Online poker giant PokerStars has withdrawn 6+ Hold’em Spin & Gos from its game offerings, PRO understands. As per player reports, the game was removed from the PokerStars client over the weekend, presumably due to lack of popularity. The operator is still offering Short Deck in cash game and tournament formats. Jan 15, 2019 PokerStars has launched its long-awaited new game, called 6+, its version of the game known as Short Deck Poker or Six Plus Hold’em. The game is now live in Denmark, Estonia and for free-play on the dot-net client, pokerfuse can exclusively reveal.
PokerStars launches 6+ Hold’em 6+ PokerStars. PokerStars has been the latest major poker room to adopt 6+, bringing the game into its list of game options in the past week. It remains unclear whether the addition is temporary or long-term, but for now there are currently a good number of tables running. Rules of 6+ Hold’em. In PokerStars’ version of Six Plus Hold’em, instead of the traditional “small blind” and “big blind”, the game uses a “button blind” structure meaning every player on the table pays an ante. Available in cash games, exclusively at PokerStars, 6+ Hold’em is your chance to play an action-packed variant loved by high-stakes players around the world.
The world’s leading online poker site, PokerStars has finally launched its own version of the exciting new variant 6+ Hold’em (also known as Short Deck Poker)—a game that has taken the poker industry by storm.
6+ is the operator’s fifth new cash game variant since 2018 and the first this year. It follows PokerStars Fusion, an innovative variant that blended the elements of Texas Hold’em and Omaha into a single variant. Fusion was recently withdrawn from the client after running for more than two months.
PokerStars’ 6+ Hold’em rolled out in Denmark, Estonia and in the play-money client (on the dot-net site) on January 15. It launched in the UK, Sweden, and on the global dot-com and dot-EU player pools on January 16.
How is PokerStars 6+ Holdem Played?
6+ is quite easy to learn as the game is played quite similarly to traditional Texas Hold’em except with a stripped down deck. All the cards lower than Six are removed from the deck to make it a 36-card deck instead of the usual 52. Because the low cards are removed, players are more likely to get dealt premium hands and hence this makes the game more of an action-oriented game.
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Rules of 6+ Hold’em
In PokerStars’ version of Six Plus Hold’em, instead of the traditional “small blind” and “big blind”, the game uses a “button blind” structure meaning every player on the table pays an ante while the player on the Button not only pays the ante but also pays a blind equivalent to the size of the ante. The same structure is also followed in the high stakes Triton Poker Series.
As in Hold’em, the action starts with the player seated to the left of the button. Each round then plays out according to standard Texas Hold’em rules, with pre-flop, flop, turn and river betting rounds.
Aces are played both low and high just like in traditional Hold’em, but in 6+ Aces can also play as Fives when making a straight. The lowest straight is A6789 and the highest straight is TJQKA.
Hand Rankings
What makes the game more interesting is the differences in the hand rankings compared with the Traditional Hold’em. Since the game is played with a deck of 36 cards, Flushes are harder to hit because there are only 9 cards of each suit instead of 13. As a result, Flushes are ranked higher than Full Houses—which in this game is easier to hit than a Flush.
Mathematically speaking, it is also easier to hit Straights than Sets or Trips in Six Plus Hold’em. However, in the PokerStars version, Straights are still ranked higher than Three-of-a-Kind.
To conclude:
- Flushes rank higher than Full Houses.
- Straights are ranked higher than Trips or Three-of-a-Kind
- A6789 is a low Straight while TJQKA is a high Straight.
- The game is played with an ante. All the players post an ante while the Button posts an additional ante that acts as the only blind.
- The player to the left of the Button is the first to act.
Is the Game Available in Tournaments or Other Format?
At launch, 6+ Hold’em is available only as cash game format. There has been no official announcement by the operator whether the game would be available in Sit & Go or tournament formats.
What are the Minimum and Maximum Buy-ins or Table Stakes Available?
The game is currently offered with buy-ins starting from $3-$4 with Button and Ante at $0.02 to a table with buy-ins as high as $30,000-$40,000 with Button and Ante at $200.
What is the Rake Structure of 6+ Hold’em?
Rake is charged at 3.50% at the lowest buy-in ($3-$4), 5% on Mid-stakes, and 4.50% on Higher-Stakes.
Caps on the rake depend on the table stakes and buy-ins which is shown below.
PokerStars 6+ Hold’em Rake Info
Buy-in | Ante | % Rake | 2 Player Cap | 3-4 Player Cap | 5+ Player Cap |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
$2 -$3 | $0.02 | 3.50% | $0.30 | $0.30 | $0.30 |
$5-$7.50 | $0.05 | 4.15% | $0.50 | $0.50 | $1.00 |
$10-$15 | $0.10 | 4.50% | $0.50 | $1.00 | $1.50 |
$25-$37.50 | $0.25 | 5.00% | $0.50 | $1.00 | $2.00 |
$50-$75 | $0.50 | 5.00% | $1.00 | $1.00 | $2.50 |
$100-$150 | $1.00 | 5.00% | $1.25 | $1.25 | $2.75 |
$200-$300 | $2.00 | 5.00% | $1.50 | $1.50 | $3.5 |
$500-$750 | $5.00 | 5.00% | $2.00 | $2.00 | $4.50 |
$1,000-$1,500 | $10.00 | 4.50% | $2.50 | $2.50 | $4.50 |
$2,000-$3,000 | $20.00 | 4.50% | $3.00 | $3.00 | $5.00 |
$5,000-$7,500 | $50.00 | 4.50% | $3.00 | $5.00 | $5.00 |
$10,000-$15,000 | $100.00 | 4.50% | $3.00 | $5.00 | $5.00 |
$20,000-$30,000 | $200.00 | 4.50% | $3.00 | $5.00 | $5.00 |
Can Players Choose Their Own Table or Seat in 6+ Hold’em?
No. Just like in the previous cash game novelties, 6+ Hold’em too has adopted “Seat Me” (also called blind-lobby functionality). Under this system, players choose the game and stake and the software automatically finds a seat for the players. If no seat is immediately available, players join a waiting list.
Is the Game Available in My Region?
6+ Hold’em is available for real money in global dot-com, European Union (EU), United Kingdom (UK), Sweden (SE) client, Denmark (DK) client and the Estonian (EE) client. The game is not yet available in Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, European shared network (France, Portugal, and Spain), Greece, India, Italy, and New Jersey.
However, players from all these regions (including the United States) can play the game for play-money in NET client.
Are there any strategies on 6+ Hold’em available?
Yes, we have written two strategy articles on this game.
1) Six Plus Hold’em/Short Deck Poker Odds and Probabilities
2) Beginners Strategy/Five Tips about Six Plus Hold’em
2) Beginners Strategy/Five Tips about Six Plus Hold’em
Will it be a Temporary Offering or Permanent?
There is no mention by PokerStars whether 6+ Hold’em will be available indefinitely or if it will be available for a limited time offering. However, if history is of any indicator, it seems that 6+ will also be a temporary offering like the previous cash game novelties.
But given the fact that the game has turned out to be very popular across both live and online field, 6+ could well be made available permanently, much like Fast Fold format (aka Zoom) or Jackpot based Sit & Go’s (aka Spin & Gos).
Latest News on Six Plus Hold'em:
PokerStars Launches 6+ Hold’em Spin & Gos
Games are spread at five buy-ins from $1 to $100.
GG Network Will “Probably” Launch Short Deck Poker in 2019
The stripped deck version of Texas Hold’em continues to surge in popularity as GGNetwork is set to add this action-packed variant to its game offering.
6+ Hold’em MTTs to Debut on PokerStars as SCOOP Side Events
Starting May 17, Short Deck tournaments will become available at PokerStars in both tournaments and Sit & Go formats.
PokerStars and partypoker Continue to Emphasize the Importance of Twitch
The competition between the two online poker giants intensifies as both look to expand their reach via the popular live-streaming platform with new signings.
Exclusive: 6+ Hold’em, Showtime and Fusion to Return to PokerStars in Tournament Format
Both Hold’em and Omaha versions of Showtime are among the games that will soon make their debut as MTTs.
Seating Scripts Now Completely Banned on PokerStars
Unexpected consequences of previous restrictions caused increased difficulties for players looking to get a seat.
Partypoker Launches Short Deck Hold’em
Two months after PokerStars launched Six Plus Hold’em, partypoker has joined the short deck craze with its own stripped deck cash game.
PokerStars Rolls Out 6+ Hold’em in Italy, 6+ Tournaments Set to Debut
The Short Deck variant will be the first new novelty poker game by PokerStars to be offered in a tournament format.
Exclusive: PokerStars Readies Split Omaha
In its continued attempt to keep poker fresh, PokerStars is planning to launch yet another new novelty variant based on the game Double Board Omaha.
6+ Hold’em to Debut in Italy and it Could be Permanent
6+ will be the only variant in the recent wave of new games from PokerStars to go live in a segregated market.
Read more on Six Plus Hold'em » PokerStars has launched its long-awaited new game, called 6+, its version of the game known as Short Deck Poker or Six Plus Hold’em.
The game is now live in Denmark, Estonia and for free-play on the dot-net client, pokerfuse can exclusively reveal.
It will launch in the UK and Sweden, and for players internationally on the global dot-com and dot-EU player pools tomorrow, Wednesday the 16th.
Playing 6+
Players will find the new games in the lobby under a new dedicated 6+ tab. The game is played on six-max tables.
Just like all PokerStars new games, players choose their table via a “blind lobby” system—they simply select their buy-in level and hit “play now” to be taken to the best available seat. Table and seat selection is not available.
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Currently, only two buy-ins are available in the real money Denmark lobby—$4 and $10. Presumably this will be expanded to higher stakes once the company is confident that the deployment has been successful.
At the time of writing, only cash games are available, there has been no official announcement of whether sit and go or tournament formats for 6+ are in the pipeline.
Rules and Strategy
In 6+, the deuces through fives are removed from the deck. This creates more action-packed games, as players can make bigger hands. Correct strategy dictates a loose play style, and equities between hands are smaller.
The game plays much like traditional Texas Hold’em, though usually with a few rules changes. PokerStars employs three:
- The low straight can be made with an ace—so A6789 is a legitimate hand.
- Flushes rank higher than Full Houses.
- The game is played with an ante, and the button posts an additional ante that acts as the only blind.
Unlike some spreads of Short Deck, in PokerStars’ 6+ three of a kind still ranks lower than a straight.
In the $4 game spread for real money in Denmark right now, antes and blinds are 2 cents; In the $10 game, the antes and blinds are 5 cents, so in both cases, plays sit with a mandatory 200 antes.
What the Operator Is Saying
“6+ is an exciting poker variant that often produces big hands and a lot of action, so we’re excited to bring it to the tables,” said Chris Straghalis, Director of Poker Product at PokerStars, in a statement to pokerfuse.
“While the format has proven popular with high stakes players, the range of stakes available on PokerStars and similarities to hold’em mean that it should appeal to those who may want to try a new game but don’t want something too different. We’re looking forward to seeing what people think,” he added.
Path to Launch
Pokerfuse revealed that Six Plus Hold’em was going to be released some five months ago.
Normally, games are launched soon after we spot them, but 6+ was sidelined for other cash game novelties. Fusion, a game that blended elements of Hold’em and Omaha, was launched instead.
Last week, we then revealed that 6+ was finally moving towards launch, and Fusion was taken down just a few days ago to seemingly make room.
Will it be Permanent?
Now that 6+ has finally launched for real money, the question is whether PokerStars plans to make the game permanent or not. The operator has launched four cash game variants in similar fashion in the last year, and each of them only lasted a couple of months. The operator talked up the benefits of limited edition games.
6 Holdem Pokerstars Card Game
However, it is also clear that PokerStars would love another breakout hit, much like Fast Fold (aka Zoom) and Lottery Sit and Gos (aka Spin and Gos). And when it hits on that big win, we can be sure it will stay around permanently.
Pokerstars 6+ Hold'em Rake
PokerStars made no mention of its permanency (or lack thereof) ahead of launch, so we are left guessing. But there is good reason to believe that 6+ will be a big hit.
6 Holdem Pokerstars Game
Firstly, this is not a unique PokerStars innovation: It is already spread online by smaller competitors (including US-facing WPN and the iPoker network). It has also proved popular live.
It is also a very simple game to pick up—the rules are Hold’em, with just a couple of tweaks. But those tweaks also open up a raft of new poker strategy—indeed, you would probably do best throwing out everything you know about Hold’em strategy and starting again with 6+—the probabilities are very different and the game plays very differently.
Pokerstars 6+ Hold'em Cash Out
Throw in the fact that this is an action game—particularly with the ante+blind structure—and how close hand values run together, and you have a potent mix that may cause the game to be hugely successful.