Poker sites are waiting for you to visit

This is exactly how an online poker site feels just before you click on to it for the very first time. An online poker site doesn’t know when you are going to turn up for the first time so this means that it always needs to be ready, looking as best as it can and being willing to show off its better qualities from the start. One of the best ways a poker site can show off its best side is by offering signup bonuses to new members, giving them the time to relax and enjoy the games and promotions at their own leisure.

However, if all of the online poker sites are acting in the same fashion, it can be hard to see what ones are really worth falling for and what ones will only break your heart and your bank account. Knowing what the best poker signup bonuses are will give you the best chance of finding a poker site that will keep you coming back for more and will give you what you want. Not everybody is looking for the same sort of relationship from an online poker site so make sure that you know in advance what you are looking for.

What sort of bonus do you want?

Free poker chips can be a very enticing welcome bonus but if you had set your heart on getting a matched bonus, don’t settle for second best. The welcome bonus has to be right for you as well as the online poker site so don’t ever think that you should settle for whatever poker site you find. There are a great number of online poker sites to choose from so you should find that no matter what bonus you are after, there will be a poker site that can cater to your every need.

The best poker bonus is often one that can be claimed using a poker bonus code, one that stands out for you in a crowded place and makes you feel as though it was made for you. Online poker is a very important thing in people’s lives and it is not something to be rushed into. If you are looking for a quick game of poker, there will be sites who can give you what you are looking for but if you want a poker site that you can play all the time and tell your friends about, make sure you find the one for you.

More changes are afoot at the new home of what was Doyle’s Room (now branded as Americas Card Room).  The Yatahay Network, one of the older online poker networks, has changed their name to Winning Poker Network.

We’ll admit, it is a good deal catchier.  It was never quite clear what Yatahay meant, and the name never really seemed to stick among online poker players.  While “Winning Poker” is a little generic, it won’t be confused with any of the current major online poker networks and does seem easier to brand than Yatahay.

What does this change mean for players?  Players should actually see no impact whatsoever from the change.  You will still be able to play poker online for money at ACR, True Poker, or any of the rooms that make up the network.

The partner rooms of the network will all maintain their existing branding, and the software will also stay the same.  In fact, players will be unlikely to notice any change at all except perhaps some small text updates in the poker client and on their room’s webpage.

What’s behind the change?  There was no official word from the company on the motivation for the change, and any attempt to speculate on the underlying rationale would be just that –  speculation.  While it’s not common for networks to completely re-brand, it is also not unheard of –  and the impact of the re-branding will likely be more significant for potential partner rooms than for online poker consumers.

Are there likely to be any negative impacts for the company as a result of the change?  Not really –  it seems like mostly upside for WPN / Yatahay.  They get a fresh brand that seems a bit more relatable, and anyone who plays at the room will experience a seamless transition.  If only everything in the online poker business was so simple.

But, firstly – we should say that it’s not without its members, as there are still more than enough people who are ready and willing to take you on, as you should easily be able to find a game without much effort. This includes Hold’em, Omaha, or whatever it is you’ll want to play. You have the option of playing for fun, or if you want something a bit more intense – you can also play for real money, and like other sites, the competition will be just as stiff as you’re expecting it to be.

But, the community and the wide range of content are two things that separate this from a lot of the other sites out there. While these things are definitely not exclusive to PokerRoom, they can be a wealth of information for those who are looking to get into online poker, as well as for those people who are trying to sharpen their game. And with there being a forum there, there is always the chance for GreenRoom members to inquire or offer their advice to their fellow players.

PokerRoom is indeed one of the up-and-coming  online Texas Holdem sites around, especially coming off of their hiatus. While they always seemed to be a site that wanted to provide a definitive source for online poker, they have really made some strides that is beneficial to everyone who plays and supports internet poker in any capacity. 

So what happens when Doyle’s Room is no longer Doyle’s Room?  Certainly many players will simply shift their play over to their migrated account at America’s Card Room, but almost as certain is the fact that many of those who played at Doyle’s did so because it was Doyle’s –  and now that it is no longer associated with the Godfather of Poker, those players will be looking for a new place to play real money poker online.

What about Cake Poker?  The one-time home of the Doyle’s brand is a viable alternative for some, but others will be put off by the long processing time for cashouts and the relative lack of game selection.  Cake certainly isn’t the worst choice for online poker players, but the room is unlikely to sit at the top of many “best poker room lists,” at least in the status quo.

Carbon Poker is a popular option for a lot of players, who are attracted by the strong traffic for cash games and tournaments that the room has to offer.  Carbon is also suffering, albeit to a lesser degree than Cake, when it comes to banking speed, but their times are generally within the span of a week or two –  a tolerable delay for the majority of players.  Carbon also has a strong VIP promotion for high-volume players that could additionally offset the annoyance of cashout delays.

Choosing a room is definitely a personal decision, and players are unlikely to feel as attached to another room the way they felt attached to Doyle’s.  While the future is never certain, one does suspect that the days of being able to play at a room headed up by the affable Texan have permanently drawn to a close.

Get help to win poker events and tournaments

This is why any helping hand you can obtain in poker tournaments can be of benefit. It is fair to say that experience is a great thing and you should find that certain situations will arise time and time again when playing in tournaments. However, as different opponents may react in different ways there is no guarantee that the same actions will work on different days or in different events. Having a degree of flexibility to your game is important but knowing what tactic is likely to be successful in certain situations can be of great benefit.

You shouldn’t be surprised to learn that there have been many studies conducted into poker play and there are theories and strategies for players to follow. There will always be space for a maverick player who pulls surprises out of their hat but these players will lose big as many times as they win big. A lot depends on your personality type because if you are a cautious and measured person in everyday life, you may find that a more studied approach to playing poker will leave you feeling more confident.

Dan Harrington knew how to win poker events

An example of this would be the M-Calculator and it is no exaggeration to say that this is one poker concept that has found favour with a great number of professional players. The concept was introduced by Dan Harrington who won the WSOP Main Event in 1995. Harrington is a two time WSOP bracelet winner and was highly regarded on the poker circuit. The M-Concept allows players to work out their status when they are playing in a tournament which should help them determine which strategy is best for them to play.

The M-Concept enables players to work out how many orbits they will survive without adding any more chips to the pot other than what they are required to do for antes and blinds. This may sound difficult for a player to determine but this is where the M-Calculator comes in very useful because it allows a player to work out their own M-Concept whenever they are playing in a poker tournament. The basic formula can be broken down as:

(Stack / (BB+SB+(Ante*Players)))

While the exact reasons for the decision are unclear, one can only assume that Doyle had legal liability on his mind after the events of Black Friday when he decided to remove his name and image from the room.

Players who were a part of Doyle’s will now find themselves with accounts at America’s Card Room, a member of the same Yatahay Poker Network that Doyle’s was a part of.