Snap Poker Strategy
How To Get Ahead : Zoom Poker Strategy Tips
Zoom Strategy Tip #1 - Assume Tighter Ranges
Since it is easy to ‘Fast Fold’ bad hands, there is less temptation to play junk. When a player in early position makes a raise then you should give them credit for at least a pair or AJ+ on most occasions. Sure, some people will raise every time - however the default of most players is to move to the next hand if they hold junk. Button raises do not always show real strength, though anyone who waited to act from the small blind and then makes a raise usually has something of value.
- There is no HUD in this fast action game, so learn how to make reads on your opponents quickly in this new video.
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Zoom Strategy Tip #2 - Who Plays 4?
From the Zoom Poker lobby, you can click on the ‘pool’ of your game / table / buy-in level combination and see the names of the players currently in the pool. Players who choose more than one instance have a number next to them. If you see someone playing 4 tables you can assume that they are more experienced than those who are just playing 1 or 2. When you see these players in a game, quickly color-code them… once you know who the grinders are you can better avoid them.
Zoom Strategy Tip #3 - Position Is Key
Snap Poker Strategy Cheat
Acting last after the flop is important in any poker format. With Zoom Poker the lack of reads makes this even more important than usual. Make sure you are raising more from later position, defending your blinds too wide will generally not pay in this game. While some players will take a stab at the pot out of position, firing a second barrel as a bluff is less common - after all, it is easy to give up and just move on to the next hand.
Zoom Strategy Tip #4 - Set Mining Works
Playing small and medium pairs to ‘set mine’ in a regular game has the downside that observant players will often put you on a strong hand when you ‘wake up’ and suddenly start betting. With Zoom that observation part is largely gone - which makes Set-Mining far more profitable. If you miss with a small pair then be prepared to fold on most flops, particularly multi-way.
There are easy pickings to be made in this game, guessing whether your opponent ‘has it’ or not when you can only beat a bluff is not part of a winning strategy!
Zoom Strategy Tip #5 - Take Notes
It is easy enough to take notes, via the ‘hand history’ display on Pokerstars. You need to get into the habit of doing this even if it requires you to sit out of a table for a little while. Certain players will play a ‘formula’, always raising, limping or mini-raising.
Others will check-raise every time and others will bet differently with a draw and a made hand… if you can get notes on these players you can exploit them over and over again. Since they will assume no reads are possible they will not know that this is taking place. Make sure you take notes starting today!
Summary
Zoom is easy to beat and very entertaining too - head on over to Pokerstars.com, you can claim your £20 starting bonus with the code you'll see on the Pokerstars site.
For some visual background to useful strategies to employ in any Zoom Poker game, take a look at the video below.
And don't forget there are some alternatives to Zoom Poker now which also offer fast paced action. The strategies will remain similar, though you may have to play a few hands to get an idea of the strength of the opposition.
888's Snap Poker is worth a look. At time of writing you can get to play Snap Poker with an extra $88 in your bankroll thanks to 888's $88 sign up bonus and get the chance to win a flight in a real fighter jet too.
Snap Poker Introduction
Advanced Poker Strategy
Snap poker is the quickest poker format offered by 888 Poker. It reduces time between hands and you’re moved to a new table hand instantly after folding (if you choose not to watch). The flexibility of this game is remarkable, allowing you to play cash game or tournament and on your mobile phone too. The ability to fold and instantly move onto the next hand is extremely convenient to both recreational and serious players. As if online poker wasn’t fast enough, now it’s faster!
How Snap Poker Works
There is no table selection with Snap poker. You are in a pool of players who have agreed to enter the cash game or tournament. Once you fold, you are moved to a new table instantly and seated randomly within a few moments. Please note that even though you may be folding fast e.g. in middle position, the game flows normally and people won’t see you fold until action is on you.
Adjusting to Snap Poker
The game of poker does not change just because it’s faster, but there is an impact on strategy that cannot be ignored. Without any thought, one may play snap poker the same way they would play their usual cash game or tournament. This is a mistake. In order to gain an edge on your opponents, you need to identify how they will play snap poker differently and adopt a strategy that is superior. Let’s look at two reasonably concrete facts about some of those who play snap poker.
How Beginners Play Snap Poker
Beginner players will make fewer pre flop mistakes. They are likely to play tighter in this format as the ability to fold fast and move on will encourage them to play stronger hands. The truth is, they play more hands in a regular game as they are keen to be involved in the action and are less patient.
Beginners are playing to hit hands, not win every pot that is there to be won. They will be playing more patiently because it’s convenient and they will not be making as many elaborate or desperate moves post flop. You can expect many beginner players to play fit or fold poker. This is contrary to how they sometimes play in regular games when they will stubbornly call down with ace king when they should be folding.
How to Beat Beginners at Snap Poker
As we’ve identified, beginners are likely to play much tighter before the flop. The best strategy to employ against these players is simple and two-fold – play for implied odds and play as many pots in position. Since we know our opponents are likely to play a tight range of hands, you can play post flop accordingly. If it comes high cards, it’s their range and you can get out the way. If it’s low you can take away pots, float or get value if you have better than an overpair and they are investing. The beauty is, beginner players get attached to their overpair or top pair hands, so you can stack them off easier. This format also means that a newbie who goes on tilt will be giving away a lot of money and quicker.
How Regs Play Snap Poker
Regulars are stealing more in late position. Any seasoned player knows that position is key and are opening wide in late position. This is even more true when it comes to snap poker. An experienced player knows people are instantly folding and can steal the blinds liberally, without contest. This is a perfectly fine strategy as they are probably waiting 3 seconds for action to get to them before stealing 1.5 big blinds or playing post flop in position. They are also likely to tighten up their stacking off range as they know players are less likely to move all in before the flop on a bluff.
How to Beat Regs at Snap Poker
We know the regs will be stealing the blinds as much as possible. An effective strategy to counter this is to 3 bet before the flop or defend the big blind wider and throw in check raises liberally. Regs do not have the ability to read opponents and get a feel for the table in this format, thus, they are more likely to play standard and give you credit. They don’t have history with you and without enough information, they will err on the side of caution and fold more in tough spots. I recommend making your 3 bets quite large before the flop to deter them from calling. It’s better to do this with junky hands or ace rag than playable hands with value like pocket sevens or king ten suited.
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Variance & Bankroll Management
Brace yourself for some big swings with snap poker. The fact you are playing so many more hands per hour means you are getting in some serious volume. Some people multi table too, so just think about how many hands are being played. It’s best to have a larger bankroll behind you. I recommend having at least 100 buy ins for the stakes you are planning to play.
Pros
- More hands get played so you gain more experience and greater potential to earn more per hour.
- No need to be concerned with table selection as you are playing against random players every hand. This means you are facing different types and calibre of opponents.
- Opportunity to bluff more as less concern over table image. People won’t be picking up on your tendencies quite as much as if they were on a regular table.
- Playing poker faster is definitely more fun, you’re whizzing through hands at fantastic speed. On some tables, you may find yourself a little bored, this won’t ever be the case with this format.
Cons
- The dynamic nature of instantly folding and moving to the next hand makes reading opponents much more difficult. The best players get reads off their opponents based on the information gathered over time. This edge is lost somewhat with this format.
- If you are prone to tilt, you are in for trouble. Without proper care and bankroll management, someone liable to tilt can lose a lot of buyins at snap poker. You need to be strong mentally to be successful at this format.
- The high variance nature is a negative for those of us who like to win money with less risk. Enduring tough runs and 10 buyin down swings are painful but more common here due to the sheer volume of hands being played.
Conclusion
Snap poker is a great format and appeals to a wide pool of players. You get to play more hands, earn more money and see better hands than you would playing regularly. There are some drawbacks, as with all forms of poker, but if played correctly, there is a lot of money to be won. Please remember to play within your means and activate a stop loss if you are prone to tilt.
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