Best poker sites to play Full Ring tables
There are only five poker sites with active full ring play at several stakes during peak hours:
| Poker site | Rake % | Rakeback % | HUD |
| PokerStars | 5 | 10 - 35 | yes |
| Chico network | 5,5 | VIP | yes |
| Winning poker | 5 | 12 - 65 | yes |
Chico Poker Network
The US-friendly Chico Poker Network (TigerGaming, BetOnline, SportsBetting) occupies second place in terms of full ring cash game traffic. Here are its main differences from the competitors:
- Additional Bad Beat Jackpot fees on top of the rake at NL100$+ stakes.
- There is no loyalty system - players can increase their EV only by participating in races and other promotions.
- Only Hand2Note and DriveHUD2 provide direct HUD output. All other trackers require hand converters, which are formally prohibited.
Most 9-max tables can be found at NL100$ stake late at night and early in the morning (15-20). Also, there are usually 5-7 active tables at each of the three lower stakes. Higher-stakes players can find up to 10 across NL200$-NL500$.
Winning Poker Network
Another US-facing network is slightly behind Chico regarding the 9-max cash game traffic during peak hours. It has two main features:
- Higher NL600$-NL1K$ traffic.
- Unique 9-max 7-Day No Rathole tables at up to NL40K$ stakes with a minimum initial buy-in of just 10BB. Their main feature is the possibility to return to the table within a week, holding the same stack you left with last time. As a result, some players may have stacks of several hundred big blinds.
PokerStars
PokerStars maintains the undisputed leadership regarding the number of active full ring poker.
Low-stakes cash games of up to NL25$ inclusive are the most popular here. You can find 20-50 active tables on average in the evening. Also, there’s some action in 9-max Zoom Poker at NL2$ stake. The higher-stakes cash games can be usually played at up to NL200$, with 5-10 active tables at each stake.
However, the percentage of regulars is way superior to any other major poker site.
What is a full ring in poker?
Full rings are cash game poker tables with 7+ players. They are often 9-max, although some poker sites (partypoker, club-based apps, WPT Global) have switched to 8-max in recent years.
The best strategy for full ring cash games is to play tight, make strong hands, and relentlessly bet for value. The default VPIP value is about 15%, which should be lower in early positions and higher in late positions. This range includes the following hands:
- High and middle Aces (AK, AQ, AJ, AT)
- High Face Cards (KQ, KJ, QJ)
- Pocket pairs (AA-22)
- Best suited connectors (JTs, 98s, 87s)
- Low suited Aces (A9s, A8s, A7s)
At the same time, do not forget about stealing blinds from other tight players and bluffing in proper spots both preflop and postflop.
Full ring 9-max vs. Shorthanded 6-max
The main advantage of full ring poker over short one is that players have more time to think on average. Accordingly, you can play more tables simultaneously.
Full rings are recommended for beginners due to tight (narrow) open-raising ranges. From the strategic point of view, the 9-max game is simpler: the stronger the hand, the easier it is to play.
But just because of the lower level of action, 9-max completely lost the fight for traffic to 6-max. Short-handed tables can be found everywhere and in much larger numbers.
Summary
Despite the hegemony of short tables in modern online poker, players still have options to play full ring. You can find active 9-max at a reasonably wide range of stakes at all poker rooms mentioned in this article. Of course, the softness of the playing field and other conditions can differ.
By playing with Worldpokerdeals, you get the best rakeback deals on the market.
FAQ
✅ What poker sites hold full ring games?
Currently, the classic 9-max tables can be found on Chico Poker Network, Winning Poker Network, 888Poker (low-stakes only), and PokerStars.
✅ Is 6-max or 9-max better?
If you are a beginner, we advise you to start playing at full ring tables for several reasons. First, 9-max cash games are understandably calmer than 6-max ones. The more players involved, the longer it takes for the action to reach you.
✅ Does GGPoker have full ring poker?
No. There were no plans for a possible launch of full ring cash games either.
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