What Cards are Missing in Short Deck Poker?
The cards missing in Short Deck Poker are all the 2s, 3s, 4s, and 5s leaving the deck with only 36 cards. This means only 6s up to Aces are used to play this poker variant. Aces count both as highs and lows, like in Texas Hold’em poker.
Short Deck Poker, also known as Short Deck Hold’em, is a new variation of Texas Hold’em, only it is played with fewer cards. The game also follows Texas Hold’em poker rules.
How to Play Short Deck Poker
Due to the cards missing in Short Deck poker, this variant is more fast-paced, which is why it has gained much popularity. Only up to five players can play this poker round.
Short Deck poker is often played as a no-limit betting game but can also be played as a fixed-limit pot game.
- Short Deck poker uses an ante betting structure.
- Every player posts an ante, and the first player on the left of the dealer posts the bring-in bet after the dealer has dealt two cards to each player.
- This player can call, raise or fold.
- The betting round continues clockwise.
- The game then advances to the turn, and another betting round unfolds.
- The dealer then deals the fourth street and then fifth street.
- The remaining players post the river will then reveal their cards at the showdown, and the player with the best hand wins.
Short Deck Poker Hand Rankings
Since there are missing cards in Short Deck poker, the hand ranking differs from regular Texas Hold’em Poker. The lowest possible straight in Short Deck poker is A, 6, 7, 8, and 9. However, the hands are ranked similarly to that of Texas Hold’em.
There are some casinos where the hand rankings are slightly altered. In these Short Deck poker games, three-of-a-kind beats straight and flush beats a full house. Such casinos have employed these hand rankings because the cards missing in Short Deck poker alter hand probabilities. It is a standard poker rule to have hands with lower probabilities ranked higher than those with lower probabilities.
Short Deck Poker Hand Rankings Vs Standard Texas Hold’em Hands
As stated, in some casinos, Short Deck poker hand rankings vary from standard Texas Hold’em poker hand rankings. These are the hands ranking comparisons from best to worst:
Short Deck Poker | Standard Texas Hold’em |
Royal Flush | Royal Flush |
Straight Flush | Straight Flush |
Four of a Kind | Four of a Kind |
Flush | Full House |
Full House | Flush |
Three of a Kind | Straight |
Straight | Three of a Kind |
Two Pair | Two Pair |
One Pair | One Pair |
High Card | High Card |
Cards Missing in Short Deck Poker – Conclusion
Short Deck Poker is a fun and fast-paced variation of Texas Hold’em. The game is played with the same rules as Texas Hold’em, but this game uses an ante betting structure and is typically played as a no-limit betting game.
The missing cards in Short Deck poker make the hand rankings differ slightly from standard Texas Hold’em. Whether you’re a seasoned poker player or just looking to try something new, Short Deck Poker is definitely worth a shot!