Online Poker Forum - Full ring vs. 6-max

ohsnapzbrah · Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2009 6:02 pm Post subject: Full ring vs. 6-max

This isn't a comparison type thing between the two types of cash games. But while watching Michigan/Illinois, Penn St/Northwestern, Florida/Georgia, etc. I thought of poker. Phil Gordon, in his green book, says that he doesn't have to be the best player at the table, but rather he has to be better than a couple of players at the table and avoid the better players. There is no question that 6-max and Full Ring games play differently. But does playing Full Ring give you a better chance to be better than some of the players by virtue of more total players? Or does 6-max negate the extra players advantage due to the need to be more aggressive and looser?
I guess in a nutshell, is it smart for good players to play Full Ring? Is it more advantageous for bad players to play 6-max?
Please discuss all answers in essay format, with a clear introduction and conclusion. Also, make sure your argument flows clearly, so as to ensure full points.

Esox4 · Four of a Kind Joined: 04 Jun 2009 Posts: 304

ohsnapzbrah · Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2009 6:22 pm Post subject: Re: Full ring vs. 6-max

Esox4 · Four of a Kind Joined: 04 Jun 2009 Posts: 304

Write your own essay frosh.

muzmund · Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2009 6:24 pm Post subject: Re: Full ring vs. 6-max

NilesMonkey · Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2009 6:31 pm Post subject:

I see the 6-max vs. full ring comparison as being similar to the standard speed Sng vs. turbo idea. In full ring, you're playing fewer hands per blind, so you have more time to exercise your skill edge over the poorer players. At 6-max you can afford to be more aggressive, so you can squeeze value out of your skill edge faster than at full ring.

I think it comes down to your level of comfort in the end. If you play better at 6-max, stick to 6-max. If you find full ring easier, go to full ring.

nolan6 · Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2009 6:35 pm Post subject:

6max is more profitable because you only need one fish in the pot with you, so whereas at fullring there may be more bad players all together, it doesnt really matter as they cant all play you at the same time. Also, at fullring the mistakes made by players are less beneficial to you as they happen less often, as fish plays less hands at FR than 6max on average.

fletch_smf · Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 12:19 am Post subject: Re: Full ring vs. 6-max

junkbutton · Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 8:23 am Post subject: Re: Full ring vs. 6-max

ohsnapzbrah · Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 12:18 pm Post subject:

Well my thought process was that there is overall more aggression in 6-max. With 6-max, bad players can learn how to play different kinds of hands and I do think there is more luck involved in it. Whereas with full ring, there is an incentive for the good players to play just because there will be more players that can potentially be worse than said player.

drmdavis · Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 3:58 am Post subject:

I think full ring games are better for the beginning player because you play tighter, and if you ever plan on playing tourneys or live games, the majority of them will be 9 handed. A beginner needs to build a strategy for those games first before moving to a 6max where play is different. Too many attributes from 6max don't translate to a full ring, so playing that first will most likely hurt a beginning player. Unless they never plan on doing anything other than 6max. So what I'm saying is, I think the transition from full to 6max is easier than 6max to full.

I'm assuming that when you say bad player, you're referring to beginning players... though, not every one gets better with time. Most people who are experienced wont consider themselves a bad player, so they aren't going to change what they play according to what ever is better.

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