Part: Part Eleven - Short Tables

A fold full-ring is a raise short

Pre-flop
5-handed • Blinds 400 / 800Pot 1,200 (1.5 BB)COQ♣7♦● 20,000 (25 BB)YOUfolded to youSB● 20,000 (25 BB)posts 400 (0.5 BB)BB● 20,000 (25 BB)posts 800 (1 BB)D

Five-handed. It folds to you on the cutoff with Q♣7♦ - a hand you'd fold without thinking at a full table.

The same Q♣7♦ you'd muck full-ring, now five-handed on the cutoff. Best?

WhyOpen-raise. The very hand that's an automatic fold under the gun at a full table becomes a profitable open five-handed on the cutoff - fewer players, faster blinds, and rising hand values flip the decision. Re-evaluate every hand for the table size you're actually at.
What happensYou raise; it folds.  Same cards, opposite decision.
A hand is only as weak as the table makes it: Q-7 offsuit folds full-ring but opens five-handed. Always recalibrate hand values to the number of players.

Re-evaluate every hand for the table size - a clear full-ring fold can be a clear short-handed raise.