Full Tilt have released a mobile client of their exclusive Rush Poker game. Available for Android handsets running Android 2.2 (Froyo) or above, the Rush Poker app runs on Flash so it's not likely to ever be released on the iPhone, but brings real money poker to Android users.
Rush Poker is ideally suited for playing on a mobile phone. The game plays just like a regular poker cash game, with one major difference. When a player is no longer in a hand, they are immediately moved to another table and dealt a new hand. This means no waiting around, no waiting for a playable hand, just sit down and get right in the action. There's even a "quick fold" button, so you don't have to wait for it to be your turn to act - if you're dealt rags just click and be "rushed off" to a new seat, and a new hand.
If you've played Rush Poker on the PC or Mac then you'll already know that this format is fun, fast and perfect for the mobile market. One of the biggest problems for poker on a mobile phone is connectivity. It's a slight annoyance when playing a game and another player disconnects, but when it happens repeatedly it really gets annoying. With Rush Poker you don't need to worry, if player does disconnect on your table, you'll only have to wait once, because in a few seconds you'll both be whisked off to separate tables.
The Android version of the game is almost exactly the same as the regular version. You get to play the same pool of tables as players on the PC or Mac, at a full range of stakes from $0.02/$0.05 fixed limit to $2/$4 no limit, in both Texas Hold'em and Omaha. The interface is almost exactly the same, except for the layout of the buttons and there are no checkboxes for pre-actions. Due to the small screen size the raise bar only appears after clicking the raise button, but you get used to that really quickly. Finally there is no option to write notes on players, but since that would be slow and cumbersome to use on a mobile handset it's a feature which most players probably wouldn't use anyway.
Since Rush Poker Mobile runs on Flash, only Android 2.2 handsets are currently supported. That includes HTC's Desire, Evo and Sapphire, the Motorola Droid and Milestone, and the Samsung Galaxy S among others. Several tablets including the Advent Vega, Samsung Galaxy Tab and all of the Archos range also run the software.
Overall the game plays extremely well on a mobile device. The interface is very usable once you get used to the touch screen controls. While it's not quite perfect, it does play very well and is the perfect way to fill some spare time on the train or during a coffee break. Let's hope this spurs some of the other poker sites to follow suit, and maybe release a poker client for a different OS so that iPhone or Windows Mobile users can see some of the action too!
Rush Poker is ideally suited for playing on a mobile phone. The game plays just like a regular poker cash game, with one major difference. When a player is no longer in a hand, they are immediately moved to another table and dealt a new hand. This means no waiting around, no waiting for a playable hand, just sit down and get right in the action. There's even a "quick fold" button, so you don't have to wait for it to be your turn to act - if you're dealt rags just click and be "rushed off" to a new seat, and a new hand.
If you've played Rush Poker on the PC or Mac then you'll already know that this format is fun, fast and perfect for the mobile market. One of the biggest problems for poker on a mobile phone is connectivity. It's a slight annoyance when playing a game and another player disconnects, but when it happens repeatedly it really gets annoying. With Rush Poker you don't need to worry, if player does disconnect on your table, you'll only have to wait once, because in a few seconds you'll both be whisked off to separate tables.
The Android version of the game is almost exactly the same as the regular version. You get to play the same pool of tables as players on the PC or Mac, at a full range of stakes from $0.02/$0.05 fixed limit to $2/$4 no limit, in both Texas Hold'em and Omaha. The interface is almost exactly the same, except for the layout of the buttons and there are no checkboxes for pre-actions. Due to the small screen size the raise bar only appears after clicking the raise button, but you get used to that really quickly. Finally there is no option to write notes on players, but since that would be slow and cumbersome to use on a mobile handset it's a feature which most players probably wouldn't use anyway.
Since Rush Poker Mobile runs on Flash, only Android 2.2 handsets are currently supported. That includes HTC's Desire, Evo and Sapphire, the Motorola Droid and Milestone, and the Samsung Galaxy S among others. Several tablets including the Advent Vega, Samsung Galaxy Tab and all of the Archos range also run the software.
Overall the game plays extremely well on a mobile device. The interface is very usable once you get used to the touch screen controls. While it's not quite perfect, it does play very well and is the perfect way to fill some spare time on the train or during a coffee break. Let's hope this spurs some of the other poker sites to follow suit, and maybe release a poker client for a different OS so that iPhone or Windows Mobile users can see some of the action too!