It’s rather surprising, but many sufficiently skilled players do fall apart in short-handed play. It’s almost as if they are unable to adjust their strategy to playing with fewer people and more frequent blinds. The following are some common mistakes that you’d do well to avoid when playing at short-handed games.
When poker players discuss strategy, the talks eventually lead to calculating odds – usually pot odds and drawing odds. An often overlooked aspect of any strategy discussion, however, are IMPLIED odds – a means of calculating the odds based on the current pot plus the potential bets that will be made in a game. This will then provide a basis for your subsequent actions.
Imagine that you are playing in a short-handed game – only four of you are playing, to be more precise. The game has been on for quite a while. Currently, the button is in front of you, the cards have been shuffled, and you watch the dealer deal out the hole cards. You take a quick peek – pair of fives. You sit back as the play unfolds. The small blind bets five dollars. The big blind puts in ten dollars. The other player calls and antes up and the ball is now in your court.
