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Cash game strategy 6Max strategy

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Friday December, 4th 2009 by fullhouse

One of the most popular forms of poker today are 6-Max cash games. 6-Max tables are built to accommodate six players at the most but will often be found with four or five seats occupied. The strategy in 6-Max games ia a hybrid of both heads up and full ring strategy. There is a solid amount of aggression at most 6-Max tables and the play is relatively cutthroat. Most passive players will get eaten alive if they sit down at a 6-Max table simply because their passive nature will not mix with the aggressive style of play. When you have a handful of aggressive players and one guy sitting back waiting for hands the odds ae that the aggressive players will slowly be chipping away at the passive player’s stack. Even if the passive player were to catch a hand they would have a tough time capitalizing because the aggressive players are usually aware enough that the passive player hadn’t been all too active. This is key to remember when facing a solid opponent at a 6-Max table, the play may be very aggressive, but it is rarely reckless. Some of the best players in the world call 6-Max games their home, particularly online.

General strategy

There are multiple ways to become a successful 6-Max cash game player. Some players thrive with a somewhat overly aggressive style of play. An overly aggressive player lives off of the pots that they win pre flop and prior to showdown. These are the types of players who make continuation bets with every single opportunity they get. Seldom will these players give up on a pot unless they are absolutely certain that they won’t be able to take it down. They do not usually get to showdown because they rely not on their hand’s strength, but on their ability to outplay the other players. This a solid strategy because it allows a solid player to do well without a need for good cards.

A more common approach at 6-Max cash game tables is TAG play. TAG stands for tight aggressive and is the gold standard in cash games. Tight and aggressive players pounce on each and every profitable spot they can find, and then maximize their profitability once they are involved. TAG players might pass up on a handful of playable hands, but once they get involved it will be tough to outplay them. The TAG style of play works so well because it matches a solid combination of non showdown winnings with a fair dosage of showdown winnings.

Playing short handed

Most 6-Max tables do not run at full capacity for extended periods of time. You will frequently find yourself sitting at a table with just a handful of opponents. When you are playing against fewer opponents you will need to widen your range a bit and crank up the aggression. Passiveness if punished even more when playing short handed. You should still adhere to your general 6-Max standard of play, but give consideration to how you can best adjust to take advantage of the new dynamics of the game.