"Online poker on steroids." That's how one TwoPlusTwo poster described Rush Poker, the newest spectacle introduced by Full Tilt Poker that has action junkies drooling over a fast-paced format we've never seen before.

Full Tilt, the world's second largest online poker site, launched Rush Poker in its latest software update on Tuesday. The concept is this: Players join a large player pool in a ring game and face a different table of players every hand they play. As soon as they fold their hand, they'll be moved to another table for their next hand.

The player response thus far has been overwhelming.

"Hats off to Full Tilt, the update is awesome," said TwoPlusTwo forum poster Robusto1. "PokerStars should take notes. FTP has taken a risk deviating away from the norm and I'm sure it will pay off. Now that the two sites aren't as homogeneous they might start competing on price (rake)."

"I think it's amazing," added another TwoPlusTwo member. "It's like FTP found a way to turn what would be semi competent players and turn them into complete donkaholics. I played $25NL and it felt like I was playing on PartyPoker back in the day. I never got paid off more with my big hands. Villains were pushing all-in on complete bluffs when I had full houses, calling me down with mid pair. Plus I get rakeback so it's like a wet dream."

Rakeback seems to be a leading reason as to the popularity of the new concept. Both rakeback and Full Tilt Points (FTPs) are calculated the same as they would in a regular ring game, but players will play far more hands at a table of Rush Poker. On average, players will see around 300 hands per hour.

In a poll on TwoPlusTwo asking if members like FTP's Rush Poker, 72% of poll takers said "Yes" through 700 votes. While most agreed that the new concept is enjoyable, many questioned whether it is good for the game.

"It's more like video poker in my view than normal poker," said TheGaussBeast. "No reads, no table dynamic. Furthermore, playing you get into gambling mode. I am susceptible to this as I suppose many, but not all players are. You are clicking away getting that mental stimulation that is akin to slots. You can take your time, but will you?"

"I don't like it for these reasons. Moreover, I am concerned that this is exactly where the fish will go. To the rush tables to gamble it up, leaving a bunch of regulars to fight and grind it out at the normal tables."

TwoPlusTwo member StoneRoses agreed: "What good is finding a read on a player if you don't seem him for another 20 minutes? This, if anything, promotes ABC poker in my opinion, no player specific plays just standard lines non-stop."

Full Tilt Red Pro and CardRunners instructor Taylor "Green Plastic" Caby weighed in with his opinions, addressing both ends of the spectrum: "I actually think the Rush games will benefit thinking players. The 35 big blind buy-in makes short stacking harder, the lack of HUD (heads up display) might even more than make up for the fact that you can't get 'traditional' reads on players."

"Yeah, I don't know if a guy historically opens light on the cutoff or what his cold-four-betting range is," Caby continued, "but I do know he's from Spain, bought in for 41 big blinds, and his FTP name is FelipeIvey1948 -- I'd like to think I have a pretty good idea what he's all about."

"In sum, I don't think these games will become more popular than regular poker, but there are a lot of reasons why I think it's good for sites to experiment with stuff like this in order to offer a more options for their customers."

12 Responses to “Rush Poker Player Reactions”

1. John Brooks Pounders Says:
   January 20th, 2010 at 9:45 pm

   Great article about Rush Poker!

2. PokerPro Says:
   January 21st, 2010 at 7:49 am

   Awesome idea.

3. This is not poker Says:
   January 21st, 2010 at 12:40 pm

   WELCOME PEONS

4. This is not poker Says:
   January 21st, 2010 at 12:41 pm

   This nothing more than a money machine for FT, and an abomination of an age old game.

5. Ryan Says:
   January 21st, 2010 at 12:47 pm

   I love playing this game. I’ve played it the last couple of nights and can’t get enough. At the moment, I like having one Rush Poker entry running along with a normal table along side it. Been working well as long as I don’t rush through playing a good hand.

6. Peter Finch Says:
   January 21st, 2010 at 6:35 pm

   Strategy is very easy in this game.
   1. If people fold to you – no matter what hand you have no matter what position raise 3x the BB and you will usually take the blinds every time (around 65-70%). Don’t even look at your cards. People are waiting for big hands and fold is the order of the day. If anyone re-raises you pre flop fold. If anyone calls or raises before you – fold.
   2. If one person calls you and you hit nothing on the flop – bet a pot size bet – 70% of the time they will fold right there and then.
   3. With 2 callers again if your the first to act – bet the pot even if you have nothing. One may call you – play your normal game after that.
   4. If any one re raises – fold
   5. Because of the number of hands, most people who call you will be on high cards, if you call with crap, and the flop hits you – you will be payed off big time.

   As no-one can get a read on you – you can use this every single hand and a you will pick up most of the blinds, and most of the pots after the flop. Any hands that go further than that – even if you any win a minority – you will be in front. Your going to win more than you loose – I know, I’ve been doing this for the last couple of days. it will esp. work in the lower stake games.

   Its only a matter of time before everyone figures this out. This simply cracks the Rush Poker as being any game of ‘real poker’ at all. Personally, I’m a hopeless player – So my only claim to fame will be this post – the first to provide a winning system to this new form of poker.

7. Anonymous Says:
   January 22nd, 2010 at 1:33 pm

   i totally agree. i been using a concept very similar to urs. however i find myself playing a different game than poker.

8. Pinney Says:
   January 23rd, 2010 at 1:11 am

   Peter, I dont think you’re thinking it through enough. As you pointed out, eventually everyone will figure this out. And their play will adjust because of it. Your post is exactly as if poker itself had just been invented, and you said “if everyone folds to you raise and you’ll usually take the pot”.

9. Nicholas Faupel Says:
   January 26th, 2010 at 7:21 am

   Broke junkie is drooling.

10. jeremiah Says:
    January 29th, 2010 at 1:41 pm

    This is the greatest damn game for those of us with ADD. I can’t get enough, I am playing 3 tables at once, and have damn near cleared my deposit bonus in less than 2 days.

11. Ragnarok zeny Says:
    February 9th, 2010 at 2:28 am

    i totally agree. i been using a concept very similar to urs. however i find myself playing a different game than poker.

12. Andrew Says:
    February 22nd, 2010 at 12:56 pm

    Only advantage I will get from it is the ability to make Ironman status in the shortest amount of time spent online.

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