Yhteenveto (Arviointi 8 / 10)
Since launching in July of 2004 Full Tilt Poker has been an unavoidable name for any poker fan. Having attracted an impressive number of poker pro endorsements, this is a young poker room with big ambition and, more importantly, big standards to back it up. A combination of wide game selection, low to moderate traffic, high quality of players, and generous bonuses make this a poker player’s poker room and a big force in the online poker world.
Pelivalikoima (Arviointi 9 / 10)
Full Tilt offers a huge variety of games catering to everyone from the high-roller to the free-roller. No limit hold’em daily tournaments range from free up to as much as $1000 buy-ins but with the vast majority in the $4 to $69 range. Of these almost all are satellites to larger prize guarantee tournaments including many to the World Series itself. Available sit-and-go games cover a similar range in depth of pocket, as well as offering the full scope of game types including 7-card stud and Omaha (both available HI/LO), limit hold’em, HORSE, and razz.
This versatility makes Full Tilt Poker a good choice for players with any range of experience and financial clout. A higher standard of player can develop their online game in every imaginable aspect, utilizing the single, multi-table, or heads-up formats at whatever stakes most suits them. Good players with shallow pockets are given an abundance of opportunity to play for large prizes through satellites, while a rookie isn’t entirely excluded with around seven freeroll daily tournaments. Even the more busy of us has options with NL hold’em turbo available.
Pelaajien taso (Arviointi 9 / 10)
The quality of players of Full Tilt has to be considered pretty high. Of course, as is inevitable with any site, there is a range and some softer opponents can be found but in general Full Tilt is a place where you can practice and improve rather than make a killing. Low stakes sit-and-go’s and daily tournaments are often of a lower standard than the site in general but yet still presents a higher standard of competition than sites like Party Poker. Cash games can also be a softer spot, where some patience and close observation can be enough to be successful, yet even here the chances of coming up against solid players is relatively high.
As you would expect, the higher you climb the ladder in terms of buy-ins the higher the general standard of player is. One factor which confuses this rule slightly at Full Tilt is the chance of playing a poker pro celebrity such as Phil Ivey, John Juanda, Jennifer Harman, or Chris Ferguson, among others. Any game in which one of these pros is participating will likely have drawn a wide variety of players including novices, despite the often higher stakes games at which they play. Also, away from the NL hold’em tables, usually a profitable place for a more all-round player is not such a sure thing and should once again be seen as a place to learn rather than win.
Ohjelmisto (Arviointi 9 / 10)
Full Tilt's software is yet another aspect of the site which puts it near the top of the industry. Download and installation are smooth and simple with everything else from there on in pretty well matching. Locating the various games and maneuvering between them is quick and easy, as is finding and using the different options at the cashier, something which certain other sites seem determined to hide. In-game aspects of the software are similarly good, with the cards quickly dealt, chips promptly dispersed, and table shifting at multi-table tournaments cleanly managed. In fact, tournament management in general is top notch including very well-judged blind structures.
The main user interface for the site allows for simple navigation to any required game as well as easy access to tournament lobbies, from where information regarding prizes and players can again be easily obtained. All the usual, basic conveniences are available on Full Tilt, such as player and tournament finding, internet game guides and support, and a very useful note-taking capability for each opponent. Hand histories are available as well, adding to the site’s usefulness as a learning tool. Full Tilt are also regularly updating their software, though never allowing this to become an annoyance for users.
Grafiikat (Arviointi 8 / 10)
The graphics on Full Tilt Poker lean toward a more cartoonish, fun sensibility rather than the more realistic or atmospheric graphics of Party Poker or Ultimate Bet, though again this is never achieved at the expense of usability or convenience. The main interface is colorful and easily navigable, using color coding for the various tournaments, with regulars in black, play money in blue, as well as distinguishing between the various satellites with, for example, WSOP satellites in orange. Headings for access to daily tournaments, sit-and-go’s, as well as the various game types are large and clear and within that it is possible to manipulate how the information is organized.
Table graphics also achieve this balance between practicality and fun. Each player has the choice between forty-five avatars of varying sanity, each of which can then change to one of four expressions during play. Similarly, backgrounds can be changed enabling you to play anywhere from Las Vegas to the middle of a jungle. If this all gets a little annoying though the option is always available to hide avatars and move to a blank setting. Despite all these accessories though there is never a risk of confusing the actual play with cards large and clear, chip amounts and movements obvious, and the course of action always decipherable.
Tuottavuus (Arviointi 7 / 10)
In terms of profitability, Full Tilt Poker is both better and worse in certain ways than other comparable sites. On the upside they offer the best sign-up bonus around of 100% up to $600, thereby helping out a bankroll which can be put to use in a huge variety of ways, allowing each player the opportunity to take advantage of whatever is most likely profitable for them. On the other hand, gaining the full bonus can often be like squeezing blood from a stone and the high standard of opponent make any sort of consistent winning very difficult.
While the lure of a 100% bonus cannot be overlooked it does require what equates to a mammoth amount of playing time in order for the full bonus to be released. This can be a little frustrating, although it is offset to some degree by the awarding of Full Tilt Points which should eventually lead to admittance into some minor tournaments. These tournaments among others often offer as prizes $26 or $75 satellite tokens, therefore creating yet more backdoor opportunities. Full Tilt Points can also be put towards various other promotions such as their Iron Man or WSOP promotions, although, as with everything else here, big investments of time and money are usually required. As far as gaining significant profit from regular cash game and tournament play Full Tilt Poker should be looked to as a site for sharpening skills, not filling wallets. Consider playing at Full Tilt Poker to drastically improve your game and alternate playing there with sites with much fishier players – perhaps Pacific Poker, Titan Poker or CDPoker. It’ll feel like walking on land after sprinting on a treadmill. Or like sipping a Bud Light after chugging a Guinness. Or something like that!
