Rule Change On Heads up Cash Game At Full Tilt Poker

Full Tilt Poker released a rules change today that has online poker forums buzzing - effective immediately, players are now restricted in the number of heads up tables they can sit at waiting for an opponent. This rule change should, in theory, dramatically reshape the HU Cash portion of the FTP lobby, which is currently populated by a few regulars sitting alone at dozens of tables.

Excerpt from the email sent by FTP announcing the change: “Due to increasing complaints of players occupying many tables alone, Full Tilt Poker will be introducing limitations on the number of heads-up cash games that a player can be sitting at while waiting for an opponent.

Effective immediately, a player is permitted to wait at only one table for each betting level and game type, and at most four tables in total.

For example, you may sit and wait for an opponent at $5-10 NL Hold’em, $5-10 PL Hold’em, $10-20 NL Hold’em, and $10-20 PL Hold’em, but you may not sit and wait at more than one table of any one type, and not more than four tables in total.

The limitations only apply to the practice of occupying many tables while waiting. If you are actively playing at a heads-up table, you may then begin waiting at another table of the same type. There is no restriction on the number of tables you may play (other than the normal limitations on active games).”

The rule seems to be enforced manually at this point, but we’d imagine that future software upgrades will full automate the process.

Full Tilt, perhaps recognizing the potential for this new rule to create a wave of multi-accounting, also offered a reminder of the consequences of multi-accounting and a MA amnesty for any player who would like to combine multiple accounts, no questions asked or penalties applied: “Heads-up cash game players are also reminded of the strict policy against using more than one account. The use of multiple accounts (to hide one’s identity, or circumvent restrictions) is considered to be cheating, and can result in severe penalties, including permanent loss of all playing privileges.

If you have more than one account, and wish to have them merged into a single account without penalty, please contact support@fulltiltpoker.com immediately.”