PokerStars Review

PokerStars.com Free Poker Website: A Review

Pokerstars.com is the world’s largest poker website. This site offers free, legal poker to players throughout the world. A variety of poker games and table formats are offered, there is sure to be one for you.

To get started just get the PokerStars download and register an account. The software download is very user friendly, requiring just a few clicks. Easy to follow directions are provided at each step. My total download time using wireless hi-speed internet was 2 minutes. The only difficulty I experienced was finding a user name that wasn’t already claimed. PokerStars suggested available alternatives and I eventually found a name.

Looking around the site it is immediately evident that ring games, sit and go, and tournaments are available in many poker variations. Choose from limit or no limit in Texas Hold ‘em, Omaha, Omaha Hi-lo, Stud, Stud Hi-lo, Draw, Razz, and mixed games. There are tournaments starting around the clock.

The listing for ring games and tournaments are easy to navigate. Simply click on a game and you are playing. The lists are populated based on game variation and ring, sit and go, or tournaments. The list can be sorted by buy in and limits.

I started with a ring game of no limit Texas Hold ‘em. I found the standard table setup to be pleasant. A virtual table in the traditional shape with the open seats clearly marked. The action options were easy to understand and use. There were beeps and buzzers to alert me that the action was on me. The tournaments and Omaha games were just as easy to navigate.

One thing that sets PokerStars.com apart from the competition is the number of other players available. The large number of members require a variety of games to be open twenty four hours a day. The number of opponents also ensures that tables are full or mostly full, leading to great competition.

PokerStars also offers poker for real money. The house takes a small rake on each hand with a maximum of $5 per pot. There are a variety of options for loading funds into the website and cashing out. PokerStars is currently offering a first depositor bonus that can earn a maximum of $600.  The PokerStars bonus is a 100% initial deposit match bonus, counted towards your first 3 deposits within 6 days.  You then have 6 months to earn the entire bonus by earning frequent player points – which is playing real money games – either ring games or tournaments.  Be sure to register your account with a good PokerStars Marketing Code and then make your deposit with a PokerStars Bonus Code of STARS600.

Many real money tournaments are available where the prize is not just money, but a buy in to live tournaments. These include the World Series of Poker, World Poker Tour, and PokerStars Caribbean Adventure. There are also special events only for PokerStars online poker players.

Easy to navigate software sets PokerStars.com apart from the first interaction. There are a large number of poker varieties available in ring games, sit and gos and tournaments paired with a large poker community. The website allows the player to begin with free play; real money games are available should the player choose to move up and special events for those that do. These reasons and more make PokerStars.com the poker site real poker players choose.