GGPoker has introduced a new “auto fold” feature in its Rush & Cash Hold’em games, allowing players to define a range of hole cards the software will automatically fold, based on table position. If you select a hand to be automatically folded you will still be dealt it, but you will not see it.  You do not automatically play the hand either, you can still fold when it is dealt to you, it just means you set a threshold for the hands you want to see. The one exception is if there is a Cash Drop at your table, you will still have the option to play any hand at that point. The goal of this feature is that operators and grinders will see more hands played, while recreational players will be less bored between hands.

Some players support the feature, saying it will speed up the game, and improving the “boring” part of the game, pre-flop folding. But most of the players who have made their feelings known do not like it at all. With real-time assistance (RTA) programs forbidden and players having been banned for their use, people see this as a partial, built-in RTA and possibly one step toward wider use. 

This is not strictly the current issue with Auto Fold because it appears you can only set one range, you cannot specify by table position. A perfect UTG range will not be a perfect Button range, and certainly not a perfect Big Blind defence range. For example, this is a GTO 100BB defence range of a Button open. If somebody was autofolding T5s or 52s from every seat, they would in theory be sacrificing EV. 

Red - Raise, Green - Call, Blue - Fold

The other major criticism is that autofold removes a major part of the game tree. Some of the biggest errors in poker stem from bad preflop decisions, even if it is much further along in the hand. A preflop error compounds in poker. Other poker players see it as a scheme for GGPoker to make more money. Auto fold will speed up pre-flop action, increasing hands per hour, and, in turn, rake per hour. On top of that, if weaker players can avoid pre-flop mistakes with auto fold, their bankrolls will last longer and thus they can contribute more to rake. 

Do you like this feature? Let us know in the comments:

Source: pokerstrategy.com, vegasslotsonline.com