[thiamide]

> im not a fan at all of full ring, hopefully we can work
> something out and keep the tables short.

This is the other major factor that doesn't get discussed much in the online vs. live debates. Online cash players are mostly shorthanded specialists. Live cash players are mostly ring game players. Since the two types of games play very differently, the format of any challenge match will be huge.

Going from shorthanded to ring game play requires a significant adjustment. The opposite is true, too, which is why a lot of ring game players get run over shorthanded. Adjusting isn't always easy, but a failure to do so is costly.

BTW, Barry Greenstein, in his analysis of Patrik Antonius, notes that Patrik's main weakness is ring games (i.e., his lack of adjustment from shorthanded play).

If any challenge match comes off, an edge will go to the live pros if the format is 9- or 10-handed.