The term 'full ring poker' refers to any game setup with more than six players. Typically, full ring tables accommodate either nine or ten players, but some online platforms might also provide tables with eight seats.
This brief guide aims to introduce you to the intricacies of full ring poker and hopefully lead to some financial gains.
The list below outlines the topics we will explore, so feel free to skip ahead to any specific section that interests you:
- What is full ring poker?
- Why play full ring poker?
- Full ring table positions.
- Full ring vs short-handed poker.
- Live full ring vs online full ring.
- Live full ring– open raising
- Live full ring– iso raising
- Understanding Multiway Play in Live Full Ring Games
- Online full ring– preflop hero folds.
- Exploring the Availability of Online Full Ring Games
- Summary of live vs online full ring
What is Full Ring Poker?
Full ring poker signifies any table setup where there are more than six players involved. Most of these tables are designed to host nine or ten players, although certain online networks may feature tables with eight seats.
When there are six or fewer participants at the table, it shifts to being classified as a 'short-handed' setup. We might still call it a full ring table due to its capacity of more than six seats, but the gameplay is recognized as short-handed. short-handed There are several compelling reasons to choose full ring tables for gameplay:
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Number of Players |
Name |
|---|---|
|
More than 6 |
Full Ring |
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3 – 6 |
Short-handed |
|
2 |
Heads Up |
Why Play Full Ring Poker?
Softer Game Dynamics – In the realm of online cash games, short-handed formats have gained popularity. This trend draws many skilled players towards six-handed or fewer tables, leaving less experienced players to populate the full ring tables, often leading to more manageable games.
Default Availability in Live Venues – Full ring tables are a staple in live poker establishments. If you're playing in-person, it's quite likely that you'll find yourself at a full ring table without options. heads-up Standardization in Tournaments – Full ring remains the standard configuration for tournaments, both in live settings and online. While short-handed tournaments do exist, they are not as prevalent as their cash game counterparts.
Beginner-Friendly Structure – Generally, a larger number of participants at a table results in players adopting tighter ranges. Full ring formats are beneficial for novices since they tend to face fewer challenging decisions.
Increasing Game Participation – When online traffic dips, players seeking action may opt to sit at softer full ring tables despite typically preferring short-handed formats.
Here's a brief breakdown of the seating arrangement at a full ring table:
Each position at the table is designated a specific name determined by its relation to the dealer button. The button is a small disc that rotates clockwise after each hand concludes.
Full Ring Table Positions
) – The Big Blind (BB) is unique because it must place a mandatory bet equal to one big blind before any cards are dealt. The BB always acts last in the pre-flop betting round but will usually act first post-flop, except when facing the Small Blind (SB). Because the BB has already invested one big blind, there's a good chance they will see the flop, and this position often leads players to call larger open raises more liberally compared to other seats.
) – The Small Blind (SB) is tasked with making a compulsory bet equal to half a big blind before cards are revealed. The SB acts second to last before the flop and always acts last after the flop, which makes it a relatively weak position. The SB must call open raises more cautiously due to acting behind other players, and from both the SB and BB positions, achieving consistent profitability proves challenging because of the compulsory bets. Experienced players prioritize minimizing losses rather than focusing solely on gaining profits.
BB ( Big Blind BTN (Button) – The button is seen as the premier position at the table since it guarantees the player will act last after the flop. It also provides the optimal opportunity to attempt stealing the blinds from both the SB and BB. Because of this, proficient players in the BTN position generally look to raise with a diverse range of hands.
SB ( Small Blind CO (Cutoff) – The cutoff seat is decent, albeit not as advantageous as the button. The CO can effectively attempt to take the blinds pre-flop, but this requires the approval of the BTN first. If the BTN reacts to a raise from the CO, the CO will be at a positional disadvantage post-flop.
) – The Hijack (HJ) serves as the final of the three middle positions, joining the Lojack (LJ) and Middle Position 1 (MP1). Typically, the earlier seated players at the table will play a tighter range of hands.
LJ (Lojack) – This is the second of the three middle positions. The LJ takes action before the HJ but follows after MP1 in the pre-flop sequence.
HJ ( Hijack MP1 (Middle Position 1) – MP1 is the last of the three middle positions, acting before LJ but after the Under the Gun (UTG) players.
) – The phrase 'under the gun' refers to the player who has to act first during a hand. This term can apply to any position that is the first to act. For instance, in a 5-handed game, the HJ could also be labeled as UTG. Additional terms like UTG+1 and UTG+2 refer to the seats immediately left of UTG. The designation 'EP' (early position) may also be applied to seats situated to the right of the.
It's crucial to recognize that not all table positions have an equal impact on a player's win rate. Later positions carry more significance and generally experience more dynamic action, while earlier positions tend to engage only with genuinely strong hands.
UTG, UTG+1, UTG+2 ( Under the Gun No matter how skilled a player may be, the primary source of winrate typically comes from the BTN and CO positions. middle-position seats.
Is there a fundamental distinction between full ring and short-handed poker games? In essence, while both formats share many similarities, there are notable differences.
The key difference lies in the fact that full ring games tend to be much tighter compared to short-handed games.
Full Ring vs Short-Handed Poker
At any point during a full ring game, it's more likely that an opponent possesses a strong hand and less likely that they are bluffing than in short-handed situations.
It's important to adjust our strategy accordingly by attributing more weight to the actions of full ring opponents when they show strength, especially when they enter the pot from earlier positions, which do not exist in short-handed formats.
The upside is that the average player in full ring games is generally less skilled than their short-handed counterparts. (Similarly, the standard short-handed player is less experienced compared to a heads-up player.)
Typically, full ring games should offer better profit potential compared to short-handed tables. However, playing in these softer games requires significantly more patience as you may find yourself waiting longer for strong hands than in short-handed scenarios.
If one enjoys a fast-paced environment, full ring poker may not be the ideal choice.
Some players prefer online full ring games as they believe these offer valuable practice for participating in live full ring games at their local casino. Ironically, engaging in short-handed online cash games can often provide better training for adjusting to live full ring dynamics. However, it's essential to note that online full ring games and their live counterparts can play out quite differently.
Let’s explore a few disparities between the two formats. Understanding these will clarify the necessary adjustments when transitioning from live to online full ring play.
Live Full Ring vs Online Full Ring
Effective Stacks – In live cash games, the stacks tend to go deeper more often than in online scenarios. Online platforms typically cap the maximum buy-in at 100 big blinds, whereas in live games, players might enter with amounts exceeding 200 big blinds. This difference influences game dynamics significantly, making it crucial to remember that 100bb in an online game does not equate to the same value in a live setting. A rough rule of thumb might suggest that each chip in online play is comparable to two chips in a live game.
In pragmatic terms, the range of hands we would typically stack off with at 100bb in an online setting is similar to what we might consider at 200bb in a live context. This disparity arises partly from looser gameplay in live settings and also due to different stack-to-pot ratios (SPR) which relate back to raising strategies evident in both formats.
- Open Raise Sizing – One immediate difference players notice when moving between online and live play is the variance in typical open-raise sizes. While a 2bb open-raise may be standard in online games, it’s quite common to see live players opt for opening sizes of 5bb or more. This has a profound impact on the SPR (
). The SPR indicates the relationship between the chips available in the pot and the remaining effective stacks. (For example, a $100 pot with $400 remaining in effective stacks gives an SPR of 4).
- If we were to open-raise 2bb from the button with effective stacks of 100bb, and the BB calls, our SPR would be around 22. Conversely, a 5bb open raise in the same scenario would yield an SPR close to 9. The lower SPRs found in live games further validate the reasoning for wider stack-offs in live settings, even when the number of big blinds held remains the same. Stack to Pot Ratio is a voluntary blind bet made before the cards are dealt (typically double the size of the big blind). Most online platforms do not have a straddle option, hence it is primarily encountered in live situations. There are two key points to keep in mind regarding straddles.
1. Never engage in straddling unless the entire table has consented to implement a round of straddles. Straddling can greatly reduce winrate since it requires investing in the pot without having seen your hole cards.
- Straddles – A straddle Full ring poker tables are distinct from games with a smaller number of participants, usually between 8 to 10 players, with most tables accommodating nine players. Discover strategies to succeed in full ring games!
An Essential Overview of Full Ring Poker – In Both Live and Online Formats
Full Ring Poker – A Detailed Guide for Both Live Play and Online Sessions - The term full ring poker refers to any table hosting more than six players. While the majority of full ring tables feature either nine or ten seats, some online platforms may also offer tables with eight seats.
This brief guide is designed to help you navigate the realm of full ring poker and aims to potentially yield some financial gains. - Below is a list outlining the topics we will cover, making it easy for you to skip to the section you find most relevant:
- Understanding Multiway Scenarios in Live Full Ring Games
Accessing Game Options in Online Full Ring Play multiway Full ring poker describes tables where at least seven players participate. The majority of these tables have either nine or ten available seats, though certain online sites may provide options for eight-seat tables.
When there are six or fewer players, the table is categorized as a “short-handed” table. We can still refer to it as a full ring due to its seating capacity exceeding six, yet the gameplay becomes short-handed.
Live Full Ring – Open Raising
There are multiple reasons one might choose to participate in full ring tables:
Softer Competition – In the world of online cash games, short-handed tables have gained popularity. Most seasoned players tend to gravitate towards these, leaving the full ring tables to less experienced participants, which can make for a more manageable playing environment.
Default Choice in Live Settings – Full ring tables are the norm in live poker rooms. In many cases, players may find they have no alternative but to join a full ring table for their game.
Live Full Ring – Iso-Raising
Typical Tournament Structure – The full ring format is the standard in most tournaments, whether played online or in person. While there are short-handed tournaments available, they are significantly less prevalent than their cash game counterparts.
Beginner-Friendly Format – More players at a table generally means a tighter range of hands to play. This format tends to be ideal for novices, as it often presents fewer challenging decisions. preflop Increased Activity During Low Traffic – During times of low activity, online pros will seize any opportunity. Even if they usually play short-handed, they may jump into a softer full ring game if it arises.
Live Full Ring – Multiway Pots
Here’s a brief overview of the seating positions at a full ring table:
Each position at the table is given a specific designation based on its location relative to the button, which is a small disc that rotates around the table with each hand dealt.
BB (Big Blind) – The BB position is unique as it requires a mandatory preflop bet of one big blind before cards are dealt. This player acts last in the preflop betting phase but typically goes first after the flop, unless competing against the SB. Since the BB concludes preflop action, they’re almost guaranteed to view the flop when calling. Additionally, they benefit from a built-in discount on their preflop calls and will usually call raises more liberally than other positions.
SB (Small Blind) – In this position, players must place a required preflop bet of half a big blind before any cards appear. While the SB acts second to last preflop, they always act last after the flop, which can make it a less favorable position. Consequently, the SB often needs to call raises more conservatively than the BB. It's typically challenging for players in the SB or BB to achieve a positive winrate, as the forced blind payments create a notable disadvantage.
Online Full Ring – Preflop Hero Folds
BTN (Button) – Known as the most advantageous position at the table, the BTN always acts last in post-flop play. It offers an excellent opportunity to ‘steal’ blinds from the SB and BB, leading effective players to open raises with a broad selection of hands.
CO (Cutoff) – This position is relatively strong, though it doesn’t match the BTN in power. Players in the CO have a fair chance of stealing blinds preflop, but any attempts to do so must first contend with the BTN. If the BTN decides to raise, the CO will be out of position afterward.
HJ (Hijack) – This position ranks last among the three middle positions (the others being LJ and MP1). As a guideline, the earlier a position is, the more selective players should be about the hands they choose to play.
LJ (Lojack) – This is the second of the three middle positions, acting before the HJ preflop but following MP1.
MP1 (Middle Position 1) – The third middle position, MP1 acts prior to the LJ but after the UTG positions.
UTG (Under the Gun) – This term refers to the first player to act at the table. It can apply to any position that takes action first. For instance, at a five-handed table, the HJ can also be considered UTG. The terms UTG+1 and UTG+2 refer to the seats directly left and two seats left of UTG, respectively. Sometimes players use the designation 'EP' (early position) for seats immediately to the right of the UTG.
Summary of Live vs Online Full Ring
|
Live Full Ring |
Online Full Ring |
|---|---|
|
Much softer games than online |
Not every seat at the table influences a player's winrate equally. The later positions generally play a more significant role in the game, often being where most action occurs. Players in initial positions typically engage with stronger hands. |
|
Lots of multiway scenarios |
Mostly heads-up scenarios |
|
Lots of preflop limpers |
Mostly open-raises preflop |
|
Deeper stacks but larger opens |
100bb stacks but smaller opens |
|
Tell based games can thrive |
Regardless of a player’s skill, more than half of their winrate will usually derive from the BTN and CO positions. |
|
Winning players play 20-25% of holdings |
Winning players play 12-18% of holdings |
|
Is there a fundamental difference between full ring and short-handed poker? Generally speaking, while there are similarities, the nuances stand out. |
The key distinction is that full ring games tend to play much tighter than their short-handed counterparts. |
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Around 30 hands per hour |
Around 90 hands per hour (per table) |
|
Straddling option often available |
Straddling usually not available |
|
Iso-raising extremely important |
At any given time, opponents in full ring games are more likely to possess strong hands and less likely to execute bluffs compared to those in short-handed games. |
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Strategically, it’s crucial to afford your full ring opponents greater respect when they indicate they hold strong hands, particularly when they are entering pots from the earlier positions absent in short-handed setups. |
The positive aspect is that, on average, full ring opponents tend to be less skilled at poker compared to those in short-handed games. (Conversely, the average short-handed player is typically not as skilled as a heads-up player.) |
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Overall, full ring games should offer better profitability than short-handed tables. However, softer competition necessitates much more patience as players wait for robust hands, in contrast to the dynamics of short-handed games. |
If you seek a game with constant action, full ring poker may not be your ideal option. |
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Same position names and rules in both |
Same position names and rules in both |