| online poker lowdown -> November 16, 2007 -> PokerRoom.com Review |
PokerRoom.com Review
PokerRoom.com Player BasePokerRoom is the biggest site in the ‘Ongame’ network of poker rooms which pool their player base. The combination of several rooms means that you can expect more than 30,000 players at the peak times of European evenings and weekends. PokerRoom does not currently accept players from the US, instead their player base is focused on Europe, with growing numbers from other geographies. As with the majority of sites the busiest games are Texas Holdem poker – both in cash and tournament format. The Omaha poker tables can be busy at peak times, with a growing number of stud players too. The smaller stakes feature some truly bad opponents, only at the mid to high levels will you encounter any sharks at PokerRoom. PokerRoom.com Software ClientPokerRoom’s software actually has two versions. One is in Java and does not require any download – this version is also compatible with Mac computers. The standard download version is also available with more features and data available. PokerRoom recently introduced a version for mobile phone users too. The lobby is smart and designed with easy navigation in mind. The main areas for cash and tournament play are reached by large buttons in the top right corner. Tabs then appear for each game type and below these the betting structure available. You are then presented with a list of available tables. A really nice feature is that clicking each table gives you a display of statistics including players, their stack sizes, players per flop and pot size in addition to any internet delays the seated players are experiencing. This gives you an excellent opportunity to find the perfect table before you sit down. Tables themselves look great with a slightly sideways-on look and great graphics. Speech bubbles state players actions and the buttons are clear. One innovative feature is that during all-in confrontations the percentage winning chances of each player are displayed as the flop, turn and river are dealt. Chat is available at the table, in the lobby and also in the separate lobby for each tournament. PokerRoom.com Cash Game SelectionThe cash games at PokerRoom are very much focused on No-Limit and Pot-Limit Holdem games. There are several table sizes available including 10, 6, 5, 3 and 2 player tables. A unique feature of PokerRoom’s cash game tables is that many feature equal blinds. That is the small blind and big blind are both $1 (for example) instead of $1 / $2. Blind levels start at 15c / 25c and go up in small increments up to $50 / $100, the majority of players can be found at $1 / $2 and below. Fixed Limit Holdem games start at 25c / 50c betting levels - and go up to a huge $500 / $1000 for the high-rollers. In addition to the Holdem games PokerRoom offer Omaha, Omaha Hi-Lo, 7-Card Stud, 7-Card Stud Hi-lo and 5 card draw poker. PokerRoom.com Tournament SelectionPokerRoom have a busy tournament schedule, their biggest regular tournament is ‘The Grand’ which has a $1000+$40 buy-in and some huge prize pools. To ensure that all players get a shot at the big game PokerRoom run satellite qualifiers to the grand for as little as $3. There are a large number of Texas Holdem tournaments scheduled, many with guaranteed prize pools. Variations include short-handed (6-max) games, rebuy tournaments, turbo blinds and satellite qualifiers to both internal and outside poker events – including some of the big televised tournaments. The tournament schedule is not restricted to Texas Holdem. Players can find Omaha, 7-card stud and even 5-card draw in tournament format. There are also country-specific daily tournaments scheduled – for example the ‘Brazilian Daily’. Sit and Go tournaments also feature something for every player. The list of sit and goes is divided into full table, short-handed, heads-up and qualifiers. Once again all the game variations offered by PokerRoom are made available in this format. Multi-table sit and goes are also available in several sizes including 20, 30 and 50 players. Sit and Go players can choose between standard and turbo blind structures in many of these games. PokerRoom.com Bonuses And PromotionsPokerRoom offer a 50% up to $100 sign-up bonus for new players, this is released in a single lump sum. You have 60 days from deposit to collect the required amount of player points from raked hands or tournament fees – 7 points are required for each $1 in bonus money. In addition new players are given 3 tickets to the ‘Weekly Welcome Series’ freerolls. These are satellite tournaments and can allow new depositors to win their way too the World Series of Poker – alongside a $2,500 guaranteed weekly prize pool. Player points can later be exchanged for goods from the poker store, further freeroll entries and even exchanged directly for cash. PokerRoom.com Customer ServiceThe customer service at PokerRoom has a reputation for excellence – both in terms of speed of response and quality. They can be contacted via telephone, e-mail or ‘live chat’ straight from the tables. PokerRoom.com BankingPokerRoom support a wide range of deposit methods each with their own minimum and maximum deposit limits. Debit and Credit cards are recommended as the fastest way to get money online where these methods are supported. The full list of deposit options is: Neteller, Click2Pay, Moneybookers, Visa, Mastercard, ClickandBuy, Switch, Delta and Paysafecard. Customer support are on hand, either via telephone or live chat, to guide you through the deposit process. Conclusion / Final ThoughtsA really good combination of excellent interface, great game and tournament selection and high traffic volumes make PokerRoom a viable choice for first timers and experienced online poker players alike. Mac users and those wishing to play without downloading the client are also well catered for. |
Copyright 2007 by Online Poker Lowdown.