Discussion on Limit Holdem Short-Handed Ring Games-Part 1 "Why Play?"

Since I started seriously playing and studying poker I have had thousands of questions about all forms of poker, especially the games I play in frequently. I have read countless books and articles from all the most respected authors. I would not be 1/100th the player if not for Skalansky, Brunson, Miller, Zee, Cloutier, McEvoy, Ciaffone, and many others. However, I find the same thing in every book when it comes to short-handed play. Ten pages with a general play strategy. This is fine when considering the brick-and-morter days logged at the casino when the table might get short a little while or getting down to the end of a tourney.

The internet has changed this from an annoyance to a choice. Now people sit at a 5 or 6-handed max table to play. For some players this is even the preferred game to play in online. Why is this? The answers are many. The Obvious: 1) It is a lightening fast game with all kinds of raises and reraises which some action junkies just love. 2) When you do score, you can score big and fast. 3) You never have to wait long to play. Now the reasons why you SHOULD play: 1) People tend to play WAY to many hands. 2) Players fequently launch huge and outragous bluffs and semi-bluffs to try and push people off of hands more so than in full ring games. 3) PEOPLE TEND TO PLAY WAY TOO LOOSE!!! The same as in point one but worth reiterating. Why??? The answer is simple . . .HUGE EV FOR THE PATIENT PLAYER!!!

This fast, gun-twirling, roller-coaster is not for the fiant hearted though. Short-handed middle limit holdem tends to have much bigger swings, but I believe I have put together game strategies to maximize winnings and avoiding the huge pitfalls. Over the next couple of weeks I am going to post articles discussing many aspects SPECIFIC to this untapped goldmine.