Top 3 Online Multiplayer Poker Sites For 2011

There is a bewildering amount of choices in terms of internet poker. I hope this information helps just starting out poker fan to get a smooth start in the joy of online multiplayer poker. Each of our Top 3, not only is it a pacesetter, offers something unique. I will make sure you point those unique features through the article. As in any young industry situation is incredibly fluid and relative standings change often. That is why I specifically review poker sites since they are in 2011. Next year I must revisit boost my conclusions.

What It Takes to Get On The List

What criteria should we use to decide on our Top 3? Here are factors that largely separate leaders through the other field:

Game Selection: Availability of cash poker games too free multiplayer poker games. Free games are critical for training and having comfortable with the software. Texas Holdem is king of poker. However other, less popular poker games, like Omaha, Razz can also add appeal and variety to the poker site.


Table Selection: Full Multiplayer - 9 handed tables also as short-handed and heads-up tables


Availability: Solid Client software for both Windows and Mac with frequent updates. Bonus points if site offers good browser based, no download online poker game. You might not think it is much initially but no download poker client really shines when you're on holiday, accessing site from the mobile device you aren't are "on the move".


Playability: This is important if you play internet poker a whole lot. Here we rate factors like responsiveness of the software program. Whether it hangs a lot or runs smoothly day in day out. Visual layout and just how cluttered screen is. Whether controls are placed conveniently. Do not underestimate these "soft" factors. All together playability is the foremost proxy for software quality. It can either turn your poker session into a struggle or make computer almost disappear by permitting you immerse yourself into poker action.


Social features: Capability to chat we other players and invite others to play a unique game or table. Remember that those who play poker online tend to be inside for entertainment around for thrill of winning money. If you play a whole lot, you will get to learn people and even develop friends.


Tournaments: Offering Tournaments in several formats including single table (Sit-n-Go) and multi table (MTT).


For the record, I do not feel that beginners should play tournaments. Poker tournaments, especially poker online tournaments, require different poker strategy from regular ring games because tournaments are often played short-stacked and rehearse antes. To an untrained eye a tournament often seems like extremely loose even reckless game.


Traffic: Sufficient player numbers. We are talking about players that are currently logged in the site. High traffic sites are fantastic if you like to sample different games or just get bored easily. On the other hand, in the event you prefer playing poker online with the same people while you played yesterday, then traffic just does not matter. Note that high traffic sites usually are those with large promotional budgets. To recoup marketing expense their rake structure can be less favorable.

PokerStars

Run by way of a European company, Rational Entertainment Enterprises Ltd., that is undoubtedly the most important poker site today. It has grown enormously over the last 5 years and pulls all the traffic as 3 of their largest competitors combined. Due to lots of players hanging around your website, game and table selection have become good.

I haven't any top notch experience with their Customer Service. That said, I have never heard persistent or widely spread complaints about PokerStars. Unlike various other sites which generate constant outcry from abused and disgruntled players.

Software

They recently revamped their software client to enhance online multiplayer poker game experience. In its last software update they clearly modeled themselves after FullTilt poker client. Their lobby provides a streamlined navigation, assisting to find desired games in only 2-3 keys to press. They also significantly reduced screen clutter. Current version of software is stable and runs smoothly. Unfortunately they cannot give you a no download poker client. PokerStars hosts the biggest pool of players seated in free multiplayer poker tables at any hour with the day.

Best Feature

PokerStar prides themselves on running largest on-line poker tournaments. They cleverly use offline poker events like WSOP to entice online players to enter through providing these to "qualify" for WSOP and also other high-profile live poker events. Being one with the most sophisticated promoters, PokerStar turned even free online multiplayer poker tournaments (called freerolls) into marketing gold.

PartyPoker

One with the oldest internet poker sites on the Internet. Behind PartyPoker site is Party Gaming, a world's largest capsa susun online gambling company publicly owned on London stock market. It had been the biggest on-line poker site before 2006. However as a result of not enough focus and anti-gambling regulatory actions in US it's got fallen behind few of the more nimble competitors. Party Gaming operates a network of gambling websites and aggressively cross promotes them. Its flagship online multiplayer poker network draws traffic looking at the other properties, that are mostly Europe based.

Software

Software client is playable, though never to how much other sites with this review. A word about PartyPoker's color theme. There used to be an occasion when every casino or gambling related site on the Net had to be green. Since then most sites managed to move on to build up their unique color palettes. PartyPoker is one in the holdovers still presenting you having a sea of green on its site as well as on its software client. Every year they revamp site's main page to sculpt the green but even today it is just a major color.

They recently announced full support for Mac and indeed their Mac poker client is reasonably good. The graphics certainly are a bit cartoonish to my taste but that merely stylistic preference. They have a browser based, no download poker client also. Ironically initial thing the thing is that after launching that no download poker client is a download progress bar.

There a variety of free multiplayer poker games, including Limit Holdem, No Limit Holdem and Omaha. Cash games and tournaments may also be present in sufficient numbers.

Best feature

A defining feature of PartyPoker is its soft and loose poker games. I mean softer plus much more loose than the majority of sites. This is probably on account of constant influx of gamblers from other other properties. As always, its keep is fish you will find sharks too. Still the website is beginner friendly, providing good poker educational material both written and video.

FullTiltPoker

2011 is extremely likely the last year when FullTiltPoker might be considered an important force in on-line poker. Pocket Kings, the business behind the site, has encounter serious legal and financial hardships. Our mention of FullTilt is a means honorary yet deserved and needed. FullTilt was obviously a solid number two in traffic before they lost their gambling license.

Software

Their software client is better in the industry. Striking an equilibrium between feature rich yet playable and uncluttered User experience. Site and client design inspired a number of other online multiplayer poker sites, including others among out Top 3. Over the years FullTilt came up with a number of innovations, like aptly named Rush Poker. That is a system that immediately transfers one to another table when you're away from a hand minimizing your down time and allowing you to experience a great deal more hands hourly. Regardless of what it might seem of actual Rush Poker experience, which was very creative move. They offer the widest choice of poker including such rare games as HORSE, usually played mostly by professionals.

Best Feature

Marketing angle chosen by FullTilt would have been to assemble the most effective team of sponsored professional players, then convert their personal celebrity right into a powerful marketing weapon promoting the site. In fact, FullTilt is partially owned by some with the biggest names in poker today. Among other promo tricks they included possibility to find and enjoy those professionals live on the web page. Due to their good software and smart promotions FullTilt attracted many good online multiplayer poker players. Thus level of competition on FullTilt is just about the highest among our Top 3. The choice is your, now go a play some poker.