PokerStars

PokerStars Summary

PokerStars is the biggest and most trafficed poker site on the internet. With more players then any other online poker sites they can, and do, offer the biggest spread of cash games and tournaments. As you would expect from the largest online poker site the software is very easy to use and they also offer a mac compatible download which is ideal if you’re a mac junkie. As PokerStars is a “poker only” group, meaning you cannot play casino games or bet on sports, you will find the games significantly tougher then at a “all in one” group such as Bet365. Although the games can be tough, especially at the higher stakes, you can find some less experienced players thanks to the various television adverts which attract novice players to the PokerStars virtual felts.

PokerStars Poker Games

PokerStars offers all of the popular poker games including; Holdem, Omaha, Stud, Draw, Razz and various mixed games. Many online poker sites offer various games but never have a player base capable of running games. PokerStars is different. Thanks to having huge amounts of traffic they can offer games which other sites aren’t capable of, and that is thanks to having a diverse player base which play all forms of poker.

Cash games at PokerStars are excellent. Limits start from $0.01/$0.02 right up to “nosebleed” stakes (incredibly high limits). Games can be played in 3 different formats; heads-up, 6 handed or 9 handed. The heads up games tend to be full of regular players who are skilled heads up players, although exploitable. You will also find that their is a huge number of multi-tabling players who grind out profits from weaker, recreational players. Sadly PokerStars cash games aren’t as loose as they once were although that doesn’t mean they can’t be profitable.

Other online poker sites cannot match the amounts of money that PokerStars can guarantee in their prestigous Sunday poker tournaments. PokerStars largest weekly tournament is the $1,500,000 which is also referred to as the “Sunday Million“. In addition to the huge tournaments that PokerStars is renouned for they also offer a wide selection of smaller tournaments in a variety of formats which start 24 hours a day. In addition to these multi table tournaments with fixed structures you can also find sit and go tournaments which start as soon as the tournament is full. These range in size from heads up matches through to 180 man tournaments, which prove incredibly popular with PokerStars players.

PokerStars Software

PokerStars software is widely regarded as the best in the business. The software has tons of added functions, is both PC and MAC compatible and also makes multi-tabling easy. Their is a clean lobby layout which makes finding cash games and tournaments a breeze you can drill down to your specific favourite games such as “$0.25/$0.50 6 max NL holdem” tables or “$1/$2 9 handed PL Omaha” games. The Pokerstars software is regularly inspected by a number of organisations.

PokerStars Traffic

PokerStars is by far the largest online poker site. The amount of players connected to the software regularly exceeds 200,000 at peak hours and you will rarely find less then 80,000 players connected. If you play cash games regardless of the limit or format you play you will always find a table with an open seat and if not you can join a waiting list which will inform you, via a popup window, when your seat is ready. Sit and Go tournaments are increditbly popular and due to the nature of these tournaments you will never be waiting for tournaments to fill up and begin.

PokerStars Bonuses

PokerStars offers some great player bonuses. New players receive a great 100% bonus up to a maximum of $600. You will need to earn 17 VPP’s per $ in bonus that you receive. A VPP is credited to your account for playing either tournaments or cash games. 5.5VPP’s are given for each $ in tournament fee paid and cash game VPP’s vary on the amount of players and amount of rake taken. In addition to this first deposit bonus PokerStars also runs a loyalty program which is widely regarded as being the best in the poker business.

The more you play the more you can earn with PokerStars range of different “VIP” levels. If you meet a certain requirement level, such as the “Platinum Star” level you acquire points 150% quicker then if you was on the default “Bronze Star” level, which is what you start at. To move up the levels you have to meet certain VPP requirements each Month.

PokerStars Payments (PokerStars Deposits And PokerStars Withdrawals)

PokerStars haven’t become the largest online poker site by limiting deposit methods and taking an age to get your winnings to you. They are by far the fastest poker site when it comes to withdrawals and have a massive selection of deposit methods, which makes transferring money to and from PokerStars easy.