short handed ?

[SenecaJim]

What is the rule of thumb on number of players as to when you would call a game short handed ?

[TStoneMBD]

i like the number 7.

[Zetack]

Conventionally it was 3 or maaaybe 4 players. Because of the proliferation of 6-max ring games online we now often talk about shorthanded as six or fewer. So be careful if you read any of the books because their short handed is not what shorthanded is morphing into on these forums.

--Zetack

[StunMan]

Do you feel that the more shorthanded a game becomes (extreme case: Heads Up), the more you disregard the math and pot odds, and the more you play a "pyschological" game (obviously to a *point* because you always need to show down the winning hand)?

[ctv1116]

Sure its a psychological game, but its been said that HU limit HE can be played by a computer at an extraordinarily high level using game theory. The same cannot be said for high-limit full games.

[Zetack]

[ QUOTE ]
Do you feel that the more shorthanded a game becomes (extreme case: Heads Up), the more you disregard the math and pot odds, and the more you play a "pyschological" game (obviously to a *point* because you always need to show down the winning hand)?

[/ QUOTE ]

Um...sorta. Math never goes away...the assumptions upon which you base the math changes. What an opponents bets and raises mean are different, and you count more outs (including not improving in many cases). In other words you have 8-9 suited and the flop comes ten high with two of your suit. You have your flush, backdoor straight outs and additionally pairing any of your cards may win the pot for you so there are some outs there you probably wouldn't count in a full game with multiple opponents seeing the flop. Plus you may have fold equity.


There's a higher percentage chance bets are bluffs or weak hands so that has to factor into the math as well.


--Zetack