1 ) ? get_query_var('paged') : 1; // Your args $custom_args = array( 'posts_per_page' => $per_page, 'paged' => $paged, 'post__not_in' => get_option('sticky_posts'), 'caller_get_posts'=>1, ); // Get the current query vars, if they exist $args = array_filter( $wp_query->query_vars ); // The array filter removes 0, false, null values, etc // If there were args, ie. a non empty array, merge them with the custom ones, else just use the custom ones $args = ( $args && ( is_array( $args ) && !empty( $args ) ) ) ? array_merge( $custom_args , $args ) : $custom_args; // Put the args into the query query_posts( $args ); // If the query has results, ie. posts if( have_posts() ) : $counter = 0; // While the query has posts while( have_posts() ) : the_post(); // Increase counter by one, so first is 1, second is 2, etc... $counter++; // If the counter is less then 6, it's one of the first 5 posts if( $counter < 6 ) : ?>