Rush poker, the patent pending invention of Fulltilt poker seems to be the game that turns the online poker world upside-down.
Basically, the rules are the same as any normal game of poker, with only two major differences, but which totally change the way the game should be played:
- Instead of playing a normal 6max or full-ring game, you are in a pool of players with 100-200 opponents.
- Possibility to make a quick fold, which lets you switch to a new hand, before your turn to act comes.
In terms of profitability there are major differences for both the site and the poker player. Four rush poker tables now allows you to play 1000-1200 hands per hour instead of 300, with about the same effort. That means four times higher winnings at the same winning rate, and a four times higher rakeback. If you add VIP programs, you will understand why being a good rush player can boost your winnings.
I met some good poker players, that are unable to beat this game, for such a simple reason: they can not adapt.
So, I made a tutorial for all myRakebackDeals members, to offer some helpful tips on how to improve your winning rate.
Note: This tutorial assumes that you are not a beginner in poker, you have basic knowledge about strategy and terms, you are using a hud and you are serious when it comes to poker.
Table of contents:
- Loose vs tight
- Position
- Set mining
- AA / KK
- QQ / JJ
- AT / AJ
- CBet - when to double barrel?
- Check - raise
- Playing suited-connectors
- Playing Ax suited
- Steal in rush poker
- Fold equity in rush poker
- Semi-bluff: when?
- Calling to a river bet
- Tilting
- When to change gears?
Loose vs tight
I think it's the first issue which should be cleared when it comes to rush. It is usually a question that irritates me: what is the best play? Loose or tight? Well, my answer is: Both. It is easier to play tight than loose, that's another story. On the other side, loose is more fun, right?So, I'm not going to answer this question, but to provide some range sites around which will you'll feel most comfortable when it comes to rush poker. But that not means one style is better than the other.
Below are listed the three styles of play, which normally will give you the best results:
(VP $ IP / PFR / AF)
- 14 / 10 / 3: Classic tight-aggresive style.
- 10 / 7 / 2.5: My favorite - best long term results, easy to play regardless of opponents.
- 19 / 15 / 2 - I recommend especially when playing on weekends. It has two advantages:
- It allows you to play a lot of speculative hands, which can do damage against casual players.
- It generates much higher rakeback at the same hands/hour rate.
Position
I do not have much to say here, but it is an issue as important as when playing 6max or FR and I did not want to miss it. Discussion of positions would be present in many of the paragraphs below, so keep in mind: position, position, position.Set mining
With a pair in hand, you should see about 95% of flops.I personally think it is the most powerful weapon when it comes to rush poker. That's why I chose to present it before strong hands chapter.
Why:
A tendency of a player when it comes to rush poker is to play very tight, waiting for premium hands: AA, KK. At a rate of 1,200 hands per hour, divided about AA and KK once every 200 hands, that means every 5 minutes you will have AA or KK. Beginners love these hands to the river, and tend to quick fold a lot and wait to be dealt hands like these. And when they find them, they tend to over-estimating them in post-flop play.
Hands set for mining: 22-TT (88-TT range Can be Played for value pair But only in position)
Play:
Pre-flop:
Raise them from Any position
3Bet call if:
- You are last to act pre-flop
- The stack of your opponent is 10 times the amount you should pay to see the flop
4Bet if:
- I would suggest to 4bet only TT, and against shortstackers that 3bet you in position.
On the flop:
- Not set - no bet. You Do not Have to play tricky when you are dealt 22, with a JQ9 flop. Fold.
- When you hit the flop, bet big. Bet at Least 80% of the pot. Also, try to calculate your bets and try to commit your opponent until the river. Pay attention to any kind of draws, especially when your opponent is in position.
The kind of hand that can drastically reduced rate of your winnings:
Hero: raises 22 in middle position
Villain: re-raise Ts9h on the button
Hero: calls
Flop: 8d 2h Js
Do not slow play this ever. If he was a utg raiser, you could flat call the flop, but when he is in position he have a bigger range and the turn card can make you hate your life.
AA/KK
Two hands for pre-flop/flop play (you should get allin with them pre-flop or on the flop in some conditions. otherwise you should fold them to aggression)Play
Preflop: Raise them from any position, 3bet them always, and call a 4bet in position(this is mostly the case when you are running into KK QQ JJ hands and it is safety for you to call here and to go allin after your opponent is cbeting).
Flop:
- First: Pay attention to sets. you know why.
- Big action pre-flop: go allin on the flop(or at least try to commit yourself).
- No action pre-flop: make your cbet/raise and fold to aggresion because you are probably behind here.
Turn/river: you should see this only when you are allin.
QQ/JJ
Tricky hands? Yes, they are tricky, but mostly because players make them so. With queens and jacks you should 3bet and 4bet them to win the pot right there, but be pre-pare to fold them to aggression. Think what kind of hand would 4bet you, and you are ahead with queens or jacks? You are big underdog against AA, KK, coin-flip against AK. You are dominating AQ and TT, but this kind of hands would not 4bet you most of the times. Don't go allin with them pre-flop, unless you are knowing you opponent very well.Usually with queens, you will try to get money in the pot from AK AQ AJ and from speculative hands (unless he is a fishy guy) and you win this hands on the flop for at least 70% of the time.
AT/AJ
Tell me what are your winnings with these hands, and I will tell you if you are good or not.Bad players would generally win small pots and lose big money with these hands. I personally think that this kind of hands are making poker industry so profitable.
Play:
First to say: Fold them pre-flop out of position.
Preflop: Raise them from middle-late position, but don't call a 3bet.
Flop: you have position now, first thing you should do if an ace comes, is to see if you are against a bigger ace. To figure this out you should bet/raise here. If your opponent is folding, nice hand. Else...
Turn:Try to pot control until show-down. You could be good with your ace here, but you don't want to play a 200bb pot with top-pair jack kicker.
-- End of part 1 --
Get rakeback for fulltilt rush poker now
__________________________________________________________
