Top 3 Online Multiplayer Poker Sites for 2011

There 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.

What it takes to get on the list

What criteria should we use to select our Top 3? Here are the factors that largely separate leaders from the rest of the field:

1. 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.
2. Table selection: Full multiplayer: 9-hand tables, as well as shorthand and heads-up tables
3. 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.”
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Tournaments: Offering tournaments in a variety of formats, such as single table (Sit-n-Go) and multi-table (MTT).
7. 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 the untrained eye, a tournament often looks like an extremely loose and even reckless game.
8. 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.

pokerstars

Run by a European company, Rational Entertainment Enterprises Ltd., this is by far the biggest poker site today. It has grown tremendously in the last 5 years and attracts as much traffic as 3 of its biggest competitors combined. Because there are so many players hanging around the site, the selection of games and tables is very good.

I have no first hand experience with their customer service. That being said, I have never heard any persistent or widespread complaints about PokerStars. Unlike other sites that generate constant protests from mistreated and disgruntled players.

Software

They recently revamped their software client to enhance the online multiplayer poker gaming experience. In their latest software update, they clearly took inspiration from the FullTilt poker client. Its lobby provides streamlined navigation, which helps to find your desired games with just 2-3 mouse clicks. They also significantly reduced screen clutter. The current version of the software is stable and works without problems. Unfortunately, they do not offer a no download poker client. PokerStars hosts the largest group of players sitting at free multiplayer poker tables at any time of the day.

best feature

PokerStar is proud to host the biggest poker tournaments online. They cleverly use offline poker events like the WSOP to entice online players to participate by offering to “qualify” them for the WSOP and other high-profile live poker events. Being one of the most sophisticated promoters, PokerStar turned even free online multiplayer poker tournaments (called freerolls) into marketing gold.

partypoker

One of the oldest online poker sites on the Internet. Behind the PartyPoker website is Party Gaming, the world’s largest online gambling company listed on the London Stock Exchange. It used to be the largest online poker site prior to 2006. However, due to a lack of focus and regulatory actions against the game in the US, it has fallen behind some of its competitors. more agile. Party Gaming operates a network of gambling websites and aggressively promotes them. Its main online multiplayer poker room draws traffic from its other properties, which are mostly in Europe.

Software

The software client is playable, though not to the level of other sites in this review. A few words on the PartyPoker color theme. There was a time when all casinos or gambling related sites on the Net had to be eco-friendly. Since then, most sites have gone on to develop their own color palettes. PartyPoker is one of the holdovers that still presents you with a sea of ​​green on their site, as well as their software client. Every year they revamp the front page of the site to tone down the green, but to this day it’s an important color.

They recently announced full Mac support and their Mac poker client is actually quite good. The graphics are a bit cartoony for my taste, but that’s just a stylistic preference. They also have a browser-based, no-download poker client. Ironically, the first thing you see after launching the no download poker client is a download progress bar.

There are many free multiplayer poker games, including Limit Holdem, No Limit Holdem, and Omaha. Cash games and tournaments are also present in sufficient numbers.

best feature

A defining characteristic of PartyPoker is its soft and loose poker games. I mean softer and looser than most other sites. This is probably due to the constant influx of players from his other properties. As always, where there are fish, there are also sharks. Still, the site is beginner-friendly and provides good poker educational material, both written and video.

Full Tilt Poker

2011 will very likely be the last year that FullTiltPoker can be considered a major force in online poker. Pocket Kings, the company behind the site, has run into serious legal and financial difficulties. Our mention of FullTilt is somewhat honorary but well deserved. FullTilt was a solid number two in traffic before losing its gaming license.

Software

Their client software is the best in the business. Striking a balance between a feature-rich yet playable and uncluttered user experience. The site and client design inspired many other online multiplayer poker sites, including others in the top 3. Over the years, FullTilt has come up with quite a few innovations, such as the aptly named Rush Poker. That’s a system that immediately transfers you to another table once you run out of a hand, minimizing your downtime and allowing you to play many more hands per hour. Regardless of what you may think of the actual Rush Poker experience, that was a very creative move. They offer the widest selection of poker, including games as rare as HORSE, usually mostly played by professionals.

best feature

FullTilt’s chosen marketing approach was to assemble the best team of sponsored professional gamers and then turn their personal celebrity into a powerful marketing weapon to promote the site. In fact, FullTilt is partially owned by some of the biggest names in poker today. Among all the other promotional gimmicks, they included the ability to find and play with those pros live on the site. Due to its good software and clever promotions, FullTilt has attracted many good online multiplayer poker players. Therefore, the level of competition on FullTilt is probably the highest among our top 3. The choice is yours, now go play some poker.