Aggression is the name of the game. Bet, Bet and Bet some more - even when your beat you have to keep betting. Bet the good hands, Bet the bad hands. Every hand will start off by someone raising and then someone either calling or three betting.

From there the person with the last raise preflop has the initiative and they will keep betting until someone takes the initiative away from them. Slow playing will not work in a game like that. You won’t get enough cards to compete with them blinding you to death. You’ll need to mix it up with them.

The first concept you need to understand is that you aren’t playing a numbers game anymore, it is a person game. If you check, they bet. That means that you aren’t concerned about odds; you’re only goal is to beat the person you are in the pot with. If a hand is almost worth a call, then it is definitely worth a bet in shorthanded play. Always be the bettor or raiser. Pay attention to who you are playing and try to get a handle on what they raise with and how they play their hands after the flop, on the turn and river. Will they raise from late position everytime and bet religiously unless you reraise? Will they check raise on a bluff? Will they raise or reraise with no pair on the flop or draw? These things help you out a little; you’ll be able to save a few bets.

Next, expect some fluctuation in your stack. That’s normal. You’ll be winning and losing a lot of hands. You will inevitably pay off some good hands but you can’t let that stop you. How loose you play post flop depends on how loose the other guy is playing. If he is betting nothing you may raise even bottom pair. You’ll go farther with your overcards and you need to be capable of a check raise bluff or semi-bluff on the turn card. That’s a very powerful move in shorthanded games. Occasionally check raise with middle pair on the turn. It only costs you another big bet or two and you’ll get much more value on your next hand when it is a monster.

Lastly, for hand selection you’ll want to play middle cards, pairs and above. Avoid hands with low cards like 2, 3 and 4 (unless with an A). You want to be able to draw to either card and hit a pair to win. Hands like J8 and T7 are playable against really aggressive loose players. You’ll also throw in hands like K6s Q5s etc. You’ll also be raising a lot from on the button as well as reraising with the hands above. Remember it only costs you one more small bet preflop but then you have the initiative.

Playing poker shorthanded is nothing like in a full game. Many of the moves you do at a table with 3 or 4 people would be totally wrong at a full game. Short handed games are fun because you get to play way more cards and it is a much faster pace.

* Play Less Hands (Common Sense Rule #1)

The less hands you play, the more money you keep. This doesn’t just go for tournaments but for poker in general. Play only the best possible hands you can! Meaning, only play the hands that will give you the best return on your investment. Duh!

* Use Your Mind (Common Sense Rule #2)

Think through every hand. The pro’s get to the final tournaments because they think through every hand and every move the person made. Think HARD! What hand do you think they have? What hand do you think they just made? Why are they betting this much? Are just a few examples of questions you should be asking yourself.

* Switch Up Your Play (Common Sense Rule #3)

Just Bluffed a big hand? Consider showing your bluffed hand to the table, then next time you have a huge hand bet really strong - you might get a few people who still think your bluffing! Alternate your play in a non-predictable manner but try to keep your betting rhythmic and predictable no matter what hand you have!

* Feel Out The Situation and Bluff HARD (C/S Rule #4)

Don’t bluff when you have Two Pair and a flush draw on the flop? No one betting, but you have position? Make a smart-bluff at the pot. Make a bet that you think that is big, but callable. Like you want someone to call you. If no one has anything watch them all fold like cowards.

Don’t be scared if you get a caller, REbluff him on the next card - IF you don’t think it helped him.

If that fails, don’t hesitate to fold