full table vs shorthanded

[BIG_L_RIP 0]

am I the only one who prefers playing a full table?Bear in mind, this applies to B&M only; I don't play online. Game is 2/5 NL. I seem to get more satisfaction, and remain more interested, in a full ring game. Profitability is merely one criterion here, I'm talking savoring the general experience. And no, not trying to wax philosophical or poetic; I'm genuinely curious.

[speedz99 145]

i like ring games better. i'm not too aggressive, so it fits my game.

[knght311 0]

I like both...but based on my style of play I tend to feed short handed games too much money...I usually stick to full ring, especially after I had a -400BB swing in the 6max I was playing...

[justblaze 0]

shorthanded games benefit the skilled player. this seems counter-intuitive since the variance of a short game is much higher, therefore allowing poor players to have much larger short term gains than would seem befitting of their play, but the reality is that short games allow for more hands to be played correctly, giving a skilled player more opportunities to outplay his opponent, and therefore a higher sustainable winrate. personally, i played full ring for a long time, and abhorred short games. I have been playing 6 handed or less exclusively for 3 months now, and let me tell you from personal experience short games are much more profitable. the learning curve on short games is much steeper.

[justblaze 0]

I like both...but based on my style of play I tend to feed short handed games too much money...I usually stick to full ring, especially after I had a -400BB swing in the 6max I was playing...

if this was NL, this swing means you had a bad hour. if this was limit, you are likely -EV in that game.

[BIG_L_RIP 0]

Understood, blaze. I have come to find shorthanded games far more profitable as well; I'm not afraid of being exposed as a poor player at a shorter table. I just simply prefer the dynamic of a rotating full ring game.

[malibu44 0]

short handed games you need to play more aggressive, and your better hands will stand up more. On full tables you have more chance of being rivered because there are moreplayers chasing you, then there are in short handed games. It isnt that you need more skill in SH games you just need to change your style of play is all.

[Pokerdad2222 0]

Live I do prefer a full table for the most part because it is simply more terrible money on the table. Online I only play shorthanded though. Keeps my attention and allows me to be much more aggressive

[justblaze 0]

Understood, blaze. I have come to find shorthanded games far more profitable as well; I'm not afraid of being exposed as a poor player at a shorter table. I just simply prefer the dynamic of a rotating full ring game.

not everyone plays poker purely for money. some people play for excitement, others for the social aspect, others enjoy the mental challenge. none of these reasons is the 'right' reason. as long as you know why you are playing, you are fine. the nature of short games means that they can be much more stressful. running bad in a short game is much much worse than running bad in a full game. someone who enjoys the social aspect of poker probably wouldnt enjoy a short game.

[ford14 0]

shorthanded games benefit the skilled player. this seems counter-intuitive since the variance of a short game is much higher, therefore allowing poor players to have much larger short term gains than would seem befitting of their play, but the reality is that short games allow for more hands to be played correctly, giving a skilled player more opportunities to outplay his opponent, and therefore a higher sustainable winrate.  personally, i played full ring for a long time, and abhorred short games. I have been playing 6 handed or less exclusively for 3 months now, and let me tell you from personal experience short games are much more profitable. the learning curve on short games is much steeper.

I agree completely. I will say that if the average skill level is high at the table, I'd rather have be playing at a full table. With a lower than average skill level, give me short-handed. Simply due to the fact that it's very hard to find out where you are at with a premium hand at a full table with a lot of weak calling stations. Short-handed allows you to thin the field that much more and maintain more of an edge with premium holdings. I'm fine with bad players making bad calls against me, don't get me wrong. I just don't want to see 4-5 callers every time I get AA.

[knght311 0]

I like both...but based on my style of play I tend to feed short handed games too much money...I usually stick to full ring, especially after I had a -400BB swing in the 6max I was playing...

if this was NL, this swing means you had a bad hour. if this was limit, you are likely -EV in that game.

no this was limit...and it wasn't in one session, it was just the ******* of variance showing it's ugly face, it was over about a week. I was multi tabling (4) 6max tables...for some reason I tend to play Uber aggressive when the table gets short handed, and alot of this was less than 6 handed...I knew I was leaking...so I switched to full ring. Now I play on fulltilt...trying to clear the 100% bonus...and I always sit down at the empty tables, just to get my shorthanded fix, but eventually they fill up.[/i]

[Emptyeye 0]

I greatly prefer ring games to shorthanded.Not for a lack of aggression, per se, but I'm so tight preflop that I'd get eaten alive by blinds while waiting for a hand I like.

[Scott3705 0]

Question: Where can you pick up a Short handed live game?I like playing full games online as I just multi table and play a fairly str8forward brand of poker that gets paid off fairly well.If I could find short handed live games I would likely prefer those over full games as I would find them much more interesting. I get antsy playing full games waiting for hands.

[justblaze 0]

Question:   Where can you pick up a Short handed live game?I like playing full games online as I just multi table and play a fairly str8forward brand of poker that gets paid off fairly well.If I could find short handed live games I would likely prefer those over full games as I would find them much more interesting.  I get antsy playing full games waiting for hands.

most casinos will not spread shorthanded games per se (as in they will never limit the table to 6 seats). also, most low limit live players (in my experience up to 10-20) dont like playing short since they have no idea how to. many mid to high limit games are shorthanded by nature, though. (mid-limit poker starts at 30-60).

[Scott3705 0]

 most casinos will not spread shorthanded games per se (as in they will never limit the table to 6 seats). also, most low limit live players (in my experience up to 10-20) dont like playing short since they have no idea how to. many mid to high limit games are shorthanded by nature, though. (mid-limit poker starts at 30-60).

Yeah, the only time I ever played short handed live was at 5:00 in the morning. make sense since i play 1/2nl which usually has a 2 hour wait to get on.

[decr8er 0]

I tend to go both ways. Empty has a point that if you wait too long for starting hands, you get eaten up by the blinds...and everyone folds when you do get the next good hand. I do best with a six to eight handed table. My favorite time is when a ten table drops to six or seven for a time. I take advantage of the fear this instills in players who dont know how to handle the change. I find short tables favor those whos cards are running hot. since mine almost never do, I'm spewing money half of the time.

[Scott3705 0]

I tend to go both ways. Empty has a point that if you wait too long for starting hands, you get eaten up by the blinds...and everyone folds when you do get the next good hand. I do best with a six to eight handed table. My favorite time is when a ten table drops to six or seven for a time. I take advantage of the fear this instills in players who dont know how to handle the change.   I find short tables favor those whos cards are running hot. since mine almost never do, I'm spewing money half of the time.

i agree that's always an easy time to pick up some pots. You know it's short handed, but most people won't really get into a short handed mentality like people who play at a 6 max table will.