- game selection: Availability of cash poker games as well as free multiplayer poker games. Free games are essential for training and getting familiar with the software. Texas Holdem is the king of poker. However, other less popular poker games such as Omaha, Razz can add appeal and variety to any poker site. Website design By BotEap.com
- Table selection: Full multiplayer: 9-hand tables, as well as shorthand and heads-up tables Website design By BotEap.com
- Availability: Solid Client software for Windows and Mac with frequent updates. Bonus points if the site also offers a good browser-based, no-download online poker game. You might not think about it much at first, but no poker download client really shines when you’re on vacation, accessing the site from a mobile device, or “on the go.” Website design By BotEap.com
- Gameplay: This is important if you play a lot of online poker. Here we rate factors such as the responsiveness of the software. Whether it hangs a lot or runs smoothly day in and day out. Visual layout and how cluttered the screen is. Whether the controls are conveniently located. Do not underestimate these “soft” factors. Overall, the gameplay is the best indicator of software quality. It can turn your poker session into a fight or make the computer all but disappear by letting you immerse yourself in the poker action. Website design By BotEap.com
- Social Features: Ability to chat with other players and invite others to play a specific game or table. Remember that people who play poker online often do so for fun as well as the thrill of winning money. If you play a lot, you will meet people and even make some friends. Website design By BotEap.com
- Tournaments: Offering tournaments in a variety of formats, such as single table (Sit-n-Go) and multi-table (MTT). Website design By BotEap.com
- For the record, I don’t think beginners should play tournaments. Poker tournaments, especially online poker tournaments, require a different poker strategy than regular ring games because tournaments are often played short-stacked and used early. To an untrained eye, a tournament often looks like an extremely loose and even reckless game. Website design By BotEap.com
- Traffic: Sufficient number of players. We are talking about players who are currently connected to the site. High traffic sites are great if you like to try different games or just get bored easily. On the other hand, if you’d rather play online poker with the same people you played with yesterday, then traffic doesn’t matter. Keep in mind that high-traffic sites are usually those with large promotional budgets. To recoup marketing expenses, your rake structure may be less favorable.
Top 3 Online Multiplayer Poker Sites for 2011
Website design By BotEap.comThere are a bewildering number of options when it comes to online poker. I hope this article helps a beginning poker fan get off to a good start in the world of online multiplayer poker. Each of our Top 3, in addition to being a leader, offers something unique. I’ll be sure to point out those unique features throughout the article. As in any young industry, things are very fluid and relative positions change frequently. That’s why I specifically review poker sites as they are in 2011. I must revisit them next year and update my findings.
Website design By BotEap.comWhat it takes to get on the list
Website design By BotEap.comWhat criteria should we use to select our Top 3? Here are the factors that largely separate leaders from the rest of the field: