Triton Poker Reveals £1m (GBP) buy-in Super Short-Deck event (April Fools)

Triton Poker, the home of world-class high stakes poker experiences, is pleased to unveil the groundbreaking new £1m (GBP) buy-in Super Short-Deck event. 

Since launching the Short-Deck format to the world in 2018, we have sat back with a sense of pride as it’s found its way around the world in both the live and online realms. Triton Poker is always pushing the boundaries of innovation, and believes by reducing the game to deck of 20-cards, we have added the ‘Super’ into Short-Deck.

The new format comprises of only tens, jacks, queens, kings and aces creating a blitzkrieg of a game that will take the world by storm. In addition, the new £1m (GBP) price point means that in our next event in Montenegro, we will surpass the record of the biggest buy-in event in televised poker history, beating the €1m buy-in at the Big One for One Drop event held in Monaco back in 2016.

Dealers will need to practice shuffling with less than half the deck.

The changes reduces the edge between the pros and the amateurs, but Triton Poker’s brand ambassador, Jason Koon, still believes the best players in the game will find a way to exploit the new game, as they did with the 32-card version.

“I’m incredibly hyped!” Koon said. “Taking out the 2s all the way to the 9s now makes it an incredibly exciting yet balanced game because now we know everyone has amazing cards and shoving will be expected every round.”

The first £1m (GBP) Super Short-Deck event takes place on Saturday 18 May, and concludes on Sunday 19 May, and will become a permanent fixture at all future Triton Poker Series events. 

*Footnote – With only 20-cards in play, the dealers will remove the burn cards to ensure the game can continue 7-handed. And this is an April’s Fools joke.

Difference between short deck poker and no-limit texas hold'em

Short Deck Hold’em – Understand The Difference

Short Deck Hold’em is also known as 6+ (Six Plus) Hold’em. This No-Limit Poker game is played with a stripped-down deck.

Increasing in popularity

The game is a fast, fun variation of the world-recognised Texas Hold’em format. Short Deck Hold’em originated in Asia a few years back and is gaining increased recognition in Europe.

Due to some recent star-studded High Roller events, the game is attracting growing interest in the USA and is now being played in Las Vegas.

Difference in pack size

All of the 2’s, 3’s, 4’s and 5’s are removed from the standard 52-card pack leaving a game where only 36 cards are used. This means the 6 is the lowest card…. Unless you use an Ace as low.

An Ace has added value

As in traditional Hold’em the Ace can be used as either a High or Low, but in the Short Deck version of the game it can also make up the low and high ends of a straight. As in:

• A 6 7 8 9 is classed as a straight (In this example the Ace is classed as a ‘5’)

Hand ranking differences – Let the significance sink in!

While there are only a few differences in the value of a hand between the 2 formats of Hold’em these are very significant and will prove expensive if forgotten.

In Short Deck Hold’em

• A Flush beats a Full House – This is because mathematically it is harder to make a flush than a full house from the reduced deck.

Note: This is the general rule. However, some houses may still have it the other way around – As ever; check the house rules before taking your seat.

Flush possibilities

In regular Hold’em, players with suited hole cards and two community cards of the same suit have nine cards in the deck from which to make a Flush. Playing the Short Deck game reduces this to five cards. This means a Flush is far harder to hit.

Easier to hit a set

Playing short deck Hold’em makes it easier to hit a set than when playing the regular game. Short deck players holding a pocket pair have 2 cards remaining from the 34 to give them a set as opposed to 2 cards out of 50 in the regular game.

Short Deck Hold’em strategy

Players who are used to the regular version of Hold’em should be aware of strategy considerations during a traditional game.

Playing the Short Deck game brings a number of changes. Here are just 5 you need to bear in mind:

• The rule of 4 and 2 turns into the rule of 3 and 6
• Stronger Post-Flop hands are needed
• The chance of being dealt pocket Aces are twice as high
• Hands such as top pair and top kicker have a much lower value
• Single pair hands rarely win a pot

Fast, fun & exciting

There is no doubting that Short Deck Hold’em (6+ Hold’em) is making waves in Poker communities across the globe so why not taste the action by giving it a go?

A final word of caution though: While you are sure to hit far bigger hands than in the regular game this means your opponents will too!

Short Deck Hands Rankings