Serious On-Line Poker

Long time readers know that I like poker. It's not something I'm exceptionally good at, but I enjoy it and play with friends regularly. I used to play on-line also, but have given that up.

The problem with on-line poker is that I haven't found what I want: everything I have tried is unsatisfactory in some way. I think a site that meets my desires is possible, but I haven't found it yet.

Free Sites

There are a lot of these - you see them advertised whenever poker tournaments are on TV. They cost nothing, and you don't have to worry about running out of chips: you just refill anytime you need to. And that's the problem: because its like playing for chips where you can just grab another handful whenever you want, too many players just don't take it seriously. It's not much fun to play with those people.

Real sites

Real poker sites definitely attract more serious players, but may be illegal in many places (are currently illegal in the U.S.) and therefore it can be difficult to transfer money in or out of the site. Beyond that, because there is money involved, these sites also attract cheaters. Just like in the real world, the site operators work hard to prevent that, but on-line cheating is easier to do and harder to catch than in the real world. Finally, there is the matter of skill: if you are a mediocre player as I am, real money sites can get very expensive.

Skill Sites

I wrote about one of these some time ago. You pay a monthly fee and compete for prizes. The serious factor is present because of the fee and the prizes, but for the same reasons cheaters are also present, and of course there is the cost - it's not a lot, but it is an expense. Because of that, it can be hard to find other players: not enough members sign up, and sometimes you have to wait quite a while for enough people to fill a table. I like this option the best, but I think it's possible to do better.

What about this?

Here's my idea: a free site, but where you cannot refill chips at will. I don't know what the magic number would be to have a large pool of players while keeping it serious, but I would think a few days between refills might do it.

That could attract serious players but discourage the drunks and other "all-in all the time" players. I don't know of any site that works this way (if you do, please let me know).

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Fri Jan 16 14:17:25 2009: Subject: serious poker players   anonymous


I too am looking for serious online poker players. I am learning myself but find it very frustrating when i study and them go to play my new found skills and still most of the time its not working. Most people constantly call every every 2 hole cards so it's hard to tell where im at half the time. I have had pocket Aces cracked several times by 2 small pocket pairs and it goes on and on. If anyone does find a site where people do want to serious learn the game let me know





Wed Mar 25 04:05:40 2009: Subject: onlinepoker   21stcenturybandits


Dear id like to find the perfect poker site. its not going to happen, theres to much money that doest have to be accounted for so why would they really be giveing what should be yours to you . iv been playing online for 7yrs won so many mtt tourments i lost count yrs ago well over a 100 tho . i play a avg of 5000 hands aweek. i consider myself a good player with still more to learn , all i can tell you now the only one going to the bank everyday is going to be the site your playing on. iv seen hand that defie all odds .odds that at times would be harder to hit them wining the big lotto 2 str8 months in a row. so if yor going to play please use free sites. ty. your freind bandit killer



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