Playing short-handed

hi, I play most Monday nights in a jackpot game, and we usually have 10 at the table with $20 buy in winner take all and 2nd to get the stake back. I usually do quite well and come 1st or 2nd most of the time. Recently however with the summer coming in we have a table of 4-6, and I find that im being blinded out of it waiting for my starting hands.
I know i need to play more aggressively and loosen up my starting hands a bit, can anyone give me advice on starting hands for a short handed game with 5 players for example.

Well with 5 players a high piar such as kings queens are good hands to play aces are strong hand... Two piar isa hand you might get 3 times only playing wiht 5 so thats hand to play...Pocket piar you should play agressivly otherwise stright flush and full boats are rare in 5 player game with proably 3 or 4 seeing the flop...

You have to play more aggresively as the number of players goes down because the odds that you do in fact have the best hand increase. You can afford to see more flops and play more hands becuase more often than before you are going to win these hands just because there are fewer competing hands. Doesn't mean you should go and play a 7 2 os but low pairs, connectors, ace high, become much stronger hands when playing short handed

You have to ask yourself, are the other 4 or 5 players getting better hands than you every time? The answer is probably no. Just play cautious then hit them with a huge raise, if they think you are only playing strong hands, they wont get involved. You will lose your blinds otherwise

Stealing blinds is so important and with so few people at the table, try to take advantage with the BB and SB, its already cost them the blinds, do they really wanna pay 3x or 4x the BB to see the flop with a weak hand?

I doubt it

short table i would be more aggressive if u loose a couple of times getting called with nice trash youll make it back when they call your aces

my suggestion is to play aggresive after the flop if you hit anything. You can start with just one high card

play your normal hands and then add in small pocket pairs with larger raises and suited connecters are more effective in a shorthanded game.

why play aggressive if u hit anything? u can bluff alot more in shorthanded games as well, as you get worse hands they propably get worse hands as well, I'd say u make alot more bluff! But that's just me :P

i agree very strongly with one big blue show them some trash in smaller pots then whip out the nuts for the big one

I agree with the advertising your junk hands for a later set-up..advertise that with a pronounced or exaggerated betting style and then change that gear(tone it down) acting like you have nothing....when you have a strong one...so basically try and give them a mindphuck by using your tone..betting voice..or..body language....BUt always always ..keep the pressure on the other guy....big bets......because if you do an analysis of most hands head to head (preflop) there are a ton of coin flip possibilities ...its then on the player to say yes or no

Okay, short handed starting hands I like-

AA-TT, AKo or suited, KQ QJ suited from anywhere for a standard raise.
99-66, KQ QJ JT off or suited, T9 98 suited limp from anywhere (if opp is somewhat weak), standard raise from button or blinds.
Limp ANYTHING from button, raise anything from button if folded to you.
Fold to aggression without one of the listed hands.
Remember, as always, mix up your action from time to time and that the situation is always variable. <--I know the last was supremely helpful, but what can I say?

FWIW (which may not be much)

Really? a straight flush and pocket kings are good hands to play in 5 player games? That explains why i lose so much...I always fold those

How high a straight flush?

Thanks very much guys for all the ideas, we do have one VERY aggressive player at our game, and since the game has become short handed he is doing extremly well, he seems to have a magical river, hit his straight against my set last week. Raised my 5xBB bet with 56 suited and beat my KK. What can you say. Have to put these ideas into use.

I love playing short handed games, because it loosens up my game a bit. You have more room to try hands that you may fold in a bigger tourney, with the intent of lasting longer in the game. With just a few playing, you can't wait around for the stellar hands; you need to use your betting and/or bluffing skills to help you along as well.

Remember that you don't always have to have the best hand in Hold 'Em to win! The bluff or semi-bluff is very much a part of the game! While of course, you don't want to play an 8/3 or 7/2 or some such hand, if you wait around for "good" cards, they may never come.
Remember, Aces and faces are not the only cards in the deck. How many times have you put a big stake on AK and 4 7 2 or some such comes up on the flop with a couple more low cards on the flop and turn? Sometimes it behooves you to mix up your play a bit, so that your opponents have a hard time figuring out where you are coming from, and have not be able to read you very well.

Also, remember to watch the other players at the table and take note...it will help you make decisions later on in play on how to act.