Party Poker Review

Full www.PartyPoker.com Poker Review

For online poker players that have been around awhile, Party Poker no doubt conjures up a lot of memories.  Party is one of the longest-running and most successful online poker rooms that has ever dealt a hand of virtual hold'em.  New players might be more familiar with Party Poker thanks to the company's ownership of the World Poker Tour or via sponsored pros such as Mike Sexton and Kara Scott.  Both groups, however, will quickly be able to appreciate the immense value and seamless user experience Party Poker offers, an experience we will unpack and examine in this quick review of Party Poker.

What Games Does Party Poker Offer?

The game roster at Party Poker is made up of the classics: Texas Hold'em, Omaha (Pot Limit Hi and Limit Hi/Lo) and 7 Card Stud (standard and hi/lo).  With a real-money traffic ranking that hovers between second and third best, Party can easily guarantee the lion's share of online poker players access to any game and stake level desired.  Those looking to try their hand at Party Poker's cash games will find that No Limit Hold'em dominates the lobby, with most tables sitting between .10/.25 blinds and $2/$4 blinds in terms of stakes.  Other games make up about 10% of the cash game lobby at Party.  The dominance of NLHE carries over into the tournament lobby, where players seeking SNG and MTT options will find dozens available at any point in time, with the average buy in landing right around $30 and NLHE serving as the format of choice for roughly 95% of tournaments played.

Party Poker does not offer any mixed games or exotic stud variants, but the room is home to one unique game you won't find elsewhere: Double Hold'em.  The game is too complex to be captured in a single sentence, but it's enough to say that if regular holdem isn't complex or action-packed enough for your tastes, then you might find Double Hold'em to be an attractive option.

Are the Games at Party Poker Beatable?

We grade games at Party Poker as being slightly less tough than average.  This grade results not only from direct experience playing cash and tournament games at Party, but also from an analysis of the typical player's stats at a random sample of games and limits.  Players who wade into the micro stakes and low stakes games at Party should expect to find plenty of loose play and weak opponents.  Players are also likely to find significantly soft spots in the major tournaments at Party Poker, thanks largely to the room's extensive and aggressive satellite schedule.

With a casino and sportsbook attached to the poker room at Party, and substantial mainstream reach thanks to the World Poker Tour and highly recognizable spokespeople, Party Poker attracts a greater share of casual and recreational players than the average poker room - an edge for Party that translates into softer games for players like you.

What Devices Can I Use to Play at Party Poker?

The main software at Party Poker is only compatible with Windows.  However, Party does offer a no-download version of their online poker room that allows players running Mac OS, Linux or Ubuntu to play at Party Poker.  This instant play option also makes it easy for people who can't download software (or simply don't want to) to play real money poker online at Party.

When it comes to mobile compatibility, Party offers fewer options than comparable online poker operators like 888 Poker.  Some Android users will be able to employ the instant play version, but iPhone and iPad users will have to wait until the bwin mobile client is finally integrated fully into the software options available at Party - or until Party unveils a native mobile app of their own design - before they can play Party on the go.

Is My Money Safe at Party Poker?

Party Poker receives our highest possible grade when it comes to banking speed, integrity and overall, being one of the safer poker sites.  The room has an unblemished history across what amounts to literally billions in payments processed for players, is a publicly-traded company with a firm reputation and offers players a wide range of options, complete transparency and top-notch support that should ease any concerns about the security of your funds at Party.

Can I Play Legal Online Poker at Party?

As you would expect from an industry leader (and a publicly traded company), Party Poker takes a very conservative approach when it comes to legal compliance.  The company was one of the first to exit the US market after the passage of the UIGEA, and has easily won licenses from all major jurisdictions in which it operates.  This solid history and considered strategy means that you can play on Party Poker free from worry about whether or not you're potentially breaking the laws of your jurisdiction.

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