Basic Rush Poker Strategy: A First Look

Full Tilt Poker turned the online poker world on its head this week when it introduced a new poker variety called Rush Poker.  Many of you have probably already tried it out, but for those of you who have not, I’ll give you the quick rundown.

In Rush Poker, the game is exactly the same as regular poker (Full Tilt only has No Limit Hold’em Rush tables going right now) except that when you fold or the hand ends, whichever comes first, you are immediately whisked off to a new table where a new hand is dealt instantly.  Because of this constant table shuffling, you do not select your table to start.  You simply enter a lobby with everyone else at the same game and stakes and the system seats you automatically.  You will play against different opponents every hand, although you will encounter opponents you have seen in previous hands if you play enough.  After all, there is a limited number of players sitting at the tables.

I have tried a few sessions of Rush Poker and, while I am certain the dynamic of the game will change over time, I have a come up with a few basic strategy points that should help get you going while the game is in its infancy.  By all means, feel free to leave comments with your own thoughts, or tweet us @Pokernewsdaily.  These are just my initial observations.

The Grass is Always Greener…

Recreational poker players don’t typically play to make money.  Sure, they want to pull a profit, but they primarily play to have fun.  They want action.  To the recreational player, regular poker games can easily get boring with all of the folding and waiting and waiting and folding.  But in Rush Poker, recreational players are rewarded for folding – they are dealt two new cards immediately.  Because of this, recreational players (some of you may like to call them “fish”) are “rushing” to Rush Poker.

What’s interesting is that normally, recreational players tend to play looser pre-flop because they want to play hands rather than fold.  Folding is no fun.  But in Rush Poker, players so far tend to be tighter pre-flop than in standard No Limit Hold’em games.  Why?  Because they don’t have to force themselves to play weak hands just to get involved.  They can just get new cards every few seconds.

Therefore, I have been more aggressive than normal when the action folds to me pre-flop.  I will pretty much raise with any two cards on the button or in the cutoff and will look to raise with weaker than normal holdings from the hijack or earlier.  Basically, my raising range is wider than in a regular game if I have the opportunity to open the betting because there is a higher likelihood that the players after me are only going to play with premium hole cards.  The “Quick Fold” button makes this even easier because players who hit that button are taken to the next table before their hands are officially folded, making it even more appealing for recreational players to fold.  If someone challenges me, then more often than not I will know they have something and I can adjust my play from there.

Now, the Rest of the Story

Because such a high percentage of Rush players are recreational players, you are likely going to see some awful post-flop play.  Just like pre-flop, post-flop play tends to be pretty tight, so putting pressure on your opponents, even if you don’t have much, will often allow you to take down the pot prior to showdown.

That’s not to say that you should just be throwing chips around like crazy and trying to bluff everyone out of their seats.  In fact, because players will be more willing to fold post-flop so they can get on with the next hand, you don’t have to bet as much as you might in a regular game to force a fold.  When deciding between, for example, betting half the pot and betting the pot as a continuation bet, half the pot should typically be just as effective in getting players who whiff to fold as a larger bet would.

At the same time, however, those same opponents will not want to let go of their cards if they make a solid hand, which is why you still want to take it easy with your continuation bets.  The guy with air is going to already be at another table no matter what, but the guy with top pair, top kicker is going to make your life miserable if you didn’t hit the flop.  Hence, the benefit of betting a smaller amount than you might in a regular game – it puts you at less risk.  Fortunately, these players can also be relieved of their chips fairly easily if you flop a monster, as they will stay married to that same top pair, top kicker.

Learn Shorthand

It may seem like it is useless to try to remember opponents’ tendencies and get reads on them because of the speed of Rush Poker and the constant re-shuffling of the tables, but this not true.  In fact, it can be very helpful.  The first thing I notice is who appears to be auto-folding by either hitting the “Fold” advance action check box or clicking the “Quick Fold” button.  They are easy to spot – their hole cards are folded the split-second the action gets to them.  When three or four players auto-fold, they all appear to be folding at virtually the same time.  I tag them with a note and if I see them to my left later, I know that raising is going to be successful more often against them.  If they don’t fold to my raise, I know they have a hand worth playing.

I also keep an eye on players who raise from late position or 3bet from the big blind.  Often, these are more skilled players who are thinking the same way I am, trying to steal with a wider range late and re-steal from button raisers.

Just as you should take notes on your opponents, remember that they can take notes on you.  As such, try not to be too noticeable.  Make your bets standard and consistent.  Don’t give them anything to note about you.  And don’t be a habitual auto-folder, especially on the button or in the blinds, as you don’t want to miss stealing opportunities.  Just because you can “Quick Fold” and move on to the next hand doesn’t mean you should.

I fully expect the game to change over time as people figure out how best to play Rush Poker, but for now, what I laid out here should give you a base from which to start.