9 handed v 6 handed NHLE

crikygeorge

crikygeorge

Rising Star
Bronze Level
Joined
Aug 16, 2010
Total posts
7
Chips
0
Hi Guys I'm reasonably new to poker and have mainly stuck to the full ring games online, because they seem more novice friendly. Apart from expanding your hand ranges what other adjustments need to made for going from full ring games to shorthanded games? What are the benefits if any are there in shorthanded ring games.
 
forsakenone

forsakenone

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Nov 24, 2009
Total posts
1,385
Chips
0
the upside (or downside) of short handed poker is that you can't wait for premium hands, you have to play more hands, make more moves in position, play weaker hands and play them tricky.

basically there is not much room for waiting, if you wait for your top 10% hands you will get blinded off, plus people will pick up on it and just fold a worst hand when you raise preflop.
 
nc_royals

nc_royals

Visionary
Silver Level
Joined
Sep 20, 2007
Total posts
701
Chips
0
IMO, If youre new to poker then I'd suggest 9 person tables. You can play better cards, be paitent and basically learn your game at a much easier pace. I also find the 6 handed to have better players.
 
B

Bovinity

Visionary
Silver Level
Joined
Jun 16, 2009
Total posts
526
Chips
0
One thing about full ring tables that I've noticed - even though I don't enjoy them much - is that they're the "default" table style and newer/inexperienced players tend to stick to the default stuff.

Me, I usually can't stand full ring. It's just so slooooow and I feel like I have to play a lot tighter.
 
Astralio

Astralio

Rising Star
Bronze Level
Joined
Sep 2, 2010
Total posts
2
Chips
0
There's a bigger variance in 6max and as sayed before you can't just sit and wait for monsters 'cause any good player will recognize a nit and starts to exploit that.Also 6max requires better postflop skills and the game is more aggressive and tricky.But if you can handle this then 6max means a lot of $$$
 
psy0nyd3

psy0nyd3

Visionary
Silver Level
Joined
Apr 20, 2010
Total posts
929
Awards
1
Chips
31
You just have to play each and see what you like. I personally have never ever done well at full ring tables. I dont know what it is. I must have a naturally aggressive style because play at 6-max is much more comfortable for me.
 
ukaliks

ukaliks

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Nov 22, 2007
Total posts
1,292
Awards
1
Chips
0
Really depends on your style or which one your comfortable in.
Both are good.
Since your new to poker learn, learn and learn some more on here (try watching some videos) on how to get better. Play full ring mate. It's good way to start off.
 
c9h13no3

c9h13no3

Is drawing with AK
Silver Level
Joined
Jan 2, 2007
Total posts
8,819
Chips
0
Apart from expanding your hand ranges what other adjustments need to made for going from full ring games to shorthanded games?
Nothing really. If you're playing full ring correctly, much of it will be the same. You can just be a bit looser when isolating early position limpers playing 6-max, because you don't have as many players behind you. Otherwise, your steal position & blind ranges will be roughly the same.
What are the benefits if any are there in shorthanded ring games.
Fish are put in situations where they will make errors more often. And there are less players at the table, so you don't have to worry very much about other opponents messing with you while you're trying to stack the fishes. If the table is 4-5 handed, you'll pay less rake. You will be dealt more hands per hour playing 6-max, and thus you will gain reads on the players at the table faster. Most experienced players eventually move to 6-max (or 4-max, or heads up) for these reasons.

Full Ring is about playing hands against the whole field, while 6-max is mostly about isolating fish, and button vs. blind situations.

If you're new to poker, Full Ring might be a bit easier. But seriously, its just three less people at the table and its still the same game. Its not like you're switching to Limit Omaha 8 or Better, or anything like that.
 
Last edited:
Hambone8705

Hambone8705

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Aug 23, 2008
Total posts
136
Chips
0
The absolutely simplest way to look at this is: If you were to just deal all of the cards face up, at a full table you would win about 1 in 9. If your at a 6 max table you would win about 1 in 6. If you were to assume everybody else at the table has figured this out too (Im sure just about everybody has) It changes it a bit further. This is preschool stuff but its a good first step.
 
tarinoidenkertoja

tarinoidenkertoja

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Jun 15, 2010
Total posts
38
Chips
0
Technically i think that it s easier to exploit a fish in a 6max, considering that he s probably more willing to call even more considering fewer opponents and the 6 handed game itself. And it s easier to control the pot
 
blueskies

blueskies

Legend
Loyaler
Joined
Jan 31, 2009
Total posts
3,643
Awards
9
Chips
304
I only play six max ring. Much easier to win. I’ve tried the 9 player tables. I feel like I can’t steal blinds cuz there are always multiple limpers in front of me so I need to wait for a real premium hand to raise it up and raising in early position is iffy too because so many people still have to act behind you. Much easier to isolate at 6 hand tables as well and less likelihood of running into a bigger hand. Besides, 9 player tables are boring.

Go to Carbon Poker. The 6 handed tables there routinely have player to flop seen percentages of 50%-70%. Easy pickings.
 
S

swingro

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Jan 13, 2010
Total posts
1,634
Chips
0
The difference is that at 6 max you do not have the UTG positions. So if you are a 6 max player of all the books that you read you can cut the parts talking about early position play and what players in early positions might have.
 
Starting Hands - Poker Hand Nicknames Rankings - Poker Hands
Top