::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
:: Shorthand Game
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
|
|
Poker Stars
www.pokerstars.com
Ranked No. 4
OVERALL RATING - 9
| Reputation and popularity |
9 |
|
| Theme and creativity |
8 |
|
| Graphics |
8 |
|
| Sound |
8 |
|
| Software |
8 |
|
| Amount and variety of games |
9 |
|
| Promotions and bonuses |
4 |
|
| Ease of use |
8 |
|
| Security |
8 |
|
| Customer support |
6 |
|
| Payment options |
8 |
|
| Free CD |
No |
|
Live games
Texas Hold 'Em
Omaha
Omaha Hi-Lo
7-Stud
7-Stud Hi-Lo
Minimum deposit
$50
Fixed limits
Hold 'Em, Omaha, Omaha Hi-Low:
$0.02-0.04
$0.05-0.10
$0.25-0.50
$0.50-1
$1-2
$2-4
$3-6
$5-10
$10-20
$15-30
$30-60
$80-160
$100-200 (Hold 'Em only)
7-Card Stud, 7-Card Hi-Lo:
$0.04-0.08
$0.25-0.50
$0.50-1
$1-2
$2-4
$3-6
$5-10
$10-20
$30-60
Pot limits
$0.01-0.02 (lower limit) to
$5-10 (upper limit)
Since it seems to be the thing most everybody talks about when they talk about Poker Stars, we'll get it out of the way first: The winner of the 2003 World Series of Poker in Las Vegas started his unlikely trajectory from "normal guy" to "poker legend" right here at Poker Stars. That person was Chris Moneymaker, and after signing up with Poker Stars with an initial wager of $40 and winning a seat at the WSOP through his online efforts, he wound up going all the way and winning $2.4 million. Clearly, that's a story this online poker room is happy to have on its side!
With the background information out of the way, we can get down to business. Don't expect to have the kind of success Chris Moneymaker had. This is a pretty tough room. However, it's also a very good room. The choice of games and tables is extremely strong, as is the choice of limits. Poker Stars offers everything from $0.04-0.08 blinds up to $100-200 Hold 'Em tables and $30-60 7-Card Stud tables, although the highest-blind tables usually aren't as popular as the middle and lower blinds.
The software, graphics and feel of this poker room are strong as well-a rare combination. Usually software is slower as a result of nice graphics, or the graphics are boring if the software is fast, but Poker Stars has managed to get you the best of both worlds. Upon signing up you have the choice to add a photo of yourself, which makes for a fun room: you can enjoy looking at your competition's poker faces instead of the faces of fictional characters. And there's a LOT of competition here. After the tandem of Empire Poker and Party Poker, Poker Stars claims its position as the second-largest poker room on the Internet. Unlike Empire and Poker, however, these people are a step above, so don't expect an easy ride. Especially not with Chris Moneymaker lurking in the crowd somewhere.
Cashouts, security and customer service are all quite strong at Poker Stars, although the customer service is only of the e-mail variety: no live help here. Really, our only complaint about Poker Stars is that there are no great promotions or bonuses for a room of this size (maybe they feel they're above all that, with their celebrity status), and it's worth mentioning one more time that the people who play here are generally pretty good, so you can do better as far as competition goes. Overall, however, an exciting place to play, with all the perks you'd expect from such a recognizable name. Highly recommended, so give it a try.
|
|
