Full Tilt Poker Adds Cap Games

Adding to its reputation as one of the few online poker rooms to offer games other than the run-of-the-mill hold’em and Omaha, Full Tilt Poker has now added “cap” games to its lineup.

Cap games are no-limit and pot-limit games played exactly the same as usual, except that there is a betting cap, or maximum, placed on each player during each hand. Once a player reaches this cap, regardless of how many chips he has left, he is considered “all-in” and may no longer bet. For example, if the maximum buy-in for a table is $400, the cap might be $60. As soon as a player has $60 in the pot, whether it’s all on one bet before the flop, or in a series of bets throughout the hand, he is done betting, even though he might have another $340 remaining in his stack.

According to Full Tilt, the top pros enjoy playing cap games because it allows them to still play good poker without worrying about losing their entire stack on one unlucky suckout.

Some players online have been complaining that putting a cap on betting reduces the advantage skilled players have, as worse players can be more reckless since they don’t have to worry about busting out right away. Plus, the good players won’t be able to make as much money off of the poor players, as much of their stack will be off-limits.

In a chat on Full Tilt (another feature recently added), Howard Lederer had this to say about cap games:

“I think a good player who figures out how to use the differences to their advantage [will] do well in Cap games. Implied odds are lessened. But bluffing opportunities abound. Look for good way to play a 1-bet game and you will do well. Put pressure on a player with a big draw. Take a stand with top pair/top kicker. These are some ways to make the
game work for you.”

Cap games are currently available for no-limit hold’em and both pot-limit and no-limit Omaha.

Originally published September 12, 2006