Online Poker Tips: Short Table Mistakes

Online Poker, Short Tables
January 2 2009

Short table Holdem games are very popular online. Every setting has its own strategy, and short tables present different opportunities than a full ring game would. With fewer hands in play, weaker hands take on more value, so aggression tends to elevate. Most players today try to employ aggressive tactics, and this poker setting is a better structure for an aggressive player.

The most common short table mistake you can make is not to realize that hand values have gone up. You don’t want to sit and wait for pocket aces at a short table because the blinds will deplete your stack at a higher rate. Plays like raising with hands like K-Q or A-10 from late positions will be commonplace at a short-handed table.

Many players think that because hand values have gone up it’s ok to slow-play big hands pre-flop. Limping in with a big pair is another mistake that you’ll often see at a short table. This type of play allows too many other players to enter the hand, greatly reducing the winning percentage of your big pair.

Opponents will be expecting pre-flop raises anyway; you might as well get value on your big starting cards if you’re going to get the action. By raising the big pair you’ll at least lessen the number of opponents in the hand, and keep your odds of winning to a high percentage.

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