No Limit: Can we play a full ring table in short-handed mode?

The answer should really be no, but that isn’t to say we should discount the possibility altogether. In the ‘old’ days, when online poker more mirrored the traditional casino version, full tables were not only considered a good starting point for beginners – as is still the case – but also a more popular choice for experienced players than we see today.

As the game became more tactical and aggressive the 6-max tables saw a considerable gain in popularity, the modern style of getting involved more in the action being the appropriate way of addressing the more frequent blinds.

So-called tighter players prefer to stick to full ring games, which have the additional attraction of being cheaper due to the cost per hand thanks to the ‘longer’ orbit – this might seem insignificant but over many hands makes a big difference. ‘Fewer’ blinds also means that not needing a compensatory loose approach tends to produce less variance and this, in turn, allows us to feel a little more relaxed than might be the case at a 6-max table.

Because there are far more short-handed tables nowadays (as well as heads-up tables, where tight in its literal poker sense simply won’t work), and because short-handed poker is viewed as the more fashionable and exciting game, people tend to discount full ring as an option despite the fact that it might well suit them better. But even if we ultimately end up choosing 6-max there’s something to be said for trying out bigger tables in order to better appreciate such aspects of the game as hand selection and patience. Full ring play also places more emphasis on stronger hands and implied odds.

Furthermore, once we have spent some time on both kinds of table we can return to full ring and exploit the players who are clearly the archetypal tight, conservative, no-risk full ring regulars as well as those who demonstrate little or no experience and are just too loose. It is indeed possible to apply short-handed bullying tactics and (re)steals and so on at a full table, rather than feeling that by definition we must revert to a style of ABC poker that runs the risk of being one-paced.

Poker has evolved enough over the years to afford us some flexibility.

Good luck at the tables!

Angus Dunnington (AngusD at the 32Red tables)
32Red Poker Ambassador

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Heads-Up Fun with your Redbacks!

I mentioned a while ago that 32Red Poker now gives you more ways to use your Redbacks (RB). Remember that you earn Redbacks while you play, whether it’s on cash tables, in a sit & go tournament or scheduled multi-table tournaments. Quite simply, for every $1 you generate in rake or tournament fees, 32Red rewards you with 10 Redbacks and, as well as being able to use them for 32Red Poker’s multi-table tournament buy-ins, you can now play for ‘free’ in the Sit & Go section too (watch out for ‘RB’ next to the buy-in info).

I recommend the exciting world of Heads-Up tournaments. In fact there’s such a good selection on offer it’s worth taking the time to see which particular format suits you best. For example you can choose from a simple €5+0.50 HU match-up – which will cost you around 750 Redbacks – to win the €10 prize, start another one, and so on, or for the same RB750 outlay enter a 4-player HU winner-take-all tournament, win the same two matches and instead pocket €20 for 1st place. And if this challenge seems doable, then there are 8-player HU tournaments with a 70%-30% split for the two finalists. This means that winning the first two matches guarantees you a minimum payout of €12, and a €28 return for your RB750 if you win the final! Note that buy-ins go up to €10+1, while 8-player tournaments are available for €1+0.20/RB163 and you can play 1-on-1 HU for as little as $0.10+0.01 or 11 Redbacks!

As well as deciding between the number of players you must also choose between so-called Normal, Super-Turbo and Extreme formats. These are quite different in terms of blind levels and thinking time, so it is important that you find what’s right for your game. Normal HU means 8-minute blind levels, 25 seconds response time and a 60 second time bank, while in a Super Turbo you get 5 minutes, 20 seconds and 45 seconds respectively. Extreme lives up to its name with 2-minute blinds, only 15 seconds to make your decision and a 30-second time bank – considering that (with starting stacks of 1500 chips) in this case after 10 minutes the blinds will already be up to 100/200 whereas in the Normal format you’d be only a quarter way through the 15/30 level, the conditions can be drastically different.

Whichever you play in, remember that in these tournaments it is imperative you adhere to the age-old sporting golden rule of taking the matches one at a time. And remember, too, that it’s great fun!

Good luck at the tables!

AngusD

€5,000 FREEROLL ‘GOODBYE 2010′

Join us as we bid farewell to 2010 and welcome the arrival of 2011.  We hope you have all had an amazing year with 32Red Poker and we look forward to an even better year ahead.  Those of you who have collected your Coupons during the 32 Days of Poker period will be able to take part in our €5,000 ’GOODBYE 2010′ Freeroll on December 27th at 9pm GMT.  Please find below a list (in alphabetical order) of players that have qualified to our €5K Freeroll and the number of Coupons they have collected so far.  Remember, each Coupon is worth 500 starting chips!

€5,000 ’GOODBYE 2010′ Freeroll … Coupon Holders!  (Updated 27/12/10 @ 12:00)

ALIAS		COUPONS
778778		1
55667788		1
_BigGL_		1
_FEAR_ME_		11
_Pat_		2
1TrickPony		3
2easy4y		4
2hottie01		1
2raul2		1
32MichFran32		5
32RDisco		1
32redvip		1
7lettters		3
84ian		3
acejez		1
Adetrick		1
adzbouk		2
alanbphoto		1
ALlBABAAAAAA		3
Andreeva		4
andy1964		1
andybell1977		2
andyjofish		1
Andzons777		4
AngusD		14
Apollo1308		1
applepie59		1
artistupoker		1
autkest		3
autosrj		3
b0unc3		3
BadWolfOne		11
Bafiorka		2
baineno111		6
balo666		1
bamba3		1
banton1		3
BASKETAA		9
Baygon		1
beano672003		4
bearsRus		6
benwkenobi		1
betweenyou		2
bigken2k7		7
bigu1		2
billwadd		2
bjani		2
Black17		1
BOAB		1
bobstar11		2
Boricco		1
bremensha12		6
brock1		1
Bulinda		1
bumer120		1
buzzyon		1
caitiernan		5
caljo7		3
Callum_Ryan		2
camiti4ever		2
camshirl		1
canbetmoess		3
cappyt-59		5
celia		2
cfr1907		1
chabeeka79		8
cheechee		1
chincheta9		2
Chiwis007		1
choo160		1
Chriscall		4
chumley0		3
citysharon		2
clem		2
cnacwolfie		3
collin0111		1
cottenbear45		1
coxlaud1		1
crazyhoot		3
Crespo25		2
DaMatrix		10
danny32209		1
Dan-The-Dog		4
DarkRalph		4
davetheone		2
DAZZID		1
dci_assassin		4
deemci3		1
DeFaSSS		1
derek42julie		4
deval12		7
dhufish		3
diiingdong		1
dills74		3
dj101248		2
djr300		1
DK38		1
dm1988		1
dnomyar1		2
DNY200		5
dominf		1
DonBhoy		7
DonChatoman		2
DontGiveMeJJ		1
Dreamkiller4		4
dugong		1
ECFC1975		6
Edzinsh89		9
evghenie		1
evilbow007		2
Farsan_Baloo		2
Filozof12		2
filozof767		3
Fish4chips12		5
fistik333		1
flipnfill		4
Fourgrand		4
fradger69		1
fyrzymyrzy		1
g_m_more		6
GauravHitman		3
GazBlades		4
gemrp		4
GeoffA		1
gill007		1
gizmo175st		6
glceud		3
goallie		2
goforthenick		2
going4gutgut		1
goldendice		1
GOLFPRO202		2
gonnaeatyou		2
Greenhead		1
GregLM		1
griffter		2
grizzilyuk		2
GUPIIIII		1
haihaigamer		1
hanator6		2
hashhh		3
Haz1x2		1
heniek31		3
Higgs24		2
higgy56		7
Holt3nd3r		1
horba1988		3
Huggy04		4
Ians81		1
IceManRox300		1
Igotdanuts1		2
Impromtu		1
ingentingen		2
InsaneAces		7
invisibility		3
Iron1973		1
JABBA147		3
jacccobi888		2
jacesaces		1
jachin		2
Jamesp362000		5
Jardemyren		4
jebeshajduk		1
jimjamjim		1
jodie3		3
joe99		1
john44nhoj44		8
johnny313		3
johnnyboy		1
jorad208		1
JUDGEnJURY		1
jvtelemark		5
k00p1		1
kablonk333		1
kalabbbb		3
kalviitis		1
Kian		3
kingNevsta		1
kk2008		3
kondrad4444		2
konradk188		1
kristina41		1
KROMgod		3
La_Molly		1
LadyLoon		3
Larren		1
LeknoKPL		1
leopoker		2
lhbn		5
lil_J		6
Lili-LaFae		1
lillegut		1
Linda_s		1
Lini		2
linlinwon		3
lintay		1
llh1234		1
Lucky4Leon		3
lucypig		1
luvspud		1
lvaici		3
LX7		3
M_Ederz		1
mackem22		2
MadMurphee		2
mafiniscool5		1
Maggerholm		5
maggie2010		5
maguf		1
MakBsc		1
malcb		6
mam48		5
mamuku222		2
Manu0Exeter0		10
MarkyMark032		1
Matt362		7
matty4686		1
maxelsen		1
mcrobo		3
MDK24		1
Memo-HB		2
Mercer666		1
Mgielka1		1
MiaTheBest		1
mick1987		1
mihaicjxxx		1
militas		2
miss_ing_rid		1
misu_unic		1
modennys		2
mosul0505		1
MPA3b		1
MrHandsome69		3
Muck__Off		1
mudmaster007		1
muppetdonk		1
murakanator		1
Murleen1986		1
mylo114		8
Neooo		1
nev_o		3
nhggfu1		2
nicelife		2
nicgeo		1
NixieJ		1
Nobler_		1
NOROCEL		10
OJP		1
ominieks		1
onlinetells		6
ooblio		9
OOT		3
PaddyJGD2006		3
Painkiller23		6
Pam0767		1
Pastieman		7
Paul_Moyler		1
paulo1975		1
PBsef		10
Pelelele16		1
perns		1
perturbed		2
PeteGO78		10
piankaa		2
pilsen1971		10
Piotr6660		1
playpoker000		3
pmcthe1		3
podh_2k11		1
poetsFINTONA		2
PokeGrabber		1
pokeman25		1
Poker13God		1
pokermalc		5
Postman_Ste		2
POWER28		6
Pred1ctable		1
pushpush		2
qpr303		1
ralphy10		1
rami3304		1
redcloud1		1
Rhjoydgg		1
RiverChaser_		4
RoboSquirrel		3
RomanticasZb		1
roseandcrown		4
RRadziu31		2
rugg1		11
run355		1
runninglea		2
russ11		1
saft_suse		5
sammyace19		1
Sanyomano		1
SashaSku		2
Saturn40		2
Saxtogue		2
sb1wsb1w1111		3
scousemaster		1
SDL8700		3
ShonkyO_o		1
sirustv		1
siwrexham		1
slinks		1
Slobi		3
smellyfinger		1
smith0001		1
smithsonno1		1
snakeeyes11		5
Snowsmile		4
Solvendo		1
SONEMIN		1
SonicMan555		1
spades4fun		1
spiersey1		1
spilari		4
squidward		4
sspslagelse		2
stachu7		1
Stan648		4
stealth90		7
steviec7		9
studaces		3
super668		7
sutzu		1
SWEETHAYLEY		1
Swish2k		5
SyrusDaVirus		4
TaadsSSaads		8
takis_1984		2
TamirSimchi		1
tasedano		1
tatydt89		3
taytoman2000		1
tcbkitty		3
teebo73		1
tehnuub		2
tennistosse2		2
THEDCM		1
TheKingBet		4
theplague27		2
thequietman		7
TheRookie5		2
thesheikster		2
thornton21		1
tibiszosz		4
tigger7732		3
tilkepierke		1
tink44		1
TomRoyal		2
toonboy1		8
trevor371		2
turkelton		1
Twidget		3
twm74		1
uk837shane		4
VAL-I-UM		3
vectrav6		1
vegasjj49		6
victoria200		1
Vikla_76		3
visulmeu7222		1
warbirds		6
wasskeithr70		1
WelshMackem		1
whiskyjock26		9
WilcoDP		2
willtord13		1
wowshebangs		5
xkatykatx		6
xSTENAx		11
XxR00KiExX		1
Yorkie42888		1
Yorkieman		2
Your_round		3
Zcromag		1
zwiero		1

32 Days of Poker this Christmas

Packed with a selection of generous gifts and goodies, our 32 Days of Poker promotion is once again making Christmas headlines across the poker industry. With 32 days of non-stop poker action and tons of exciting surprises in store for players this December, you’d be mad to miss this year’s festivities at 32Red Poker.

Our poker entertainments this Christmas includes 32Red’s exclusive Be the Bounty tournaments where each week we’re giving away free iPads and up to €1,000 in bounty prizes. We are also putting up hundreds of Euros in added money on our very own Everyone’s a Bounty tournaments where you can win €5 for every player you knock out. Watch out for our fantastic Freerolls with prize pools of up to €1,000 and don’t miss our Lottery events on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

Click here to visit our famous Christmas tree!

‘Be the Bounty’ Results – 28/11/10

VAL-I-UM claims €700 in Bounty Prizes!

Thanks to the 70 entrants who took part in yesterday’s Be the Bounty tournament and congratulations to everyone who made it in the money! (see results below) Read more

Wise Guys Results: 22nd – 28th November

Win at the 32Red Poker cash tables and you may qualify for even more cash rewards with our Wise Guys weekly leaderboards. Yes, we reward our biggest winners at 32Red Poker and we reward them well, with over $1,000 in prizes every week!

Congratulations to last week’s prize winners…

32Red’s Wise Guys

32Red Poker rewards loyalty, and winners – so if you’re a winning player, don’t be shy and try out our Wise Guys weekly competition. Have fun at the tables and good luck this week!

Wise Guys Results: 8th – 14th November

Win at the 32Red Poker cash tables and you may qualify for even more cash rewards with our Wise Guys weekly leaderboards. Yes, we reward our biggest winners at 32Red Poker and we reward them well, with over $1,000 in prizes every week!

Congratulations to last week’s prize winners…

32Red’s Wise Guys

32Red Poker rewards loyalty, and winners – so if you’re a winning player, don’t be shy and try out our Wise Guys weekly competition. Have fun at the tables and good luck this week!

Bad Beat Jackpot at 32Red Poker

Winning the Bad Beat Jackpot at 32Red Poker would make anyone’s day a special one, especially this close to Christmas.  With over $100,000 already in the pot it’s anyone’s guess as to when it will hit.  It could be next month, or next week, or even in the next couple of minutes!

The jackpot continues to rise, each day at a faster rate as more and more players try their luck at 32Red’s Bad Beat tables.  Here at 32Red Poker we’ve kept a record of every Bad Beat Jackpot winner since it was first hit in 2005 by DOCTORHOWSER – his jackpot back then stood at $32,484.90.

Click here to view past Bad Beat Jackpot winners at 32Red Poker.

lintay wins the €3,000 Guarantee

32Red Poker would like to congratulate one of their most loyal and regular players for winning Tuesday’s €3,000 Guarantee and cashing in just shy of €1,000!

Many of you may have played against him at the 32Red tables and recognise him best as lintay.  Alias ‘lintay’ had to beat a field of 166 players in a multi-table tournament that took 4 hours and 55 minutes to complete.

Click here to view upcoming tournaments at 32Red Poker.

Forumfest Teams ready to fight!

October’s Forumfest teams are seated and ready to fight!

October saw 12 online poker forums take part in what proved to be an action-packed Forumfest month at 32Red Poker.  The top 3 best-performing players from each participating forum are now seated at the Final tournament, after 9 challenging Forumfest games that ran throughout October.  That makes it a total of 36 players that have made it through to 32Red’s Forumfest Final on Sunday 7th October at 20:00 (UK time).

Finalists and their representing Forums

CNAC	FH	GFN	HPC
Holt3nd3r	heKkuza	dci_assassin	Masida
Pastieman	MPA3b	LadyLoon	gizmo175st
block0912	jasonastFH	rascall72	thejudge6861
ISF	NPF	PB	PP
steviec7	rugg1	xxDANDANxx	uk837shane
Stan648	Pilsen1971	evilbow007	john44nhoj44
sirustv	jvtelemark	PB_BigH1771_	t1tpfdc
PWH	TCB	TPBZ	UKS
Top_totty	fishybreath	panda3	Crumble49
Jamesp362000	tcb_king	cam3lek	Pred1ctable
spiersey1	tcbqueenie	tipdrillll	DeN_eYeD

Final Prizes

1. $150 Cash Prize + €100K Tournament Ticket
2. $100 Cash Prize + €20K Tournament Ticket
3. $80 Cash Prize + €10K Tournament Ticket
4. $50 Cash Prize + €5K Tournament Ticket
5. $40 Cash Prize + €5K Tournament Ticket
6. $30 Cash Prize + €5K Tournament Ticket
7. $20 Cash Prize + €5K Tournament Ticket
8. $15 Cash Prize + €5K Tournament Ticket
9. $10 Cash Prize + €5K Tournament Ticket
10. $5 Cash Prize + €5K Tournament Ticket

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