POKER TIPS & STRATEGY

Should Serious Poker Players be Bothering with Newer Fast-Paced Options?

By Robbie Strazynski
September 04, 2019

Online poker sites are doing their utmost to attract younger players by offering fast-paced versions of the classic game. A lot of these games have a greater emphasis on chance rather than skill, but there is no denying that they are often exciting to play. The question is, is it wise for poker purists to bother with these turbo-charged tournaments? Some would argue that skilled poker players should leave these games alone because they encourage loose play.

Some of the newest poker games on the block include Twister and Blast, which encourage players to play quickly. These offerings are fun, and great for players who don’t have that much free time. To prevail, players often need to make all-in moves early on to develop a chip lead and gain control of the table. In Twister poker, there are only three players, so the first person to double up usually ends up winning. Being able to make these decisions requires players to play a much wider range of hands, and it can often be a pure lottery as to whether they win or not.

For poker players who enjoy this sense of excitement, it may be better to find other ways to experience the feeling. Fast-paced poker games are similar in unpredictability to slot games, where winning is completely a matter of luck. Playing poker games that largely do away with the skill element can lead to the development of bad habits when it comes to ‘proper’ games. But thrill-seekers who like the rush wouldn’t learn these unfavorable techniques if they stuck to playing slots. Offerings like the Gemix slot, for instance, can provide a break from poker, but also have enough stimulation to maintain engagement. Its fantasy theme helps to add to the escapism.

When it comes to playing poker, serious players should stick to traditional forms if they want to improve. They should be looking to reduce the elements of luck involved rather than seek out situations that come down to chance. Imagine playing some of these fast-paced tournaments and getting lucky in a number of coin-flip situations when you have a less-than-optimal hand. That good fortune may lead you to associate certain hands with being lucky, even though the chances of actually winning with them are low .

To reach the highest levels in poker, it’s better to play in standard-length or deepstacked (rather than turbo) tournaments and develop a built-in understanding of the range of hands you should be looking to play based on your position at the table. There area number of poker training sites with detailed courses on range available online, and by knowing what ranges you should be playing it makes it easier to work out what your opponents might be holding.

Playing new-fangled poker games online can be enjoyable, but should probably be avoided by serious players. Playing them could encourage bad habits to develop, so it would be wiser to stick to traditional forms of the game. Anyone seeking a game of chance with high excitement levels should stick with slots or other casino games.

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Written By.

Robbie Strazynski

Robbie founded Cardplayerlifestyle.com in 2009. A veteran member of the poker media corps, in addition to writing and video presenting, Robbie has hosted multiple poker podcasts over the years, including Top Pair, the Red Chip Poker Podcast, The Orbit, and the CardsChat Podcast. In 2019, Robbie translated the autobiography of Poker Hall of Famer Eli […]

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