If you want to excel at online poker, you need to crush six max cash games. 6-max (6-handed) poker is by far one of the most popular online cash game formats. Before now, full-ring (9-handed poker) was more dominant, but after players noticed they could get more action by going short-handed, full-ring games hit the deck.
If you want to crush 6-Max Poker and other online poker cash games in tournaments and make hundreds or thousands of dollars monthly, there are a few things to know. You can become a crusher at low and high stakes by employing the right strategy.
Most of the winnings come from weaker players, which shows that strategy goes a long way towards determining results at the table.
In this guide, I’ve put together the best starting hands, pocket pairs, and suited connectors, how to play in different positions, putting your opponent in ranges, and other selectively aggressive strategies.
Best Starting Hands – Pocket Pairs & Suited Connectors
Many poker players make the mistake of playing hands that look good but might not be as valuable as we think. Most times, they come in the form of A-Q to A-X, two high face cards, small pocket pairs, or suited connectors.
The latter two usually hold up less and tend to connect more with the flop, leaving players in trouble. You should start with stronger hands from early positions and only raise hands that will be +EV (for an open-raise).
Suited connectors are simply hands made by two consecutive, same-suited cards. They can turn into flushes, straights, or even a straight flush. However, since the odds of flopping flushes or straights are low, your best step is to play these hands cheaply without getting too aggressive at the beginning. It is best to see suited connectors as ‘wildcards’.
Pocket pairs, on the other hand, are usually more valuable than suited connectors. Since the odds of flopping a set are about 8 to 1, you could raise with pocket pairs in a late position if you are the first player to act.
Taking the blinds might not be bad. Do not overplay your pocket pairs, thinking that you already have a’made’ hand. Remember, small pocket pairs are only good for set mining. Once missed, you are likely to be behind. Finally, remember to isolate the limpers and never allow your opponents to see a free flop.
How to Play in Early Position
Information is crucial in poker, and you can get it best by playing in position. Although positions could change, the first three players after the blind are usually in the early positions. You must be careful about the cards you play here because this is perhaps the most difficult position tactically.
Do not start with weak hands; rather, go for stronger hands to help you observe your opponents better. Narrow your hand range to high or middle pairs, strong aces, and do not forget to improvise on the button.
How to Play in Middle Position
This position in poker is probably easier, but you would still want to play with your hands only. You could open up the table a bit if the stacks are over 150 big blinds deep and it is tight. If someone has already raised, it makes sense to only play hands that are Q-Q and over, or A-K.
If the action is intense, you could re-raise Q-Q, J-J, or 10-10. Alternatively, you could flat-call if you are with a tight player.
Your strategy here should involve more all-ins and highly aggressive plays both preflop and on the flop. Do not forget to steal the blinds at any available opportunity. Mix up your play and play a wider range of hands in the middle position.
How to Play in Late Position
Late position refers to the position of the last two players before the blind. It is usually the most favorable since you can examine everyone else’s actions and adjust your play. Calling early position raisers, re-raising before the flop, and flop floating are other important tactics here.
If the pot has not been opened, you could consider going in with a wide range of hands. If there are many players in the pot and you have hands like the A-9 suit off, it is usually better to fold. The ‘Golden Rule’ in the late position is the button. Play a lot when you are on it. Also, be aggressive towards tight or weak players before you.
Putting Opponents on Ranges
Ranges are extremely important when it comes to poker strategy. Ranges are even more effective than attempting to put your opponent on a specific hand. Thus, you should always be “ranging” your opponent as the hand progresses. Assess your opponent’s range for each action and narrow it depending on the facts given. Still, what happens when your opponent has a hand that you didn’t think was in their range?
Whether you are the caller or the aggressor, you can leverage this strategy for better results. First, if we range our opponent against the board, we can see that they have a range disadvantage due to a lack of good hands. Our advantage becomes evident as we range ourselves in the same way.
Also, we can use the power of our overall range against the weakness of our opponent’s range by having a large number of strong hands. This allows us to bluff more convincingly, value bet more confidently, and, as a result, earn more chips! Remember, however, that ranging is never definitive.
Top 3 Poker Sites for 6 Max
- Ignition Poker – Read Review
- Bovada Poker – Read Review
- ACR Poker – Read Review
1. Ignition Poker
There is virtually no better poker site for casual players searching for high-octane card action than Ignition Poker. Despite its youth, it is now one of the most popular poker sites, with thousands of primarily amateur players active at any given time. I currently play here on a weekly basis.
They also allow you to switch table colors, use auto-mucking, and play up to four tables at a time. A chat box feature can also be used to get social with other players at the table.
One of the main reasons Ignition gained instant popularity with passionate poker players is that it acquired its poker room—as well as its player base—from Bovada, one of the most well-known names in online gambling. In its six years on the gambling scene, Ignition even outperformed this industry behemoth. You can get started on Ignition Poker here.
Pros
- Players with the most traffic
- The brand with a long history
- There are numerous tournaments held every day.
- Non-professional players are protected.
- They offer Bonuses with the highest value
- All gadgets are compatible
Cons
- There is no official Rakeback
2. Bovada Poker
Bovada, like Ignition, aims to provide a level playing field for recreational poker players. It uses the same anonymous games to make it harder for pros to use long-term analytical tools or even table selection to target weak and new users.
The software Bovada employs is cutting-edge, with features such as rapid seating. A few years ago, it had minor troubles with major crashes and other issues interfering with gameplay, but these concerns have since been resolved.
The events on hand are also top-notch, with the Monthly Milly taking place on a random Sunday each month and featuring a one-million-dollar GTD being the most notable. Omaha tournaments are available in addition to the usual Texas Hold’em tournaments. You can get started on Bovada here.
Pros
- Cutting-edge user interface
- A large number of players
- There’s an online casino, sportsbook,
- Monthly income of $1 million Milly Tournament
Cons
- VIP benefits are limited
3. Americas Cardroom
Americas Cardroom, also known as ACR, is one of the most popular online poker rooms today, with a player base akin to Ignition. However, the competition is stiff because the site permits players to employ tracking software, HUDs, and other pro-player poker tools.
You can also personalize your tables here, adding to the interface’s uniqueness. It’s wonderful to have the ability to alter the landscape from time to time, even if it doesn’t improve the overall experience. You can get started on America’s Cardroom here.
Pros
- a large number of players
- Poker bonus of up to $2,000
- Accepts almost 30 different cryptocurrencies
- A fantastic user interface
Cons
- There isn’t a lot of high-stakes action
Final Thoughts
I hope you enjoyed these tips on how to crush 6 max online poker cash games. 6-max poker is one of the most thrilling games you could find. An aggressive style pre-flop 3-betting and barrelling is important to your success.
Although not overly complicated, it is important to know the basics such as how to play in the early, middle, and late positions.
Putting your opponent in ranges and knowing the best starting hand, pocket pairs, and suited connectors gives you a much better shot at winning. Ignition Poker remains one of the best places to find entertainment of this quality. If nothing else good luck on the virtual felt in your next session.
