Reading Online Poker Reviews 2

In part 1, we laid it out for you on what online poker reviewers when evaluating an online poker room.

In part 1, we also had an in-depth discussion of software and graphics, game variation and limits, and traffic. This concluding article will explore the information contained in the rest of the sections of a typical online poker review.

Competition

In an online poker review, you will find the measurement of skill prevalent in the various poker games (Texas Hold’em, etc.), types (ring games), betting structures (limit poker) and stakes.

Fish pertains to a player who is not very good. They make frequent bad bets and can be intimidated easily. A good poker player can beat a fish constantly and with ease.

Now, a shark refers to skillful players that devour fish.

Bonuses

This section of an online poker review will discuss the type of signup bonus you’ll receive, which is usually a percentage of your first deposit, and any other bonuses offered at the online poker site.

A few common bonuses are as follows:

Bad Beat Bonus – If you lose a hand bearing a value higher than a certain amount (usually four Qs), you win the biggest chunk of a bonus that is shared between all the players that posted blinds in that particular round.

Magic Hand Bonus – Each round or hand in an online poker game is assigned a number. In this type of bonus, the online poker room selects a random number, say, every 500,000th hand, and gives each player who posted blinds on that particular hand a share of the bonus—the largest share going to the winning hand.

High Hand Bonus – This type of bonus is given to a poker player that gets the highest ranking hand above a minimum hand in a set period of time, without folding.

Progressive Bonuses or Jackpots – These bonuses start at a specific amount and increases each day without a winner claiming the bonus. The amount is reset to its starting level after a winner has claimed it.

Rake

This is the commission the online poker site takes for each hand played. The average rake is 5% of the pot, and it may be up to but not exceeding $3. There are online poker sites that take smaller cuts from smaller pots or low stakes games.

It should be noteworthy that some online poker sites have a marvelous “No Flop/No Drop” policy, which states that if a player doesn’t stay in to see the flop, no rake is taken.

Customer Service

This part of the online poker review indicates the information on how to reach the online poker site’s customer support (toll-free voice support, email, chat), including its operating hours (preferably 24/7), and most importantly, the quality of service, the politeness and quickness of response.

Promotions

Just like bonuses but being granted a section in an online poker review, promotions are extraordinary, time-dependent events that generally give out special prizes that include huge jackpots, trips, cars, and free tickets in World Poker Tour (WPT) and World Series of Poker (WSP) events.

Deposits and Cashouts

In an online poker review, you’ll find a couple of things in this section: first, the payment methods accepted in making deposits and Cashouts such as PayPal, credit cards, NETeller, etc. And second, the timeliness, dependability and security involved in the processing of the online poker site’s transactions.

Ease of Use

This section discusses the usability and the ability of the site’s software interface to easily work with its users. Moreover, you will find out how the lobby is structured and all the information essential in playing poker at the site including the following:

Hands per hour – This is an indicator of how quick the game moves and could be a measuring instrument of the experience level of the poker players.

Average pot – This shows how aggressive the players are betting and how much you can expect to win or lose each hand.

Flop percentages – Tells of the average number of players staying at the table to see the flop. This also tells of how loose they’re playing.

With this very useful, two-part guide to reading online poker reviews, you should be playing at the perfect online poker room for you right this very moment!

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Reading Online Poker Reviews 1

There is a huge number of poker review sites out there each having their take on the countless poker rooms operating on the Internet. In this article, we will begin the process of breaking down our own online poker review guide so you know what look for when trying to find an online poker room that suits you.

Software and Graphics

There are many commonly used software in online poker rooms all over the Internet. The more reputable ones include Cryptologic, Microgaming, PlayTech and RealTime Gaming. However, there are still some poker rooms that use their own proprietary software.

Whatever software an online poker room utilizes, reading only poker reviews will help you understand what experienced online poker players think about the variety of software used by different poker sites. Essential factors that should be taken into consideration include:

• Speed and smooth gameplay
• Software reliability
• Game interface (table views like bird’s eye view or 3D player-centered view)
• Selection of automated features (auto-posting of blinds, pre-selection of bid/call buttons)

Under this section, you will also find information regarding the representation of players in the game (avatars, icons) and the introspective quality of graphics and sound.

Game Variety and Limits

In this section, you will find the list of games offered by the site like Texas Hold’em, Omaha, 7-Card Stud, 5-Card Stud, Hi-Lo variants, Draw Poker, and on rare occasions, games like Crazy Pineapple. There are sites that also feature video poker and other non-poker games such as Blackjack and Baccarat. These days, there are online poker sites that are integrated with online casino sites.

Also under this section are the betting structures available on each game: limit, no limit, pot limit, with the range of the stakes for each. If you come across the term “Microlimits,” this commonly refers to games with blinds that are in the penny or nickel range.

Finally, you will find out if the poker site offers ring games, poker tournaments or both in this section. And if they do, these are the kinds they would probably have:

Freeroll – This is a free to enter tournament with big prizes.

Freezeout or Shootout – This goes through a process of elimination with a winner takes all format (or top three finishers). Most tournaments are of this kind even Freerolls and Sit ‘n’ Gos.

Sit-n-Go or Sit and Go – This game usually runs 24/7, is also a freezeout, can be under any stakes, and commences every time the required number of players buy-in.

Re-buy – This is a form of freezeout wherein you have the option to buy-in again once knocked out.

Satellite – This is also a freezeout wherein the prize is a place in a bigger poker tournament that is usually held in land-based casinos and with a much bigger prize.

Bounty – This is a freezeout with a bonus. Certain players are given “bounties” on their heads, so to speak. Whoever knocks out those players in a game collects that bounty regardless if they win the game overall or not.

Traffic

This section pretty much tells you the average number of players that frequent the poker room. The online poker review will let you know how many players go in and participate in ring games or tournaments during peak hours.

Poker room traffic can be a double-edged sword—it can be both advantageous and disadvantageous. Too much traffic can mean it might be difficult to find a seat at a table, but you will have no trouble finding action at your desired stakes and it’s possible to milk loads of fish out of their bankrolls.

Too little traffic can mean the opposite—you may not find action at your desired stakes, but you can be assured of a seat and you’ll likely play against the same players more frequently. Looking at the bright side, knowing your opponents is a huge advantage.

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