To do this, go to the app's lobby, click the "Deposit" button, choose your preferred payment method, specify the amount, and confirm the transaction.
Poker Training for Texas 6+
Poker is a skill-based game, and Texas 6+ is no exception. To succeed in it, it's not enough to know the rules and basic strategy principles. You need a deeper understanding of the game, which is why it's recommended to undergo poker training.
For Beginners
Beginner players are recommended to take the basic poker course. You can gain free access to it through the "Pokerdom" online school. There, you can learn not only the basics of cash games but also tournament play, as well as receive starting hand charts and tables with mathematical calculations.
For Professionals
Experienced players are advised to take a paid course on one of the online training platforms. During this course, you can learn about all the effective techniques for Texas 6+, master author's strategies, delve into advanced mathematical calculations, and explore tools for poker psychology. You can also take some individual lessons where a coach will analyze hand histories and MTT statistics, offering advice for improving your game.
Both beginners and pros should also consider watching video-on-demand (VODs), reading books, and exploring articles on free websites. This will allow you to gain even more insights into the nuances of Texas 6+ and achieve better results in your games.
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