Assessing Players in Short Handed Texas Holdem

"Playing the players" is a concept that you will often hear in Poker, and it is something that is especially applicable to short handed Texas Holdem games. For someone who is unfamiliar with assessing players, some of the things that you should know about short handed players include the following.

The first is that rarely will you see anyone in a short handed Texas Holdem table change gears. This refers to the shift in plays that players make in full ring games. For example, in a ring game it is not unusual for a tight player to suddenly play loose, or vice versa. This lack of change in approach is something that can work in your favor.

For example, if you see a player that always bets the flop but checks on the turn, that is a sign of a weak player, someone who is unwilling to put up the big money on the turn. Here your Texas Holdem strategy would be to just call his flop bet.

Conversely, if you see someone who is always making a bet on the flop and turn, then it is very likely that that is a loose player. You do not have to make a call against this type of player; you just let him put money in the pot. When you see these types on a short handed Texas Holdem table you should play more hands.

One of the easiest players to spot in a hand are those that do not bluff. They only play with the best Texas Holdem hands and while this can result in some wins, they are in fact easy to play. If you are holding a J7 and your opponent raises with a King high flop, you can fold, knowing he has you beat.

Whenever you are playing short handed Texas Holdem, always ask yourself the following questions: what kind of hands are my opponents raising with? Do they only play high hands when last to act? How often do they bluff, and at what stage of the hand? The latter in particular is important, as catching someone bluffing in a short handed game can ruin the rest of their session.

By asking these questions, and seeking the answers on the table, you will become more proficient at reading other players. This is a skill that will become more valuable the more you play short handed Texas Holdem, and it will help you win a lot of big pots.