• 6+ Hold'em Pokerstars
• Hold'em Poker Yahoo Games

Introduction

The following table ranks the top hands in a 6-player game. This table assumes that all players stay in until the end.

Watch Tom Dwan explain short-deck poker, aka 6-Plus Hold’em, the game played by some of the biggest cash game players in the world.

Explanation of column headings:

6+ Hold'em Pokerstars

• Cards: Initial two-card hand.
• Probability of win: Probability that this hand will win, or tie for the win.
• Average win: This is how much the player will win on average, including his own bets, if the player does win. This is less than 6 because sometimes the player will have to split the pot.
• Expected value: This is how many units the player can expect to win (positive) or lose (negative) with this hand. For example if the player had a pair of aces and contibuted $1 to the pot then the player could expect to have a net win of $1.95.
• Probability: Probability of getting this hand to begin with.
• Additive probability: Probability of getting this hand or any stronger hand to begin with.

Initial Hold'em Hands in Rank Order for 6-Player Game

1. Six Plus Hold’em is an exciting and fun poker variant based on Texas Hold’em where the game is played with a deck of 36 cards as opposed to the usual 52 cards in traditional hold’em. Deuces through fives are removed from the deck giving the game its name Six Plus Hold’em/6+ or Short Deck Poker.
2. 6+ Hold’em is a popular ' short deck ' poker format that plays much like Texas Hold’em, but with a few exciting differences: All cards lower than a six are removed from the deck Everyone posts an ante and only the button posts a blind - known as the 'button blind' A flush beats a full-house and Ace, 6, 7, 8, 9.

Hold'em Poker Yahoo Games

Cards	Probability of Win	Average Win	Expected Value	Probability	Additive Probability
Pair of A's	49.51%	5.96	1.9508	0.45%	0.45%
Pair of K's	43.32%	5.95	1.5775	0.45%	0.90%
Pair of Q's	38.3%	5.93	1.2729	0.45%	1.36%
Pair of J's	34.05%	5.92	1.0142	0.45%	1.81%
A/K suited	32.15%	5.8	0.8641	0.30%	2.11%
Pair of T's	30.44%	5.89	0.7944	0.45%	2.56%
A/Q suited	30.56%	5.76	0.7589	0.30%	2.87%
K/Q suited	29.55%	5.76	0.7015	0.30%	3.17%
A/J suited	29.28%	5.71	0.6723	0.30%	3.47%
A/K unsuited	28.96%	5.77	0.6704	0.90%	4.37%
K/J suited	28.28%	5.72	0.6167	0.30%	4.68%
A/T suited	28.27%	5.67	0.6021	0.30%	4.98%
Pair of 9's	27.11%	5.89	0.5978	0.45%	5.43%
Q/J suited	27.57%	5.71	0.5737	0.30%	5.73%
A/Q unsuited	27.21%	5.71	0.555	0.90%	6.64%
K/T suited	27.32%	5.68	0.5506	0.30%	6.94%
Q/T suited	26.64%	5.67	0.5101	0.30%	7.24%
K/Q unsuited	26.28%	5.72	0.5028	0.90%	8.14%
J/T suited	26.33%	5.66	0.4904	0.30%	8.45%
A/J unsuited	25.79%	5.66	0.4597	0.90%	9.35%
A/9 suited	25.75%	5.62	0.4474	0.30%	9.65%
Pair of 8's	24.51%	5.88	0.4416	0.45%	10.11%
K/J unsuited	24.88%	5.67	0.4097	0.90%	11.01%
K/9 suited	24.73%	5.64	0.3946	0.30%	11.31%
A/8 suited	24.98%	5.58	0.3933	0.30%	11.61%
A/T unsuited	24.66%	5.6	0.3817	0.90%	12.52%
Q/J unsuited	24.26%	5.66	0.3721	0.90%	13.42%
Q/9 suited	24.07%	5.64	0.3565	0.30%	13.73%
A/7 suited	24.27%	5.54	0.3444	0.30%	14.03%
T/9 suited	23.9%	5.62	0.3432	0.30%	14.33%
J/9 suited	23.82%	5.63	0.3408	0.30%	14.63%
K/T unsuited	23.8%	5.61	0.3356	0.90%	15.54%
A/5 suited	24.19%	5.5	0.3309	0.30%	15.84%
Pair of 7's	22.35%	5.87	0.3116	0.45%	16.29%
Q/T unsuited	23.2%	5.61	0.3006	0.90%	17.19%
A/4 suited	23.63%	5.5	0.3002	0.30%	17.5%
A/6 suited	23.5%	5.51	0.2954	0.30%	17.8%
J/T unsuited	23.03%	5.6	0.2895	0.90%	18.7%
K/8 suited	22.97%	5.58	0.283	0.30%	19%
A/3 suited	23.05%	5.51	0.2705	0.30%	19.31%
Q/8 suited	22.24%	5.59	0.2436	0.30%	19.61%
K/7 suited	22.37%	5.55	0.2406	0.30%	19.91%
A/2 suited	22.39%	5.52	0.2357	0.30%	20.21%
T/8 suited	22.12%	5.58	0.2345	0.30%	20.51%
J/8 suited	22.01%	5.59	0.2298	0.30%	20.81%
9/8 suited	21.72%	5.6	0.2165	0.30%	21.12%
A/9 unsuited	21.93%	5.53	0.2136	0.90%	22.02%
Pair of 6's	20.59%	5.85	0.2054	0.45%	22.47%
K/6 suited	21.75%	5.52	0.1996	0.30%	22.78%
K/5 suited	21.29%	5.49	0.1692	0.30%	23.08%
K/9 unsuited	20.98%	5.56	0.1659	0.90%	23.98%
A/8 unsuited	21.07%	5.47	0.1533	0.90%	24.89%
Q/7 suited	20.65%	5.54	0.1434	0.30%	25.19%
K/4 suited	20.75%	5.5	0.1406	0.30%	25.49%
8/7 suited	20.39%	5.57	0.1367	0.30%	25.79%
Q/9 unsuited	20.41%	5.55	0.1334	0.90%	26.7%
T/7 suited	20.46%	5.54	0.1333	0.30%	27%
T/9 unsuited	20.44%	5.54	0.1322	0.90%	27.9%
9/7 suited	20.30%	5.57	0.1299	0.30%	28.21%
J/7 suited	20.38%	5.54	0.1293	0.30%	28.51%
J/9 unsuited	20.28%	5.55	0.1248	0.90%	29.41%
K/3 suited	20.25%	5.51	0.1154	0.30%	29.71%
Pair of 5's	19.05%	5.84	0.1118	0.45%	30.17%
Q/6 suited	20.19%	5.5	0.1109	0.30%	30.47%
A/7 unsuited	20.25%	5.42	0.0981	0.90%	31.37%
K/2 suited	19.76%	5.52	0.0909	0.30%	31.67%
A/5 unsuited	20.15%	5.37	0.083	0.90%	32.58%
Q/5 suited	19.72%	5.48	0.0806	0.30%	32.88%
7/6 suited	19.31%	5.56	0.0736	0.30%	33.18%
8/6 suited	19.11%	5.54	0.059	0.30%	33.48%
Q/4 suited	19.22%	5.49	0.0547	0.30%	33.79%
A/4 unsuited	19.51%	5.37	0.0484	0.90%	34.69%
A/6 unsuited	19.43%	5.38	0.0458	0.90%	35.6%
K/8 unsuited	19.04%	5.48	0.043	0.90%	36.5%
T/6 suited	18.95%	5.49	0.0407	0.30%	36.8%
9/6 suited	18.82%	5.53	0.0402	0.30%	37.1%
J/6 suited	18.92%	5.49	0.038	0.30%	37.41%
Pair of 4's	17.76%	5.84	0.0369	0.45%	37.86%
Q/3 suited	18.69%	5.5	0.0281	0.30%	38.16%
6/5 suited	18.45%	5.55	0.0233	0.30%	38.46%
A/3 unsuited	18.87%	5.38	0.0148	0.90%	39.37%
T/8 unsuited	18.5%	5.48	0.0138	0.90%	40.27%
J/5 suited	18.56%	5.46	0.0131	0.30%	40.57%
Q/8 unsuited	18.43%	5.48	0.0104	0.90%	41.48%
Q/2 suited	18.25%	5.52	0.0063	0.30%	41.78%
J/8 unsuited	18.31%	5.48	0.004	0.90%	42.68%
7/5 suited	18.1%	5.53	0.0007	0.30%	42.99%
9/8 unsuited	18.14%	5.5	-0.0013	0.90%	43.89%
K/7 unsuited	18.38%	5.42	-0.0036	0.90%	44.8%
5/4 suited	17.82%	5.54	-0.0125	0.30%	45.1%
J/4 suited	18.03%	5.47	-0.0139	0.30%	45.4%
A/2 unsuited	18.15%	5.38	-0.0235	0.90%	46.3%
8/5 suited	17.73%	5.5	-0.0244	0.30%	46.61%
Pair of 3's	16.69%	5.85	-0.0245	0.45%	47.06%
J/3 suited	17.57%	5.48	-0.0365	0.30%	47.36%
T/5 suited	17.62%	5.44	-0.041	0.30%	47.66%
9/5 suited	17.41%	5.48	-0.0458	0.30%	47.96%
K/6 unsuited	17.72%	5.38	-0.047	0.90%	48.87%
6/4 suited	17.17%	5.54	-0.0484	0.30%	49.17%
J/2 suited	17.11%	5.5	-0.0589	0.30%	49.47%
T/4 suited	17.19%	5.44	-0.0643	0.30%	49.77%
Pair of 2's	15.87%	5.85	-0.0708	0.45%	50.23%
7/4 suited	16.66%	5.52	-0.0809	0.30%	50.53%
5/3 suited	16.59%	5.54	-0.081	0.30%	50.83%
K/5 unsuited	17.18%	5.34	-0.0829	0.90%	51.73%
8/7 unsuited	16.76%	5.47	-0.0841	0.90%	52.64%
T/3 suited	16.72%	5.46	-0.0871	0.30%	52.94%
9/7 unsuited	16.61%	5.45	-0.0953	0.90%	53.85%
T/7 unsuited	16.71%	5.41	-0.0962	0.90%	54.75%
Q/7 unsuited	16.7%	5.4	-0.098	0.90%	55.66%
J/7 unsuited	16.51%	5.41	-0.1073	0.90%	56.56%
8/4 suited	16.25%	5.49	-0.1085	0.30%	56.86%
T/2 suited	16.27%	5.48	-0.1089	0.30%	57.16%
K/4 unsuited	16.59%	5.34	-0.114	0.90%	58.07%
4/3 suited	15.9%	5.56	-0.1162	0.30%	58.37%
9/4 suited	16.05%	5.46	-0.1237	0.30%	58.67%
6/3 suited	15.77%	5.54	-0.127	0.30%	58.97%
Q/6 unsuited	16.17%	5.35	-0.135	0.90%	59.88%
K/3 unsuited	16.03%	5.35	-0.142	0.90%	60.78%
9/3 suited	15.67%	5.47	-0.143	0.30%	61.09%
7/6 unsuited	15.62%	5.43	-0.1512	0.90%	61.99%
5/2 suited	15.19%	5.53	-0.1593	0.30%	62.29%
7/3 suited	15.25%	5.51	-0.1605	0.30%	62.59%
9/2 suited	15.22%	5.49	-0.1644	0.30%	62.9%
Q/5 unsuited	15.66%	5.31	-0.1685	0.90%	63.8%
K/2 unsuited	15.49%	5.36	-0.1695	0.90%	64.71%
8/6 unsuited	15.35%	5.41	-0.1698	0.90%	65.61%
8/3 suited	14.94%	5.47	-0.1832	0.30%	65.91%
4/2 suited	14.68%	5.56	-0.1836	0.30%	66.21%
9/6 unsuited	15%	5.38	-0.193	0.90%	67.12%
T/6 unsuited	15.06%	5.33	-0.1972	0.90%	68.02%
Q/4 unsuited	15.08%	5.31	-0.1987	0.90%	68.93%
8/2 suited	14.58%	5.49	-0.2	0.30%	69.23%
6/5 unsuited	14.71%	5.41	-0.2045	0.90%	70.14%
J/6 unsuited	14.94%	5.32	-0.2053	0.90%	71.04%
6/2 suited	14.37%	5.53	-0.2056	0.30%	71.34%
3/2 suited	14.02%	5.58	-0.2171	0.30%	71.64%
Q/3 unsuited	14.52%	5.33	-0.2267	0.90%	72.55%
7/5 unsuited	14.34%	5.38	-0.2289	0.90%	73.45%
7/2 suited	13.97%	5.49	-0.2331	0.30%	73.76%
J/5 unsuited	14.53%	5.27	-0.2339	0.90%	74.66%
5/4 unsuited	14.05%	5.39	-0.2418	0.90%	75.57%
Q/2 unsuited	14%	5.34	-0.2523	0.90%	76.47%
8/5 unsuited	13.87%	5.34	-0.2595	0.90%	77.38%
J/4 unsuited	13.96%	5.28	-0.2632	0.90%	78.28%
6/4 unsuited	13.34%	5.39	-0.2814	0.90%	79.19%
9/5 unsuited	13.48%	5.3	-0.2859	0.90%	80.09%
T/5 unsuited	13.63%	5.24	-0.2859	0.90%	81%
J/3 unsuited	13.42%	5.29	-0.2898	0.90%	81.9%
T/4 unsuited	13.16%	5.23	-0.3113	0.90%	82.81%
J/2 unsuited	12.92%	5.3	-0.3147	0.90%	83.71%
5/3 unsuited	12.71%	5.38	-0.3167	0.90%	84.62%
7/4 unsuited	12.78%	5.34	-0.3175	0.90%	85.52%
T/3 unsuited	12.62%	5.25	-0.3377	0.90%	86.43%
8/4 unsuited	12.29%	5.29	-0.35	0.90%	87.33%
4/3 unsuited	11.99%	5.39	-0.3537	0.90%	88.24%
T/2 unsuited	12.12%	5.26	-0.3623	0.90%	89.14%
6/3 unsuited	11.82%	5.35	-0.3672	0.90%	90.05%
9/4 unsuited	12.01%	5.24	-0.371	0.90%	90.95%
9/3 unsuited	11.58%	5.25	-0.3927	0.90%	91.86%
5/2 unsuited	11.23%	5.34	-0.3998	0.90%	92.76%
7/3 unsuited	11.24%	5.3	-0.4046	0.90%	93.67%
9/2 unsuited	11.08%	5.26	-0.417	0.90%	94.57%
4/2 unsuited	10.67%	5.37	-0.4267	0.90%	95.48%
8/3 unsuited	10.86%	5.23	-0.4314	0.90%	96.38%
6/2 unsuited	10.32%	5.31	-0.4519	0.90%	97.29%
8/2 unsuited	10.45%	5.24	-0.4522	0.90%	98.19%
3/2 unsuited	9.98%	5.39	-0.462	0.90%	99.1%
7/2 unsuited	9.87%	5.24	-0.4833	0.90%	100%
Total	18.14%	5.51	0	100%	0%

Top 20% of Hands in 6-Player Game

• Pair of sevens or higher.
• Suited A/7 or higher.
• Suited A/5.
• Any two suited cards both 9 or higher.
• Unsuited A/T or higher.
• Unsuited K/T or higher.
• Unsuited Q/J.

Methodology

This table is the result of a random simulation and assumes all players stay in until the end of the hand.

The following table shows my power rating for each initial 2-card hand in a 6-player game. The numbers are on a 0 to 40 scale. Use the top table if you have a pair, the middle table if your cards are suited, and the bottom table if your cards are unsuited. Except for a pair,look up your high card along the left and your low card along the top.

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Written by: Michael Shackleford