PokerStars.com

PokerStars.comPokerStars.com is the poker site which produced three World Series of Poker Champions in a row, from 2003-2005: Chris Moneymaker in 2003, Greg "Fossilman" Raymer in 2004 and Joe Hachem in 2005. Another well-known and much-related fact about PokerStars is their huge membership – over 91,000 online on my last glance and still growing steadily -- according to the owners, who claim about 600,000 tournaments per week online. Still offering a 100% membership bonus (up to $50 in Free PokerStars Chips), many would argue that Poker Stars the top online poker room.

Pokerstars has created a platform built for both beginners and advanced players alike catering to everyone. Beginners may find the free games offerred at PokerStars.net specially helpfull. Pokerstars games are available in over a dozen different languages and currencies and have a financial record that speaks for itself. The company is socially responsible, also. Pokerstars donated millions to charities and helped raise funds for tragedies like Hurricane Katrina, the Tsunami and Dafur.

Use Marketing Code "TOP5POKER" to get a 100% match bonus up to $50.

Pokerstars Tournaments

Poker Stars is consistently described by its users in terms like "playable" and "reliable". Because PokerStars depends so heavily on tournament traffic for their reputation – the as-mentioned 600,000 weekly tournaments amounts to a tournament every second – their technology has to be fast and reliable. Even with tournament sizes of up to 1,000 players, there are little to no reported software problems. I haven't personally tested their support staff (didn't need their help) but they claim to be dedicated to answering all concerns inside of 24 hours.

They offer a great bonus for new players. Although it’s not large it is easy to clear and if you use the Pokerstars Marketing Code TOP5POKER you can get the maximum offer of 100% match up to $50.

In addition to this you have the new VIP rewards program that wards all players for playing at Pokerstars – even beginners.

Pokerstars Security Software

No concerns about security here; when you're a big fish you have to keep a tidy pond. In the graphics department, don't expect to be wowed. That being said, the game has a few unique and helpful features that become apparent during play. I appreciated the resize feature on game windows which allowed me not just to play multiple games, but to watch them all live and at the same time. And if your avatar graphic is that big of a concern to you, you can design your own. You can choose among everything from elaborate "photo-shop" jobs to just a picture of your puppy. Members seem to love how Poker Stars displays other user's internet connectivity information, as yet another example of their clever technology. This way you don't get too involved in a slowed-down game.

Poker Limits at Pokerstars

Poker Stars offers much more gaming variety than you may be used to. Texas Hold'em, Omaha, Omaha Hi/Lo, 7 Card Stud, 7 Card Stud Hi/Lo, Razz, 5 Card Draw, 2-7 Triple Draw, and the hybrid poker game, HORSE, are the games featured. This list represents every major poker game played today, an incredible variety that rivals what is available to you in any casino poker room. As for the games themselves, your bankroll won't limit your experience, because there are so many players online. In other words, it is easy to find players on your level. Right now, for instance, there are almost 17,000 open tables, running from $.02 - $.04 up to $200 for no-limit. Other poker sites feature most of their action at the ultra-high and ultra-low ends, but at Poker Stars I find there are many open $25 - $50 tables, featuring a variety of games.

As for tournaments, Stars runs constant sit and go tournaments -- and not just for Hold'em. Although these games are offered at other sites, they flourish in an environment as packed with membership as Poker Stars. When these tournaments were introduced a couple of years ago, the Pokerstars tourneys were only offered at specific times. The members loved the games so much that the sit and goes run all day everyday, with buy-ins from $4 + $.40 up to $60 + $5. If online multi-table tournaments are your thing, PokerStars has you covered. This Isle of Man-based online casino offers a range of buy-ins from $0.10 up to $10,300 daily. And while special day-specific tournaments exist, by far the most popular guarantees are the $3 re-buy ($30,000 guaranteed), $5 re-buy ($35,000 guaranteed), and $10 re-buy ($55,000 guaranteed).Don't forget about Sundays – Poker Stars is well-known for giving away millions of dollars on Sunday, including one weekly tournament quite literally featuring a million-dollar guarantee.