Rush Poker

Warning: Those of you that do not play poker can just go ahead and skip this column. There is no summary at the end, and no interesting storyline for the average citizen.

For poker players, Full Tilt has just revolutionized the way poker is played.

People have often asked me how I can play poker on-line, and if there is significantly less strategy because you can't get reads on people you cannot see. I have often defended the similarities, because the majority of your read is determined by the players previous actions within this hand, and their previous actions to hands prior. Thus, the strategy on-line is similar to playing at a live table. For the most part the games are similar.

They were. Until this week.

With Rush Poker a player is moved to a new table immediately after folding a hand. It is crazy, and it is instant. Usually, getting a cold deck of poor hole cards is extremely frustrating. Now you can fold ten hands in a row in a minute.

I consider myself a heads-up specialist. The reason why I prefer heads up play is because you are constantly making decisions in order to outwit your opponent. It is not about patience; it is about making a play. Now, I have a way to always be involved in a hand while playing at a table with multiple players, and as soon as I fold I'm instantly moved to a new table and involved in a new hand.

This is something that would be impossible to imitate in a live game. It is only possible by technology, and it is going to completely change on-line poker.

This game constantly has new opponents so many strategies of an observant, analytical poker player will be taken away in this new format. However, it also allows you to play so many more hands. So if you are playing with an edge over the field of players you will just get that many more chances.

I just went on and played 48 hands (9-handed) in less than 12 minutes. I made $90 and I never sat around waiting for a hand. Often when I play poker on-line I'm surfing the net or watching TV or trying to find some way to distract myself so I don't get bored playing poor hands. Well, Rush Poker, takes that patience element out of the strategy and allows you to just play.*

It is fast. It is crazy, and it is going to make good players (and poker sites) very profitable.

I don't know who came up with this idea, but it's brilliant.

And if I was gambling man, I'd be willing to bet-- Poker will never be the same.

*If this was a poker blog I would write further columns about how Rush Poker changes the strategy of the game, and how you can maximize your profit in this game. However, this is not a poker blog so you'll have to e-mail me or call me if you want to talk about it.