Fast-Fold Poker – Should You Play The Most Popular Poker Variant?
Fast-Fold Poker – Should You, Or Shouldn’t You?
As a poker player then we’re sure you’re familiar with the concept of fast-fold poker. This game was an invention from Full Tilt Poker and first appeared in 2010. Since then the idea of fast-fold poker has gained mainstream traction among all poker players. Even some of the best online casinos with jackpots are offering this variant of the game. Depending on the casino in question, each has a different title for the game. For example, PartyPoker called the game “Fast Forward”. Titan Poker calls it “Speed Poker”. And 888 Poker gave it the name of “Snap Poker”. But each of these games shares the same concept. The real question for you is what is this game? And even more importantly, should you start playing it?
What Is Fast-Fold Poker?
To break it down into its simplest form, fast-fold poker is a variant of the traditional game of poker. It’s where you always have the option of being able to fold your cards anytime. Once done, then you will immediately begin a new game. In the traditional game of poker, there would be 7 other players. And if one of them decided to fold immediately after being dealt their cards, then they would need to wait whilst the whole hand is played out by the other players. But fast-fold poker is different. When you fold, you immediately find yourself at another table, with a new set of players. if you want to try your hand at fast-fold poker, then head over to Bet365 Casino. You’ll receive a great welcome bonus of 100% up to €/£100 if you’re a new player.
To be a cynic, it’s easy to see why online casinos have adopted this variant. With much less time spent hanging around and waiting for the hand to play out, with fast-fold poker there’s less chance of money being lost simply because the player is unable to play. It’s been noted that by the time a player who has folded is ready to re-enter the game, around 12 hands could have been played. For any casino, this is a lot of cash left on the table.
Is Fast-Fold Poker Really Poker?
Many traditional poker players would argue that fast-fold poker is so absolutely different from regular poker that it shouldn’t even carry the name of “Poker” at all. On the face of it, the rules might be similar. But the actual gameplay is as different as chalk from cheese. However, the online traffic numbers paint a different story amongst the general gambling public.
Since its introduction at online casinos, there has been a huge spike in traffic coming to play fast-fold poker in the hope to win the jackpot online. PokerStars has reported that around 30% of its total traffic is going to play fast-fold poker. As you can imagine, that’s a massive number of people. Still, if you’re one of those people wanting in trying your hand at fast-fold poker, let’s first have a delve into the pros and cons of this popular card game variation.
The Pros of Fast-Fold Poker
More Wins
The general theory is that as you’re not spending so much time waiting around you would play more hands. Simple maths tells us that by playing more you will be able to increase your jackpot winning chances. In a real game of poker, you may find yourself sitting at a table with opponents who are not really your cup of tea. But with fast-fold poker, you can disappear the very second you decide to fold.
Circling Sharks
There is one major part of online poker that few players like to discuss. That’s the fact that there are always sharks circling around looking for weak and feeble players. In short, players they can feed off. To that end, fast-fold poker is hugely advantageous for the beginner or casual player. That’s because it makes it virtually impossible for sharks to identify their prey. During gameplay, there’s simply not enough time to sort out the quality of new players before they have folded and left the table. So to a great degree, it’s much safer for the new gambler.
Game Simplicity
On the whole, you’ll find that fast-fold poker is generally much more simplistic than the regular game. Another contributing factor to this is the fact that you will not be spending enough time with other players to be focusing on the tells or playing style. Of course, this works the other way round. Opponents will have no time to be able to pick up your weaknesses and take advantage of them.
Loyalty Points
All online casinos will count fast-fold poker hands in exactly the same manner as they do traditional poker. So you’ll find that your loyalty points and added bonuses will remain virtually the same. But due to the fact that fast-fold poker is played at a much faster rate, you will be able to stack up even more comps and loyalty points. Much more so than if you were playing a traditional version of the game of poker in a regular casino. By playing online at Bet365 Casino, you’ll get all sorts of bonuses as well as the option of playing literally hundreds of different online casino games. Including their amazing live dealer poker.
The Cons of Fast-Fold Poker
Leaks
Being a more serious poker player, then you’ll find the fact that you’ll be moving from one table to the next, and constantly coming up against brand-new opponents, to be pretty frustrating. The fact that you’re unable to detect weaknesses, tells, and being unable to tell the playing style of your opposition takes away much of the inherent skill needed to play poker to a higher level.
Posting Blinds
If you happen to be someone who is posting blinds and yet is continually folding, then the situation could turn into one where you’re making a serious financial loss. The problem here is that you will come across a tendency to continue by default if the hand isn’t to your liking.
Thoughtless Folds
One of the main negatives of playing fast-fold poker, which all players will point to, is one of the worst jackpot winning strategies. It’s that you’re exponentially more likely to fold the type of hands you would have previously kept and played if you sat at a traditional poker table. This leads to a kind of tunnel vision. In some ways, you’re training yourself into a bad habit. A way of playing that will do you no favours when it comes to playing the traditional game of poker.
Social Aspects of Gambling
As you’re well aware here at jackpotfinder.com, we put the social aspects of gambling before anything else. One of the major problems we see with fast-fold poker at online casinos is that the social aspects of the game are completely lost. Even playing a live dealer game online you’re going to be able to chat with both the dealer and the players sitting at each of your elbows. Due to the rapid and constant changing of tables, you will have but a few seconds to get to know your opponent’s before you move on.
Conclusion: Fast-Fold Poker
As you can see there are a number of pros and cons to this variation of the game of poker. In truth we find this hard to consider as having anything to do with the traditional game which is loved by gamblers all over the world. Fast-fold poker feels more like the results of a casino business decision. Rather than that of one setting out to improve a gaming experience. Also, as a given, we are against anything that encourages gamblers to bet more. As opposed to improving their strategic skills and gaining a better understanding of the mathematics involved. Nevertheless, we cannot fight against the current fashion which sees fast-fold poker as being one of the most popular games any casino can offer.
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