Paradise Poker (paradisepoker.com)

Member Name: AdvocatusDiaboli

Product:	paradisepoker.com
Date:	20/07/01 (252 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Variety of games & limits

Disadvantages: People can get lucky

www.paradisepoker.com is the most successful of the online poker sites and it sustains this position by offering the largest variety of games and limits as well as a hassle free interface and great support. The site has had a lot of bad press with rumours suggesting that it is run by the New York Mafia and is not a fair game at all but a sophisticated program that makes it appear that you are just an 'unlucky' player. In my opinion these rumours are rubbish, the only problem that you may encounter is that of Teams. Poker teams sit three or four people at the same table and can see all their cards, this gives them a distinct advantage over the rest of the table. This will always be a problem for online poker but Paradise does have one of the best detection systems. Paradise also give novices the opportunity to play with 'play money' before they deposit their cash (via credit card or cheque). There are play money and cash games in many forms of Poker :-

All games are structured limit poker which means that there is a fixed amount that is bet before and on the flop followed by a different fixed amount which may be bet on the Turn and the River (sorry if this terminology cannot be understood by some but I am writing for interested poker players really).

Limit Hold'Em (two hole cards, use 0,1 or both of them with 3 cards from 5 card board)

The limit Hold'Em games are available at the following limits - 50c/$1, $1/$2, $2/$4, $3/$6, $5/$10, $8/$16, $10/$20, $15/$30 and $20/$40. It is well known amongst the poker community that many of the worlds best play in the 15/30 and 20/40 games but there are also many mid level pros in the lower games. I consider myself to be Semi-Pro and stick mainly to the 5/10 games. The 50c/$1 may be cheap but if you are a novice you may well get into bad habits that will cost you in the future.

Omaha Hi/Lo 8 or better (four hole cards, must use 2 with 3 cards from 5 on board)


The best 'Lo' in Omaha 8 is the A2345. The Hi operates in the same way as every other form of poker. This game appears quite easy but has many subtletys that allow a good player to profit from a novices mistakes. It is available in Limits of 50c/$1, $1/$2, $2/$4, $3/$6, $5/$10, $10/$20. Many of the players in the 50c/$1 are terrible as in the hold em games and IMHO should be avoided.

Seven Card Stud

Seven card stud is a game that is very popular in Europe and the Eastern USA. it is available at Paradise in limits the same as Omaha 8. I do not play this game so cannot offer any advice on which games to play at paradise unfortunatly.

Tournaments

All tournaments at Paradise a One table limit tournaments (available in all the games above). The various entry fees for the tournaments are as follows $5, $10, $20, $30, $50, $100. My only advice is not to pay the $5 tournaments as the prize offers less value for money.

Overall Paradise is by far the best poker site on the web although it can be infuriating when a terrible player gets lucky. I have been a member since its inception and have always been disappointed when visiting other internet card rooms. Online Poker will never replace real games but it can add a nice bit of pocket money when you have a couple of hours spare.

For european players accustomed to Pot limit hold'em, CCCPOKER.COM may be more appropriate.

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