The PokerStars Review

www.PokerStars.com

 

Poker Stars is one of the most popular, if not the most popular, poker sites in the market today. 

PokerStars overtook PartyPoker as the world's largest online poker room at around the time the U.S. Congress passed the SAFE Port Act. Many sites, including PartyPoker, immediately suspended business with U.S. gamblers, whereas others, including PokerStars, did not.

But don't get fooled, its not only advertising and friendly American player policy that makes PokerStars the market leader. PokerStars is in fact a top quality online poker room and offers a huge load of tournaments - a lot of action, 24/7.
If you are looking to play against experienced players to improve your poker skills, PokerStars is an excellent choice. If you are looking to win easy money, this is not a place for you (try PartyPoker, or Pacific Poker).

Launched in 2001, PokerStars.com has consistently provided players with a high customer service quality and a superior play experience. At Poker Stars (and FullTiltPoker) the level of competition is definitely higher than average, but that's THE place, if you really enjoy (and know) playing online poker.

PokerStars sponsors several professional players, including Chris Moneymaker, Greg Raymer, Hachem, Bertrand Grospellier, Isabelle Mercier, John Duthie, Katja Thater, Lee Nelson, Luca Pagano, Steve Paul-Ambrose, Vanessa Rousso, Victor Ramdin, Wil Wheaton, Noah Boeken, WSOP bracelet winners Barry Greenstein, Humberto Brenes, William Chen and 1983 WSOP champion Tom McEvoy.

PokerStars Profile

Name: Poker Stars
Website: www.PokerStars.com
Currency: $US
Software: Independent
Owner: Rational Enterprises (Costa Rica)
Country: Based in Isle Of Man, registered legal business located in San José (Costa Rica) and holds a license with the Kahnawake Gaming Commission (Canada).

The Game Selection at PokerStars

- Texas Holdem
- Omaha High Low
-  Omaha High
-  Seven Card Stud High Low
-  Seven Card Stud
-  Razz
-  HORSE/HOSE
-  Qualifiers for:
    -- World Series of Poker, WSOP
    -- European Poker Tour, WPT
    -- World Championship Of Online Poker, WCOP
    -- PokerStars Caribbean Adventure. PCA
    -- World Cup of Poker, WCP 

 

Signup Bonus and Deals at PokerStars

First Deposit Bonus Promotion, 100% First-Time Deposit Bonus

From now until the end of 2007, if you make your first-ever real money deposit, PokerStars will give you a 100% bonus up to $50. Use the bonus code "First2007" to begin earning your extra cash. To earn this bonus, you will need to play on PokerStars and collect the number of Base FPPs equal to 10 times the bonus amount. You have six months after your first deposit to earn all the FPPs you need to cash out your bonus. This promotion ends on December 31, 2007.

 

PokerStars Loyalty Program

Frequent Player Points (FPPs) are their our way of rewarding your play at PokerStars. They're just like frequent flier miles on an airline; you get an FPP every time the pot in your cash game is raked a certain amount. You also get FPPs for playing in their multi-table tournaments and sit-and-go tournaments.
You can go to their FPP Store and buy: PokerStars clothing, poker books, poker accessories and Electronics. You can also purchase tournament entries at the FPP store, for tournaments such as our Sunday Million, $1 million guaranteed event, the World Championship of Online Poker, and the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure, which is a WPT event. 

 

The Tournaments at PokerStars

SHOOTOUTS

A shootout is a multi-table tournament. When you play in a multi-table tournament, players are moved from table to table to balance the number of players at each table. Eventually, the fortunate last nine players end up at the "final table". In a shootout, no such table balancing is done. You are stuck at your original table until only one player is left standing. If you win that table, you advance to another table and repeat the process against players who each won their first table. In a DOUBLE SHOOTOUT, you need to win two tables to win the event, although often there is some money for everybody who makes the second table. In a TRIPLE SHOOTOUT, you must win three tables to win the entire event (again, there may well be some prize money distributed along the way).

SATELLITES

A satellite is a smaller tournament in which the prize is an entry into a larger tournament. Satellites are inexpensive to enter compared with multi-table tournaments. While a multi-table tournament may carry a $200 buy-in, one can buy into a satellite for $20 and win a $200 seat in the multi-table tournament. Multi-table satellites are scheduled as regular tournaments, and the sign-up details and play are identical.

FREEROLLS

Freerolls are free. There is no buy-in and no entry fee, but there are cash prizes available to win.
These tournaments can be easily found by clicking on the "Tourney" tab in the main client window, and then on the "Freeroll" tab. Poker Stars holds several such events daily, leading to a Weekly Round 2 championship. During peak hours (6pm to 3am), these tournaments are limited to 1000 players. They are very popular and you may have difficulties getting in before they fill up. The off peak tournaments have no limit on the number of players; as well, most Freeroll tourneys are immediately followed by a micro buy in real money event (cost of playing is always $3 or less).

SIT & GO

A sit & go event is a one or two table event that is not regularly scheduled; it simply begins when all the seats for the event are filled. These tournaments can be found by clicking on the "Sit & Go" tab in the main client window.

-- Single table: 9 players - Pays top 3 places (50%-30%-20%).

-- Two table: 18 players - Pays top 4 places (40%-30%-20%-10%).

-- Multi-Table: 2-table, 3-table, 5-table, 10-table and 20-table Sit & Go's.

-- Heads up: 2 players. Winner takes all.

-- Heads up 4 player match: 4 players; divided into two tables and two heads up matches, 2 winners take it all.

 

DEEP STACKS

You will often see a tournament in the lobby labeled as a "Deep Stacks" event. It indicates that each player starts with more chips than usual. The starting stack in most Deep Stack events is 5,000 chips. The blinds are normally the same as a regular PokerStars tournament, thus giving each player more play throughout the event. In addition to a deeper-than-normal starting stack, most Deep Stack events have 30-minute intervals between levels. The normal interval between changes in levels on PokerStars is 15 minutes. Lengthening the levels in Deep Stacks events is another way of providing a lot of play, particularly in the early stages of the tournament. You can find Deep Stack events in the lobby; the words "Deep Stacks" should be in the name, which should be in pink.

 

REBUY TOURNAMENTS

A rebuy tournament is one in which you have the opportunity to buy more chips during the event. In a non-rebuy tournament, when you run out of chips, you're out of the tournament. In a rebuy tourney, you can buy more chips. If you run completely out of chips, you will automatically be offered a rebuy. At any time, you can click on the dealer tray and select the "Add More Chips" option. Rebuys are not charged a rake as is the original buyin. If a rebuy tournament has a buyin of $10+1, then the rebuys will usually be $10 and all $10 of each rebuy will go into the prize pool. 

 

6-MAX

"6-max" in the tournament's title indicates that at each table, there are 6 seats, as opposed to the normal 9 (or 8 in stud-type games).6-max events are generally shown in the lobby in a light blue. 

 

TURBO

A turbo event (displayed in the lobby in green) is one in which the blind levels increase much faster than in standard play. The interval in a turbo tournament is usually 5 minutes, though there are turbo events with 6 minute intervals. Turbo re-buy events usually break at 30 minutes.

 

Free Games at PokerStars

Once you have clicked a Game or Tournament tab, click on the ‘Play Money’ Tab. In some cases the play money tables will have their own tab, in others you can find Play Money games by scrolling down through the Real Money tables.

 

PokerStars RakeBack

Since PokerStars prefers to utilize the marketing budget TV - there is no rakeback for players.

 

Deposit Options at PokerStars

- eChecks

- NETeller

- FirePay

- CentralCoin

- VISA / VISA Delta / VISA Electron / Gift and Prepaid VISA

- MasterCard / Gift and Prepaid MasterCard

- ePassporte

- Diners Club International

- Solo / Maestro / Switch

- Cashier's Check / Money Order / Bank Draft

- Local Bank Wire Transfer

- ELV

- Online Bank Transfer

- paysafecard 

 

PokerStars Support

Email support 24/7. Simply e-mail support@pokerstars.com and they will get back to you as soon as possible. Their Customer service is friendly and effective.

 

Current Promotions featured at PokerStars

WSOP Package 2007

For players who agree to wear PokerStars logo gear and no other logos for the duration of the Main Event. More details at PokerStars.com.

 

General Graphics and Site navigation

There aren't many flaws at PokerStars, the graphics are great and its really easy to go through the menu system and find exactly what you want.  PokerStars poker client is a top notch software, with top notch accessibility and reliability, delivering an above the average play experience. PokerStars has the best poker client in the market and we are sure you will not be disappointed.

 

Happy Playing and don't forget to always check the terms and conditions of the promotions you sign for.

Free Download & Play at PokerStars

 

 

About PokerStars.com

PokerStars is home to the world's largest online poker tournaments and qualifies more players for World Series of Poker Satellites, the World Poker Tour, and the European Poker Tour than any other internet poker site. We offer every one of your favorite ring games and host exclusive signature events like the PokerStars World Championship of Online Poker and the PokerStars World Cup of Poker. PokerStars has long been known as the place where poker players become world champions. Many of poker's top professionals honed their skills on internet poker sites. These players know that long-term tournament success doesn't hinge on the turn of one card. On this website, you will find all the tips and tricks you need to start your poker career. At PokerStars you will always find poker games at any limit, experience the best poker software, and receive incredible bonuses for your play. Whether you want to play for free or win real money, you can do it here.