Short Deck (also known as 6+ Hold’em) is an action-packed game where equities run much closer than in standard Texas Hold’em. Because the 2s, 3s, 4s, and 5s are removed, the deck has only 36 cards. This seemingly small change completely alters the mathematics of the game.
In Short Deck, “Premium” hands lose value, drawing hands gain value, and hand rankings change (a Flush beats a Full House). Relying on your standard Hold’em intuition will cost you your stack. Our Short Deck Equity Calculator uses a specialized Monte Carlo engine with strict 36-card logic and Triton Poker rules to give you the exact win probability for any matchup.
Short Deck Equity
6+ Hold'emFlush beats Full House. A-6-7-8-9 is a Straight.
How to Use the Calculator
This tool allows you to simulate thousands of hands instantly to determine your true equity. Here is how to use it:
- Enter Hero’s Hand: Input your two hole cards using ranks 6 through Ace (e.g.,
Ah Kh).- Important: Do not try to enter 2s, 3s, 4s, or 5s. The calculator will reject them as they do not exist in Short Deck.
- Enter Villain’s Hand: Input the opponent’s cards to compare equities.
- Input Board (Optional):
- Leave blank for Preflop Equity.
- Enter 3 cards for the Flop, or 4 for the Turn.
- Calculate: The simulator will run the scenario using the “Flush beats Full House” ranking rule to determine your percentage chance of winning.
Related Tools: If you need to calculate drawing odds (e.g., “what are the odds of hitting my straight?”), use our specific Short Deck Odds & Draw Calculator. For standard Texas Hold’em analysis, switch to the classic Poker Odds Calculator.
Real-World Examples: Why Short Deck is Different
In 6+ Hold’em, the math is counter-intuitive. Here are three scenarios where the calculator proves your intuition wrong.
Example 1: The “Coin Flip” Myth
Hero: A♥ K♥ (Suited)
Villain: J♠ 10♠ (Suited)
In standard Hold’em, AK is a significant favorite (~60%). In Short Deck, because the cards are more connected and straights are easier to hit, this matchup is essentially a 50/50 coin flip (AK has roughly 51% equity). This explains why players shove J-10 preflop so aggressively in Short Deck.
Example 2: The “Ranking” Trap
Board: K♣ K♦ Q♣ 10♣ 9♥
Hero: K♠ Q♠ (Full House)
Villain: A♣ J♣ (Flush)
In Texas Hold’em, the Full House wins. In Short Deck, the Flush wins. A Flush is mathematically harder to hit than a Full House in a 36-card deck, so it is ranked higher. Our calculator correctly awards this pot to the Flush (100% equity).
Example 3: The Short Deck Wheel
Hero: A♠ 9♠
Board: 6♦ 7♥ 8♣
Did you miss the flop? No. You have an open-ended straight draw! In Short Deck, the Ace acts as a low card (pseudo “5”) to make the straight A-6-7-8-9. The calculator recognizes this as a made hand or a powerful draw depending on the board.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why does a Flush beat a Full House in Short Deck?
It is based on probability. With cards 2-5 removed, it is mathematically easier to make a Full House than a Flush. Since poker hand rankings are based on scarcity, the Flush is ranked higher in Short Deck (Triton Rules).
Does Three of a Kind beat a Straight?
In some older variations of 6+, Three of a Kind beat a Straight. However, the modern standard (used by Triton, GGPoker, and PokerStars) ranks a Straight higher than Three of a Kind. This calculator uses the modern standard.
What is the lowest straight in Short Deck?
The lowest straight is A-6-7-8-9. The Ace plays as a low card (replacing the 5) to connect with the 6.