Recently, the USA-friendly Full Tilt Poker introduced Rush Poker, which allows players to move tables quickly after their action in a hand has ended. Poker News Daily sat down with CardRunners instructor and Full Tilt Poker pro Andrew “muddywater” Wiggins to discuss the brand new addition.
Poker News Daily: Give us your first impressions of Rush Poker. Was it a hit with you?
Andrew Wiggins: I love the idea. I’m an action junkie, so it’s perfect for me. The more hands I can play in an hour, the happier I am.
PND: Do you have any tips for gaining an edge in the face-paced game that you can share with our readers?
Andrew Wiggins: It’s early and I’m sure the play will change as people get used to the new game play. However, I’ve done well playing tight early and attacking in position. Players are playing extra tight because it seems worthwhile to wait for a good hand. That’s something you can exploit. You also have the added advantage of players at your table not knowing that you are playing very loose in position.
PND: Does taking notes on players become a necessity or does the action go way too quickly?
Andrew Wiggins: I think the action is way too quick to take notes. I’ve never been a good note-taker though, so take that with a grain of salt.
PND: A lot of players have experienced issues with their Heads-Up Displays (HUDs) not working properly. What’s your take?
Andrew Wiggins: It seems that the action is too quick for the HUDs to keep up. I love that. I’ve never been one to rely heavily on my HUD and I know that puts me at a disadvantage against those who know how to use it well. By essentially eliminating the possibility of using a HUD, I think the games have more uncertainty and therefore more gambling.
PND: Is ABC poker the most common strategy in Rush Poker games or what’s an overarching style that you think players will use?
Andrew Wiggins: ABC poker seems to be the common style at the moment, but the games have only been out for a few days. These games will, without question, evolve. The key is to adjust your game properly. For now, I like playing loosely to exploit the excess usage of ABC poker.
PND: Do you think that Rush Poker will be here to stay or is it a fad?
Andrew Wiggins: I think Rush Poker is an evolution of the game of poker that is here to stay. It’s a brilliant move by Full Tilt Poker and I applaud them for being innovative. I hadn’t played a hand of No Limit Hold’em cash in over six months because I was just too bored of the game. I can’t get enough of rush. If the poker sites can do anything to get people enthusiastic about playing, then they are doing something right. That’s what gets fish to the games.
PND: How have you fared so far? What stakes have you test driven?
Andrew Wiggins: I have done quite well so far, but I have a small sample size. I’ve played 100nl for the vast majority of my play. I’ve seen some really poor play and I’m hoping that becomes a trend.
PND: Explain who Rush Poker is best suited for.
Andrew Wiggins: Rush Poker is best for the action junkie who gets bored at a regular poker table, but I think anyone would enjoy it. You don’t have to pay attention to HUD stats or table dynamics and you get to play a ton of hands. Who wouldn’t like that?