Attention readers of WLLH by Jones

IronDoc

Hi gang. I am only about a quarter of my way through this book and I have a question. How much needs to be modified when playing short-handed LLH? My game of choice is 6-handed 2/4...thanks...

Bill

ScottyZ

I would say a lot would need to be modified. WLLH is designed for a full table of ~10 loose/passive players.

A couple of examples:

1. It's almost always correct to chase an 8-out (or better) draw at a LPLL full table, and in 6-handed play you should sometimes fold such drawing hands. For similar reasons, some pre-flop drawing hands (e.g. suited connectors) which should often be played in a full game nay not be playable 6-handed.

2. Some hands that warrant a fold on the flop at a full table (middle/top pair with a bad kicker or against a coordinated board) might be playable, perhaps even for a raise, in a short-handed game.

Unfortunately (and IMO), a really good book on shorthanded poker has not yet been written at this point. Occasionally you'll hear advice such as, "play as if you're in a 10-handed game and the first 4 players have folded". This might be okay as a first level approximation of how to play short-handed, but I have always thought that short-handed is more complicated than this, so I feel that this strategy tip is a little unsatisfying.

ScottyZ

Iron

There is some really good information on SH play at the two plus two site in the forum under that name. It's been a while since I read WLLH, but you definitely have to adjust the advice in there quite a bit for the SH game. I'd say the biggest difference is that you will end up playing a lot of hands heads up after the flop, and you have to change both your preflop and post flop strategy accordingly.