Last week, partypoker distributed an update to its poker software. There was nothing revolutionary included, but a few additions should appeal to recreational players and, as we know, the industry has been targeting casual players for months. The highlight of the update is something pros will probably hurumph at: rabbit hunting.

Coulda, woulda, shoulda

Rabbit hunting is the practice of looking at what cards would have been dealt next when a hand ends before showdown. Most of us have probably done it in home games. Perhaps you had four to a flush, but folded when your buddy put you all-in on the river. But you just NEED to know. You are itching to find out if that fifth flush card would have come on the river, so you reach over to the deck, burn a card, and then flip over that river card while your friend is scooping the pot.

In most casinos, rabbit hunting is not allowed. If it is, you need to ask first. The primary reason rabbit hunting is frowned upon is that it slows down the game. One or two players might not mind it, but most players at the table, especially those who were not involved in the end stages of the hand, are just going to be annoyed. They couldn’t care less what card would have been dealt – they just want to move on to the next hand.

In poker, 'rabbit hunting' refers to when a player will peek at the upcoming cards in the deck following the completion of a hand. For instance - let's say that two players get into a raising war after a flop of 9s-Js-Ad. One player has a flush draw and decides to fold instead of putting the rest of their chips at risk. In a shared card game, to ask to see the remaining community cards when a hand ends before they are dealt. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: For example: In a game of pot limit Omaha, one player quickly makes a pot-sized bet after the flop is revealed. ACCURATE FOLD TIMES OF NEGREANU IN POKER. Two three friends even better than two friends and Tony checks seven of hearts on the turn, giving has trip sevens Daniel first to act bets 5500 looks like Daniel thinks it's safe to bet there. RABBIT HUNTING, to expose cards that would be dealt, if the play was not finished, will it be reality on partypoker or PokerStars? That this will change our focus and concentration?

It’s also not typically the best idea to ask for a rabbit hunt because it can give away your holdings. If there are two spades on the board and you want to see what the river would have been, I think everyone is going to know that you’re looking for a flush. Player reactions can also reveal players’ strategy, so your opponents might not appreciate the rabbit hunt.

Diamonds needed for rabbit hunting

But back to partypoker. Rabbit hunting is currently only available in SPINS tournaments. And lest one fear that it will be used every single hand (it might), players must purchase a rabbit hunt using the Diamonds virtual currency. Diamonds were previously introduced on the mobile app. They don’t cost real money – this currency is simply earned by playing.

Diamonds can also be used on the mobile app to buy objects to throw at opponents at the table, just for a little silliness, but that functionality is not yet up and running on the desktop app.

Another addition – and this will be found at Hold’em tables – is a new feature that will display showdown equity in all-in situations. There’s not much else too this. When two or more players are all-in against each other and the cards are revealed. Each player’s equity is shown next to their name.

And finally, at heads-up tables, players are now required to pay the same number of big blinds during the match.

“Should a player quit the game before an equal number of big blinds are paid, they will automatically post the big blind and then their hand folded,” reads the partypoker blog.

Lead photo by Sincerely Media on Unsplash

Rabbit Hunting In Poker

DJTeddyBearYeah, I think folding was the right decision. Sure, the aces would’ve won, but our hero would never feel good about his hand. I mean, if he put Phil on two pair, who’s to say that Phil’s second pair wasn’t fours? If so, it would’ve given Phil a boat. The only way he could’ve called is if he definitely put Phil on a flush draw.
I think the rabbit hunt had little to do with Phil being the one asking for it. I rarely play at stakes higher than 1/2, so I don’t really know. But I think it’s a rule at the 1/2 level simply to prevent players from constantly asking to see those cards. At higher levels, the players are disciplined enough to know that they really don’t want to see those cards, at least in most cases. So when Phil asked, it’s an easy thing for the dealer to agree to do. Particularly since our hero showed the aces when folding.

Rabbit Hunting Poker Chips

PokerGrinderI play higher stakes and I can safely say the rabbit hunt was because it was Helmuth. Some dealers here and there will give you a quick rabbit but it’s very rare from my experience as some places the dealer can get into trouble for doing it.
As far as the fold it’s fine, I might have peeled a street because he doesn’t have the ace of hearts which gives Phil the nut flush draw to be raising with. If you have aces with the ace of hearts it makes the fold much easier as it skews Phil towards value hands which are all ahead of AA.
Edit: peel a street means call the raise on the flop and then I would reassess on the turn.