InterPoker Review (3 out of 5)
InterPoker Review (3 out of 5)
The main draw of InterPoker is the fact that the have probably the best loyalty program online. If you play regularly at their site, especially for higher stakes, you can earn $1,000 per year ($90 per month) in bonuses. It's basically like getting your deposit bonus back each month. This is also a popular international site, as they offer games in Euros, Pounds, and U.S. Dollars.
Fish:
My general comment of, "Do you like swordfish" was supposed to imply that these players are still fish, but they have a little sting to them. Get it? A swordfish would hurt if it... Nevermind. Anyway, InterPoker also offers a well-known casino that is frequented by European players. These players have spilled over into the poker room and are largely inexperienced. However, they also tend to be pretty aggressive. While the percentage seeing the flop is generally low at no-limit ring games (30-40%), the average pot is still sizeable. This combination means that you're usually going to have to go through a raise or two to get to the flop. Once you do get to the flop, don't expect the action to decrease. I recommend that you play a pretty tight game, since you want to be in the hand with the best of it if you're going to have to pay a hefty price to see the flop. You can beat these players, but they might throw you off your game if you're used to dominating the table.
Tournaments:
I recently upgraded the tournament score at InterPoker as they have definitely improved their overall traffic. Even during offpeak hours, they do have fairly popular events at a number of currencies. They've also improved the number of actual events available, which is good for establishing a wide range of buy-ins. The most popular tournaments continue to be the guaranteed prize pool tourneys and satellites. Typically, these tournaments have a good number of participants, and the lower traffic can actually be an advantage in a satellite event. In terms of lower buy-ins during daytime hours, the events are popular enough and can easily attract a couple of hundred players. Medium buy-in tourneys also average a fair amount of traffic during peak European hours.
Software:
The majority of internet critics seem to really rag on this software. I don't really think this is fair. Sure, the graphics aren't exactly state-of-the-art or highly detailed at InterPoker, but does it really matter that much? To me, poker software is more about functionality than anything else. If I'm comfortable using it and it runs smoothly, I'm pretty satisfied. I appreciate sharp graphics as much as the next guy, but it isn't necessary for me to enjoy the game. Of course, everyone has their own priorities, and maybe graphics are the most important aspect of online poker to you. If so, then you might want to look for a different poker site. That being said, this software runs very quickly, which is a statistic that I appreciate. Typically, games run at 60+ hands per hour, and the table windows allow you plenty of customizable options. In general, I rate this software pretty well since it runs smoothly and is easy to follow. Stick the $ tables when possible, since they calculate the maximum rake at 3 units, and it isn't on a sliding scale. A rake of 3 Pounds or Euros is taking a lot more from the pot than $3, which is the online poker standard.
Player Traffic
They're on a shared network, so traffic has been increasing. Tournament traffic is has been improving, but ring games are the most popular. You should be able to find your desired fixed-limit or no-limit game going on, and I do appreciate the international traffic that populated the tables while I keep vampire-like hours.
Game Selection: Hold 'em, Omaha, Stud
Limits: Limit: 25c/50c up to $150/$300 No-Limit: 15c/30c up to $10/$20
Artist/Author: Beat the Fish April 14, 2007 | |
