Five-handed poker

The Wizard reports that five-handed, “social-distancing” poker is available in Downtown Las Vegas.

in pre-Covid 19 days, I would leave the table if it were apparent that a game would be reduced to five players. I don’t like the idea of the blinds coming around so quickly, and play being either all folding or being super aggressive. Are these valid concerns?

I assume that proper play when five-handed is to play hands more aggressively. Like K-J. Or any ace. Do you all concur?

What are the upsides of playing five-handed?

Quote: smoothgrh

The Wizard reports that five-handed, “social-distancing” poker is available in Downtown Las Vegas.

in pre-Covid 19 days, I would leave the table if it were apparent that a game would be reduced to five players. I don’t like the idea of the blinds coming around so quickly, and play being either all folding or being super aggressive. Are these valid concerns?

I assume that proper play when five-handed is to play hands more aggressively. Like K-J. Or any ace. Do you all concur?

What are the upsides of playing five-handed?

I think the big downside is the rake affecting you 1/5 of the time instead of 1/9 of the time. An upside would be if there was a weak player he would be able to be taken advantage of more frequently.

When you say play 'more aggressively', I think the phrase you should use is "there are a wider range of hands I'd play". Heads up ace -4 offsuit is pretty good. With 9 players third to act not so much. I think good players know how to adjust their play for the number of players at the table. Trying not to be rude, but if you need to ask that question you are probably the player that will be taken advantage of. Not to say with experience you can't learn how to play any number of players.

No offense taken. I probably would indeed suck at a five-handed table.

I feel like in 9-handed games, I have success about 55% of the time. In a 5-handed game, it would probably drop precipitously.

Unless I’m mistaken, most (all?) of the 5 handed games have reduced rakes.

Also, Bellagio is opening poker today, 6 handed.

Quote: smoothgrh

No offense taken. I probably would indeed suck at a five-handed table.

I feel like in 9-handed games, I have success about 55% of the time. In a 5-handed game, it would probably drop precipitously.

I agree. the reality is that most of us poker players haven't logged many hours of playing 5-handed. We may understand it theoretically, but our instincts are not educated by hours of experience. Short tables like this are often a challenge.

So you think you would do better against eight players than against four? That seems counter-intuitive but I'll defer to your experiences.

Quote: SOOPOO

I think the big downside is the rake affecting you 1/5 of the time instead of 1/9 of the time. An upside would be if there was a weak player he would be able to be taken advantage of more frequently.

When you say play 'more aggressively', I think the phrase you should use is "there are a wider range of hands I'd play". Heads up ace -4 offsuit is pretty good. With 9 players third to act not so much. I think good players know how to adjust their play for the number of players at the table. Trying not to be rude, but if you need to ask that question you are probably the player that will be taken advantage of. Not to say with experience you can't learn how to play any number of players.

This!

Couldn’t have said it better myself. If you don’t know who the fish at the table is within one orbit, you’re the fish!

Also I love the idea of 6 handed tables live and have for a long time. Online I play exclusively 6 handed games when playing cash.

Quote: billryan

So you think you would do better against eight players than against four? That seems counter-intuitive but I'll defer to your experiences.

Because the game is easier since you can play more of an ABC style of Poker when it's 8,9,10 handed(I have even played in some 11 handed games).

Generally most of the players are going to be more conservative/tighter when there's more players dealt into the hand makes it easier to put other people on a range of hands. It's going to be more straightforward what hands you should play and how you should play those hands. Anytime you have to make less complicated decisions, its going to cut down on your mistakes.
Having to defend your blinds less often makes the game a lot easier. If it's a wild and crazy/ loose aggressive ring game a player can wisely pick their spots and pick up some decent pots with strong hands. A tight passive player might go unnoticed or even ignored in a game like that. In a short-handed game a tight passive player is going to get steamrolled. When he does decide to enter pot red flags are going to go of for the other players and they're able to act accordingly.

There's more bluffing and semibluffing going on in the short hand game. That can be hard to deal with if you're not used to that style of play and you don't adjust well.

I assume in the short-handed games being offered at the casinos you are going to get people who just want to play poker no matter what the situation is, or you're going to get people who are skilled at short-handed play.

Often times, I prefer shorthanded game, but that really depends on my mood and how the other players are playing.

I much prefer short handed games. Way more post flop skill and opportunities for +EV situations.

When it comes to Limit Hold'em, 5-6 handed is a great game. Lots of action. In my opinion, playing no-limit short handed is not as good. Either way, players must adjust the style of play by playing more hands.

As far as thr rake, most of the house has reduced the max drop from $4 to $3. Reducing the number of players down from 10 or 9 players to 5 handed should constitute a 50% rake reduction. It should be $2. The game goes much faster too. More drops

Quote: AxelWolf

Because the game is easier since you can play more of an ABC style of Poker when it's 8,9,10 handed(I have even played in some 11 handed games).

Generally most of the players are going to be more conservative/tighter when there's more players dealt into the hand makes it easier to put other people on a range of hands. It's going to be more straightforward what hands you should play and how you should play those hands. Anytime you have to make less complicated decisions, its going to cut down on your mistakes.
Having to defend your blinds less often makes the game a lot easier. If it's a wild and crazy/ loose aggressive ring game a player can wisely pick their spots and pick up some decent pots with strong hands. A tight passive player might go unnoticed or even ignored in a game like that. In a short-handed game a tight passive player is going to get steamrolled. When he does decide to enter pot red flags are going to go of for the other players and they're able to act accordingly.

There's more bluffing and semibluffing going on in the short hand game. That can be hard to deal with if you're not used to that style of play and you don't adjust well.

I assume in the short-handed games being offered at the casinos you are going to get people who just want to play poker no matter what the situation is, or you're going to get people who are skilled at short-handed play.

Often times, I prefer shorthanded game, but that really depends on my mood and how the other players are playing.

Thank you.
I've been giving some thought to why I waste so much time here when there is hardly anything relevant going on and then this pearl of knowledge gets dropped on me. As you know, I don't play much poker but I certainly understand it better after digesting your post.

Quote: AxelWolf

In a short-handed game a tight passive player is going to get steamrolled. When he does decide to enter pot red flags are going to go of for the other players and they're able to act accordingly.

There's more bluffing and semibluffing going on in the short hand game. That can be hard to deal with if you're not used to that style of play and you don't adjust well.

Thanks for the insights folks!

I concur with Axel's description — usually I pull off bluffs after establishing a tight persona. I'll have to "play the game" more often in a short-handed table.

Or maybe I'll just stick to a limit game. But then, I usually fare better in no-limit games.

I disagree with Axelwolf in regards to bluffing in short handed ganes. Honestly you can pull of more moves in a full game. You are more likely to be called down in a short handed game. Bluffing with Ace high will not be as effective heads up in a 5 handed game vs a full game. More people will call you down even with bottom pair, but rarely thats the case in a full game. Those hands are usually gone by the river.