Fast Fold Poker

The average recreational poker player has less time to dedicate to the card game that we all love and hate so much (depending on the final card that is dealt). But even grinders appreciate the introduction of fast fold poker where you immediately get moved to a new table once your action in the previous hand is complete. Which sites actually offer this feature and to what extend? The below list is most likely not fully accurate and I may missing out on some smaller networks. 

Last update: May 2014

PokerStars

It was not the first of its kind but second to Full Tilt and Zoom Poker gives players the opportunity to sit at eight fast fold cash tables simultaneously on PokerStars .com/.fr and .eu. Games offered are No Limit Hold'em up to $50/$100 with more than 800 entries in their most popular pools below NL400, Fixed Limit Hold'em (with barely any traffic), Pot Limit and No Limit Omaha as well as Five Card Draw (same non existing action as in FLHE) at Heads-Up, 6-max and full ring tables. You will even find entire Zoom MTT's and it was included in the SCOOP schedule, mobile support and rather effortless multi tabling is obviously included.

FullTiltPoker

Rush Poker was the first ever fast fold poker type and Full Tilt continues to offer the biggest variety of games in general. Whereas cash game for No Limit Hold'em reaches until 2/4, the Pot Limit Omaha action is capped to 1/2. Besides that, there are a plethora of Rush MTT's and on demand SNG's available. The mobile / iPad client only features Rush Poker thus far.

An even more fast paced version is the so called "Adrenaline Rush": The games are 4-handed, you can buy in for between 5 and 10 Big Blinds and there is no post-flop betting. You can only raise or fold, except in the following circumstances: your opponent is all-in, the cap of 10 Big Blinds has been reached or you are facing a raise greater than your stack size.

iPoker network

In June 2012, iPoker jumped onto the fast fold bandwagon and whereas most skins have a different name for it, the traffic is shared on the entire network (unlike some regular cash game tables on the two major tiers). The limits include No Limit Hold'em up to €1/€2 and Pot Limit Omaha up to €0.10/€0.20, on demand SNG's as well as MTT's have been added to the line up recently. Sorry, no Mac or mobile / iPad client. Popular deals can be found on Poker770 and Ladbrokes.

PartyPoker / bwin

Up to four cash game tables per limit can be played on fastforward, which is limited to No Limit Hold'em up to NL50. All games are played as 6-max with one exception at the NL50 level that is also available as Heads-Up format as well. No MTT's or SNG's in sight just yet. The most popular pools show between 150 and 200 entries during peak times. The mobile / tablet version does feature the fastforward tables as option but you always get an error notification when trying to enter any pool.

888poker

In September 2013, 888poker started testing its own fast fold poker version with the name "Snap Poker" and it was officially introduced about one month later with 6-max cash game tables up to NL200 only. Snap tournaments take place now as well with Buy-Ins of up to $10 with less than 100 participants whereas Freerolls features thousands of entries. Early in May 2014, other skins on the network also rolled out Snap Poker as well (e.g. on Lucky Ace). The tablet version doesn't include any Snap tables yet in May 2014.

Ongame network

In March 2013, Strobe Poker was born  and the only available cash game tables are Texas Hold'em as of NL5 and up to NL200 as well as Pot Limit Omaha at $0.05/$0.10 and $0.25/$0.50. The player pools currently peak at a maximum of 100 entries. You can try EuroPoker but keep playing regularly or you may get moved to their casino site - Betsson is also a solid choice.

 

Microgaming network

Blaze Poker was officially launched in May 2012 on the Microgaming network but traffic never really picked up much. Three different No Limit Hold'em cash game tables are available: €0.05/€0.10, €0.10/€0.20 and €0.25/€0.50 - the lowest stake peaks around 100-150 players and includes some special raked hand promotions. We'll see how the network evolves after the upcoming closure of Boss Media and the arrival of some of their skins.

InstaDeal network

Operated by Elec Games Limited, the network was launched as fast fold poker only type with 5-max cash game tables and 8-max tables were introduced in late 2013. There are no SNG's available but MTT's run regularly, though without any massive guarantees or heavy fields.

About one year ago when skins such as TerminalPoker and Buzz Poker ventured into the Revolution Gaming Network as white label skins, the general idea of fast fold poker also swapped over to their "new network" and the InstaDeal software was implemented in November 2013. All skins except for the Intertops and Juicy Stakes joint-venture share the traffic whereas the latter sites remain ring fenced and with very little traffic.

Unibet

Back on the Microgaming network, Unibet already had a fast fold poker client that needed to be installed separately. On their new standalone software as of February 2014, they offer Fast Hold'em cash game tables for No Limit Hold'em (NL4 and NL10) only at the moment and can be accessed from the Windows, Mac and mobile / iPad client.

The Hive

The fast fold product on sites such as Planet Win 365 is called InstaPoker. Pot Limit Omaha tables are available up to €0.25/€0.50 whereas No Limit Hold'em peaks at €0.10/€0.20, the game opens in a pop up window and all tables are 5-max with a rather limited traffic.

Bovada (US friendly)

Bovada is the only US friendly  online poker site at the moment with their own independent fast fold poker client that goes by the name "Zone Poker". Whether or not you have to be in the zone to be competitive remains unknown.

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