Therefore, all players in the game can make use of seven cards (2 hole cards + 3 + 1 + 1) to create their optimal five-card hand. Then the dealer spreads out five more community cards face upwards – first three, then one, then one more. The game is played with five community cards just like in Texas Hold’em and follows the same process after the cards have been dealt, with four betting rounds in total.Īll players are initially dealt two private cards (hole cards) that no one else is allowed to see. In Short-Deck Texas Hold’em, all the 2, 3, 4, and 5 cards are removed from the deck, making 6 the lowest card. It mostly follows the same rules as Texas Hold’em, but Short Deck is played with a 36-card deck rather than with a 52-card deck. Short-Deck Texas Hold’em poker is a simple variation of Texas Hold’em with a few changes that make it both faster-paced and full of high hands. First, we’ll dive into the most popular version, Short-Deck Texas Hold ‘Em. In this guide, we’ll look at Short-Deck Poker, what it means to play with a short deck, and the different Short-Deck Poker variations, rules and tips.