Six Plus Hold'em More Exciting Than No Limit According To Phil Ivey

While No Limit Hold’em was the game which launched the online poker boom, the poker landscape has since moved on with most of the pros now spending their time playing a wide mix of different variants, including Omaha, Razz, Stud Hi/Lo, and Badugi to name but a few. Amongst the multitude of poker games available, this week Tom Dwan and Phil Ivey have been promoting a new game called “Six Plus Hold’em,” which is essentially the same as No Limit Hold’em, only with fewer cards. In fact, the game is played using 36 cards with all the twos through to five removed from the deck.
In addition, aces count as both high and low cards with A-6-7-8-9 representing the lowest straight possible, and together with other elements of the game Six Plus Hold’em is being touted as a more exciting format than the original “Cadillac of Poker” as it lends itself to an increased likelihood of action. This is seen as important for attracting more recreational players to poker, and as Phil Ivey explains:
“It’s a little bit more exciting than playing regular No Limit Hold’em because you get to play more hands and there’s a lot more luck involved. So I think it’s a lot more exciting for a new player.”
Lending his views on the new poker variant, Tom Dwan, a regular in the Macau Big Game, pointed out that a player is also more likely to make stronger hands than in No Limit Hold’em, but at the same time the player will be a smaller favorite to win than in regular Hold’em, thus allowing for more gamble in the game. However, Dwan conceded it will take more time to work out all the intricacies of the game, and as he explains:
“I’m still trying to figure out the game myself as I’m sure a lot of other people are.”
Meanwhile, the elusive Phil Ivey actually made an appearance at this year’s WSOP thirty-three days into the competition, and speaking to PokerNews said:
“Of course I care about bracelets. But you know, sometimes there are games elsewhere in the world and duty calls.”