Rush and Cash is a speed poker game found on the GGPoker network. The perfect format for those with a short attention span, its quick-fold feature greatly increases the number of hands you can play. With players switching tables at a frenetic pace and no waiting around, it’s possible to play over 200 hands per hour!
In this article, we’ll dive a little deeper into this fascinating game. So keep reading to discover the Rush and Cash rules, key features and some useful strategy advice.
WHAT IS RUSH & CASH?
Designed for impatient players who want to increase their hand-per-hour rate, Rush & Cash is an action-packed online poker variant. It differs from other games due to its quick-fold function, which allows you to immediately fold and acquire new hole cards.
That’s right – as soon as the cards are dealt and you’ve taken a peek, you can instantly muck. There’s no need to wait for the action to come around to you. Simply discard your hand, move straight to a new table, and rejoin the action!
Rush and Cash tables are available for Texas Hold’em and Omaha players, at a wide range of stakes. Blinds start from $0.01 / $0.02 for both, increasing to a maximum of $1 / $2. You’ll need at least $1 to hit the Hold’em tables, while PLO fans can buy in from as little as $0.40!
FAST-FOLD POKER
Rush and Cash is the GGPoker Network’s take on what many players call “fast-fold poker”. The concept was first introduced back in 2010 when Full Tilt Poker released Rush Poker. Since then, most online poker sites have developed their own speed poker variants.
Some popular examples of fast-fold poker include Zoom Poker at PokerStars, SNAP Poker from 888 and of course, Rush and Cash. While they all have subtle differences, the general idea remains the same. All players folding a hand are immediately moved to a new table, with no requirement to wait around to continue playing.
RUSH AND CASH RULES
All Rush and Cash tables seat six players, regardless of whether you’re playing Hold’em or Omaha. Whatever you pick, the basic game rules are just like any regular cash game you may have played in. The only difference is the ability to fold immediately and head to a new table.
Unfortunately, the fast fold format doesn’t lend itself to poker tournaments, so you can only play cash games in this style. Although Rush and Cash doesn’t offer any side bets like some Natural8 games, there are still a few interesting features to note. Let’s take a look at these.
DEAL CHOICE
Whenever two or more players find themselves all-in at a Rush & Cash table, the underdog is presented with a choice. They can run the hand once as normal or elect to run it twice or three times.
If the other players agree, the pot is divided accordingly, with additional boards dealt to determine the outcome of each portion. It’s just like you see on shows like High Stakes Poker, with the idea being to reduce potential variance.
ALL-IN INSURANCE
If you are the favourite in the all-in situation, you may be offered protection against a bad beat. All-in insurance is completely optional and may be taken whenever the hand meets the following criteria:
The pot size is 10x BB or greater;
Only two players remain in contention;
Your opponent has 14 or fewer possible outs.
Naturally, taking Rush & Cash insurance costs a fee. This varies depending on the number of outs your opponent has and the game type.
EV CASHOUT
Once the flop is dealt, EV cashout offers may come into play. The principle is borrowed from sports betting, where the bookmaker buys back your bet for a percentage of the potential winnings. In essence, EV cashout is just a different kind of insurance.
If a player is all-in with equity of 60% or greater, they will receive a cashout offer. Like All-In Insurance, it is entirely voluntary; if you like, you may decline and allow the hand to run its course naturally. But if you want to protect yourself against a bad beat, EV cashout is a good way to go.
The initial cashout offer is calculated accordingly:
Cashout = [(Pot size – Rake – Jackpot Fee) x Equity] x 99%
However, a 1% deduction is also applied if you accept the cashout offer.
BLINDS AND THE BUTTON
Although Rush & Cash allows players to fold instantly and change tables, it’s not possible to abuse the system. If you’re due to pay the big blind in the next hand, there’s no way around it. If you hit that “Fold” button, you will automatically be placed into the correct seat when moved to the next table.
You’re also guaranteed to pay the small blind in the subsequent hand, taking the button the round after that. There’s no fooling the Rush and Cash tables! You’ll always play a six-hand orbit as though you’d stayed in the same seat throughout.
RUSH & CASH PROMOTIONS
Natural8 is known for its generosity to players, with frequent bonuses and offers. Rush & Cash is no different, with a couple of special promotions unique to this thrilling speed poker format. It’s now time to learn more about how they work.
CASH DROPS
Whenever you take part in a Rush and Cash hand, there’s a chance it might qualify for a cash drop. These random rewards range from anywhere between 10BB and a whopping 600BB! It doesn’t matter how many players are seated; any table could be chosen at any given time.
If a cash drop does appear (the table will turn gold to indicate cash drops), it will come in one of two forms. Smaller amounts go directly into the forthcoming pot, boosting the winnings of whoever eventually takes it down, whereas bigger denominations are split equally among all players seated at the table. These prizes go directly into your chip stack, no strings attached!
BAD BEAT JACKPOT
Rush and Cash also features the Bad Beat Jackpot which provides comfort when you get knocked out while holding powerful hands. Not only does the player that got a bad beat get a nice juicy payout, but the player that dished out the bad beat and all other active players at the table will also receive a token sum.
| Game Type | Lose Hand Criteria |
|---|---|
| Hold’em | Aces Full of Tens or Better |
| PLO | Four Twos or Better |
| PLO5 | Four Eights or Better |
| Short Deck | Four Sixes or Better |
| Rush & Cash Hold’em | Aces Full of Tens or Better |
| Rush & Cash PLO | Four Twos or Better |
LEADERBOARDS
All of Natural8’s innovative game formats have their own leaderboards, where players can earn a share of a daily prize pool. In Rush and Cash, you’ll earn points to help you climb the ladder with every hand you play. The best-performing players at the end of the promotional period receive cash rewards!
Here’s how you can accumulate those leaderboard points:
+1 point for every fold;
+3 points each time you call;
+5 points for a bet or raise.
A maximum of 20 points can be earned per Rush and Cash hand. Check the Rush & Cash Leaderboard for details of the latest leaderboard promotion.
RUSH AND CASH STRATEGY AND ADVICE
Now that you’re all clued up on the rules of Rush and Cash, let’s take a look at how to actually approach the game. In the following section, we’ll share a few strategy tips, as well as common pitfalls to avoid when hitting any fast poker tables.
DON’T FOLD TOO OFTEN
Sometimes it pays to see how the early pre-flop action plays out. If everyone folds ahead of you, it’s easier to pick up the blind. Just because the quick-fold feature is there, it doesn’t mean you always have to use it. Exercise a little patience when in a late position, even if your hand feels like junk.
STEAL MORE
On the subject of stealing blinds, you should increase the rate at which you try this when playing Rush and Cash. Players are far more likely to wait for premium hands because they’re just so much easier to come by. Therefore, you’ll find that giving up marginal hands is more common and people tend to play slightly tighter than the average 6-max game.
WORRY LESS ABOUT TABLE IMAGE
The action moves so quickly, with players switching tables constantly, so it’s really hard to track who is doing what. Although that has its downsides, in terms of getting reads on your opponents, you can use it to your advantage.
You can be reasonably safe that the other players aren’t watching you that closely. It doesn’t really matter if you raise the button three times in a row – so why not go for a fourth?
AVOID SPEED POKER WHEN NEW
Fast-fold games like Rush and Cash move extremely quickly and are not a good environment in which to learn. The frenetic environment makes it easy to panic if you’re new to the game. Plus, you don’t get a chance to sit back and observe, learning from better players.
If you’re a beginner-level poker player and brand new to the game, make sure to practise the fundamentals at traditional tables first.
STAY FOCUSED
Try not to be pulled into the novelty of fast-fold poker. When playing Rush and Cash, it is very tempting to just hover over the fold button. As soon as you see that your hand is weak, you tap the button and jump straight to a new table. But there are two traps here.
We already mentioned one, in that hasty folds means giving up potential blind stealing opportunities. The second is accidentally folding because you got into the routine of just insta-clicking fold. Don’t be suckered into mucking a playable hand!
STICK WITH THE FUNDAMENTALS
Although you’ll need to make some minor strategy adjustments when playing Rush and Cash, the regular six-max strategy holds up quite well.
The average player will tighten up slightly, allowing more opportunities to steal. But when it comes to hand ranges, betting frequency, sizing of bets, and everything else, you really don’t need to change much at all. Stick to the fundamentals and you can make a profit in these games.
PROS AND CONS OF RUSH & CASH
To help you decide whether or not Rush and Cash is right for you, here’s an overview of the advantages and disadvantages.
ProsConsFaster pace means more hands per hour and less boring idle time. Unfortunately, playing more hands also increases the amount of rake you’ll pay. It’s possible to clear bonuses much faster than usual by playing Rush and Cash. The increased pace also means the blinds come around much faster. So pay attention to your stack size and overall bankroll. Your basic 6-max strategies can still be applied. Fast-fold poker doesn’t really change the way you need to approach the game. Rush and Cash is not suitable for high rollers, with mostly low- to medium-stake tables available. Rush and Cash is an excellent game for mobile devices. You can squeeze in lots of hands without needing to play at multiple tables. It is quite a lot harder to get good reads on your opponents and work out who is good or bad.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Faster pace means more hands per hour and less boring idle time. | Unfortunately, playing more hands also increases the amount of rake you’ll pay. |
| It’s possible to clear bonuses much faster than usual by playing Rush and Cash. | The increased pace also means the blinds come around much faster. So pay attention to your stack size and overall bankroll. |
| Your basic 6-max strategies can still be applied. Fast-fold poker doesn’t really change the way you need to approach the game. | Rush and Cash is not suitable for high rollers, with mostly low- to medium-stake tables available. |
| Rush and Cash is an excellent game for mobile devices. You can squeeze in lots of hands without needing to play at multiple tables. | It is quite a lot harder to get good reads on your opponents and work out who is good or bad. |
RUSH AND CASH: FINAL THOUGHTS
Rush and Cash tables at Natural8 are an exciting, rapid-fire alternative to regular poker games. The main appeal is a quick-fold button, which eliminates the need to wait around during long and drawn-out hands. This allows players to spend more time playing the game, packing in as many as 200 hands per hour.
On top of the game’s quickfire nature, it’s also the perfect choice for those who like to play on the go. With no need to multi-table, mobile and tablet screens can remain free of clutter, reducing errors and improving the overall experience. Throw in the extra prizes from leaderboards and cash drops, and there’s a lot to love about Rush and Cash.
Sign up for an account today at Natural8 and play from as little as $0.01 / $0.02 and a $0.40 buy-in.
