As a beginner poker player you might not have asked yourself ‘what is the difference between fullring and 6max games?’
Full Ring SNGs Six handed sit and gos tend to have more aggressive players than full ring sit and goes. The reason for this is that with fewer players, the range of hands players open pots with is wider. A six handed game should be treated as a constant battle to win chips. I think optimal play at 6 max (against good competition) is tougher than at full ring, so I like getting good at full ring first. The fundamentals are more in play at full ring and that's your foundation. 6 max is theoretically more advanced. You don't want any gaps in your knowledge. Heat Maps for 6-Max and Full Ring Cash Games $ 24.99 – $ 99.99; Select options. Vs Hero / vs Villain Stat Pack. ProPokerHuds.com is a collabration between a team of professional poker players and programming experts dedicated to creating the most innovative and effective poker HUD solutions possible. We offer a wide selection of poker. Online, I've only been playing 6max but live is always full ring. The only meaningful discussions I can find on the topic simply state '6max is like full ring if the first 3 people fold.' I'm wondering about the profitability of each. I'm starting to see that most of the money in poker is won by playing against weaker opponents. In this post–which is the second in a series on preflop starting hand. An online full ring poker table game typically has seats for nine players. As table dynamics change, we can tight up or loosen up from this base range. 6-Max NL By Position: Part 1 - Opening The Early Positions. The key difference between full ring and shorthanded cash games involves the number of poker players. Full ring is essentially a standard poker game where nine or ten players are seated. While some poker rooms offer a maximum of five seats in their shorthanded cash games, most are usually limited to a maximum of six seats, which is why they are commonly referred to as “6-max” tables. Apr 01, 2009 Re: Full Ring VS 6-Max I play both, and I'd say that there are more fish playing 6max because more people play shorthanded than they do full ring. In general, the average full ring player is worse than the average 6max player imo.
Most likely you just down and played at the first game you saw. That’s fine when starting out; but it is important to realise that there is big a difference between these two poker formats. As a result, you will require different strategy for you to come out on top and win the most money from each game!
Table Of Contents
Full ring and six max comparison
The primary and most obvious difference between fullring and 6max is the number of players allowed to sit at each table. For a fullring table the number of players allowed is typically between 7 and 10; whereas for a 6max table between 4-6 players at any one time can sit down.
Fullring is a more popular format in casinos as they only have to pay one dealer for 9 or 10 players. Whereas 6max tables are more popular online because you can play more hands per hour profitably. But both formats are found at either locations so it is important to know which one best suits you for the next time you go to sit down to play.
So why is the number of players important? The number of players on the table left to act will define the type of hands you will play – or in other words how many hands you will play. If lots of players left to act, we will have to play an extremely tight range. This is because the chance that someone will have a very strong hand is quite high.
On the other hand, if you play a shorthanded game such as 6max the number of players will be less; thus you can play a wider range of hands. This is because probability someone has a very strong hand is much lower.
Simple example: probability of facing a higher pair
Have a look at the following chart which shows the probability of facing a higher pair based on the number of opponents:
Lets look at an extremely strong hand, take for example JJ. There will be a 1.5% chance of an other opponent having a better starting hand with heads up poker (1 opponent) – in other words, not very likely.
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With 6max that probability increases to 7.1% (somewhat likely) for 5 opponents; for a fullring table with 9 other opponents that rises again to 12.9% chance.
In fullring with 22-77, it doesn’t make sense to raise them first in from UTG (8 or 9 opponents). There is a high probability that someone could already have you beat; if not they could potentially have 2 overcards (such as AQ or QJ for example) which will have just under 50% equity vs your hand. In either situation you are not in great shape!
Therefore the strength of hands decrease as the number of opponents increases. This was covered in more detail in position is king!
A good way to understand concepts is to think about extremes. Lets extrapolate this out to a table with 100 opponents (not possible due to the number of cards in a deck but let’s run with it). It would be clear the only hand that worthwhile would be AA and possibly KK. Lower pairs would be likely to be already beat. Thus, the larger the number of opponents, the stronger you hand needs to be to enter the pot!
Blind play
Another major between fullring and 6max is the amount of time spent in the blinds. When you a play a 10 player fullring table you will be in the blinds 2/10 times or 20% of the time.
For a 6max table you will be in the blind 2/6 times or 33% of the time. So for a 6max game you will spend over 50% more time in the blinds than a full ring game. This is not something to be ignored; you will almost certainly lose from the blinds no matter how good of a poker player you are.
If out of position is difficult for you, which is typical for a beginner, you will want to avoid being in the blinds as much as possible. Therefore playing fullring tables might be the best solution when starting out.
Difference in play styles and skill levels
6max games are typically more aggressive than fullring games due to the blinds come around more frequently. In addition, the strength of each individual hand has increased when compared to fullring (see the hand chart). This will mean it’s appropriate to get all in preflop with AA-QQ and AK in a 6max game; compare this to KK+ which would be more acceptable range for fullring.
As 6max players play more hands, are more aggressive and face more aggression, they will be better equipped from a skill level standpoint than an equivalent fullring player. One of the best ways to learn and improve your poker game is to play more hands. This is difficult when playing full ring as starting hand strengths are so poor when there are lots of players left to act. The majority of your hands will be folded where you learn very little.
Benefits of fullring
Since you will play less hands in fullring, it will be an easier game to adjust to as a beginner. In fullring games player’s ranges will be more defined and easier to play against and exploit. Also, more often than not in fullring games you can avoid getting into marginal spots where you are unsure of the correct play. Marginal spots are where you are most likely to makes mistakes. Mistakes are what ultimately lose you money.
The variance of fullring games is lower than that of 6max game. The typically standard deviation of a fullring game is approximately 60-80bb/100; whereas for a 6max game that will be 90-110bb/100 depending on your exact play style. Lower variance means that the swings you experience will be much smaller – this is beneficial particularly if you haven’t got a large bankroll to start out with.
Since fullring games play at a slower pace, it allows you to sit back and watch hands take place, learn and take notes on your opponent. This is the introduction most players need to the game as opposed to the super aggressive 6max games.
Finally, it was shown that the best 6max players typically have higher win rates than full ring counterparts; however the biggest losers were also at 6max. So if you’re new to the game it may best to still with fullring to learn the game while limiting your losses.
Benefits of 6max
One of the main benefits of 6max is that you will play more hands and thus you will learn quicker. But let’s not forget that the reason we play poker is to not sit down and fold all day. We want to have fun and play as many hands as possible. For that reason fullring games can be quite boring for some players. This is especially true if you don’t play online where you can multitable.
6max is a better choice of game structure the larger the skill difference you have over your opponent. The primary reason for this is if there is a bad player on the table you only share him between 4 other players. When at a fullring table you may have to share him with 7 or 8 other players . In a fullring game, if a bad player sits down it will be very difficult to isolate him and take his money unless he is seated next to you. Often by the time you get a hand worth a raise, the bad player has already lost his stack and has left the table.
In addition, 6max games are available at higher limits than fullring tables online. Once you get past 100Nl for fullring tables it becomes difficult to find profitable games. This is not really an issue for 6max games as they are much more popular online. However at lower limits you should have no problem finding a suitable game for fullring or 6max. So don’t worry if you have just started out.
Furthermore, 6 max better prepares you for tournament shorthanded play. At the final table of a tournament, the structure will change as more players are knocked out. Most fullring players are not prepared for shorthanded games as it play very different to a full table game. This is where 6max players will excel in a tournament.
Conclusions
Although both games play differently, the skills you will learn in either game will be transferable. So don’t worry, if you want to change over; it may just take some time to adjust. For a beginner, there are many benefits for fullring games – you limit your losses when compared to 6max games, have fewer difficult decisions to make, and more time to make each decision.
Personally, I started out at fullring and when I eventually changed over to 6max as I found it more exciting – the reason we all play poker, for the thrill. But I had the basic fundamentals down before I even thought of 6max. So take that into account if you are a complete beginner.
Ultimately you should try both formats and play the one which suits you best; taking into account everything already mentioned. But what you will most likely find is that as you get more experience you will tend towards 6max; it is generally thought to be a better and more exciting game structure.
Any other differences between fullring and 6max? Please let us know.
Good luck at the tables.
The key difference between full ring and shorthanded cash games involves the number of poker players. Full ring is essentially a standard poker game where nine or ten players are seated. While some poker rooms offer a maximum of five seats in their shorthanded cash games, most are usually limited to a maximum of six seats, which is why they are commonly referred to as “6-max” tables.
The 6-max cash games are hugely popular online. Some poker players prefer these shorthanded cash games simply because they like to play against fewer opponents and they get to see more hands. Others prefer the standard full ring cash games, perhaps because they’re more like the cash games that are found in live poker venues.
Strategic Considerations
Even though the only difference between the two formats is the variation in table size, they play very differently.
Starting Hand Selection
Full ring cash games allows a player to play tight by being conservative with their moves and holding out and only committing when a very strong hand comes their way. Since the blinds are paid more frequently and there are fewer players in shorthanded games, starting hand values go up significantly. When you play 6-max cash games you need to play more poker hands and play them more aggressively. Anything that is playable in mid-position in a full ring game is generally playable in any position in 6-max games. You’ll also find that you can be the first raiser much more often when in late position, simply because there are fewer players.
Aggression Adjustment
Without a doubt, one of the most important separations between a full ring and a shorthanded game is the level of aggression. If you’re making the switch from full ring to 6-max cash games then you already know that you need to open up your range of starting hands. Aggressive play is always important in poker, but even more so in shorthanded games because you must maximize your ability to play and win with marginal and lighter holdings. This does not immediately relegate the more traditional full ring conservative players, but overly tight play will certainly can count against you. In the same vein, shorthanded games can sometimes tempt players to loosen up too much and play too many weak hands, which can lead to their downfall.
Positional Considerations
Poker 6 Max Vs Full Ring
Position is important in all forms of poker as it is obvious that it is more desirable to act last rather than first. Playing a hand from early position In a full ring cash game is a much bigger disadvantage than in shorthanded games, since there are more opponents who can enter the pot after you’ve acted. However this doesn’t mean your table position should be disregarded when playing 6-max. Players are more likely to miss the flop in shorthanded games which makes position very valuable post-flop. If you’re out of position then you’re opponents will have more opportunities to exploit you by stealing pots when you miss the flop.
Poker Full Ring Vs 6 Max 6
Increased Opportunities
6-max cash games are more profitable for skilled poker players. If you’re fortunate enough to be seated with an inferior opponent then you’ll be involved in many more pots with them. This means you can exploit your edge over these weak player far more than you ever could in a full ring game, simply because there are fewer competing players. The skilled poker player also benefits from playing 6-max games because of the wider range of hands that are played, and the knowledge of how to play these hands against weaker opponents, who might be clueless.
Bluffing and Value Betting
Although there are increased opportunities in shorthanded games and it is generally easier to bluff, you need to temper this with the realization that your fellow poker players know that aggressive play is the order of the day and you’ll get called much more frequently. That is the bad news – the good news is that due to the prevalent mind set in shorthanded games your value bets have a much higher likelihood of being called.
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In shorthanded games you may be able to confuse your opponents by making value bets that are larger than normal. These larger bets may seem like bluffs as they appear to be discouraging a call. The contrarian nature of poker (strong is weak and weak is strong) many times makes an opponent even more willing to call. Try betting about one and one half times the pot as a value bet and you might be surprised at how often you’ll be called.
Higher Variance
You’ll experience larger swings in shorthanded games. This is simply because players will be involved in more pots with weaker hands, and betting them more aggressively. Your style of play will influence how much variance you personally experience. If there is greater variance in shorthanded games, then it stands to reason that handling the highs and lows will require a larger than normal bankroll than full ring games.
What Should You Play?
This will depend on your style of poker and your thirst for action. If it’s action you crave then shorthanded play should be your game of choice. By nature of the fewer number of players, you will be forced to play more hands than when at a full table. The playable hand values go up significantly and since there are less players to act behind you, aggressive play is essential. You simply cannot just sit there and wait for premium cards.
If you’re starting out then it’s generally better to begin by playing full ring games. This will allow you to build a solid foundation and learn the basics of good cash game play with less risk to your bankroll and your ego. Once you’ve gained the necessary experience and skills you can then progress to the shorthanded 6-max tables and get a feel for what kind of mixture of patience and aggression that’s required to succeed.
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By Tim Ryerson
Tim is from London, England and has been playing poker since the late 1990’s. He is the ‘Editor-in-Chief’ at Pokerology.com and is responsible for all the content on the website.