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There is always a concern among players when choosing a poker site.  Everyone of course wants a site that is safe and secure when it comes to their money.  As of late this hasn’t so much as been a problem for players from the US but many players have been reporting difficulties when it comes to using credit cards as well as Neteller and other ewallets.

Let’s first take a look at all the various ways you can make deposits.  Instant checks and echecks are the most convenient method of deposit but few sites offer it.  The next best thing but definitely the easiest way to make a deposit would be credit card deposits and two sites, SportsBook Poker and PlayersOnly Poker, have excellent service when it comes to these deposits.

There are loads of other options but a lot of players just don’t see them as feasible.  There is everything from walking into a Western Union and transferring the money to your poker account to a bunch of ewallet options.  What every players needs is a site that offers a variety of options that has to include the most popular options.

Here are some of the sites with the best credit card acceptance rate:

Cake Poker

Cake Poker is the star player on the Cake Network.  It has building a reputation as one of the best poker sites since 2006 and has one of the best bonus and rewards setups available.  In fact there are so many rewards when it comes to daily, weekly, and monthly play.  There is also a unique prize which involves player collecting 52 gold cards in order to win $52,000.  Paying for the opportunity to win these awesome prizes is a snap with all the options they have for players in the US.  You can use you Visa and Mastercard as well as UseMyWallet, eWalletXpress, and QuickTender.

Carbon Poker

Carbon Poker offers players a bonus of up to $600 just for signing up.  It is the largest site on the Merge Gaming Network and accepts various payment options for players within the United States.  Options like credit cards, EcoCard, QuickTender, and eWalletXpress are available to make deposits into your poker account.  Not only that but the site also has excellent customer service with 24/7 support.

Players from all different levels all have one thing in common.  They are looking for the best and easiest ways and sites to transfer their money.  This list contains some of the best ones out there for players in the States looking to take their game, and their winnings, to the next level.

Instant checks and eChecks make your online poker experience more enjoyable and easier to play than ever before. While many of the popular poker sites years ago demanded money orders, credit cards, or even money transfers, now practically anyone can enjoy the thrill and fun that exists within online poker from the comfort of their own home.

However, it should be noted that not every poker site online today offers the option to utilize instant checks and or echecks. So in order to get you started earlier and easier, let’s quickly discuss the top online poker sites that allow you to utilize this payment option.

Full Tilt Poker

Full Tilt Poker is known for having a very efficient and accessible withdrawal and deposit system. It offers the option to sign up and deposit money via Echecks and is known as one of the most reliable sites online today. Whats better than that is the fact that Full Tilt Poker offers some of the quickest cash outs within the industry and also makes bank transfers a breeze.

UltimateBet Poker

UltimateBet has really cemented its place among the top poker sites online, mainly due to the vast array of qualifiers, tournaments and live satellites that it offers.  While not quite as popular as Full Tilt Poker, it does offer the use of instant checks and Echecks and is loved for its elite software and variety of playing options.

Absolute Poker

Absolute Poker is another online poker site that offers the use of Echecks and instant checks. Many poker enthusiasts love to be play on this platform as the gameplay is fast, reliable, and consistent. Some experts will tell you that competition is a little soft here which may make it even easier to make some real money after cashing in or out with your instant checks.  An added bonus for Absolute Poker is the fact that it offers some of the most lenient and easy to fulfill bonus requirements online today.

These are by far the top three most popular and accessible poker sites that deal with instant checks on a consistent basis. While using instant checks is one of the easiest ways to play poker online, you want to make sure that you still with reliable and well known sites when doing so.

In case you want to seek out another alternative, you may also want to consider simply moving to credit card processing. If you do, then Players Only Poker and Rushmore Casino are both known for their impressive credit card processing. Both sites have become well known and trusted and are two of the first options you should consider when trusting a website with your well earned poker cash.

No matter which option you choose, credit card processing or instant checks, you are sure to have a positive online poker experience with any of the aforementioned sites. So grab your cards, put your shades on, and get ready to take your poker success to the next level.

Many online poker rooms use a technique known as poker rake to charge players. This is the main way that the companies and websites bring in money, and it is important to understand how it works before you fully invest yourself into the games themselves.

In the game of poker players wager money against one another rather than against the house, and that is why poker rooms and casinos have to charge a rake in order to turn a profit. Essentially, you should look at this as a small entry fee that is charged in order to organize the games and give you all of the playing options that you have.

While online poker players are not actually losing any money directly in the poker room, the room slowly takes tiny payments from every pot and tournament entry fee. In most cases the rakeback equals out to be about 5% overall, and online it can range anywhere from 1 cent up to $5 dollars.

Thankfully, there is a way to get your rake back and prevent yourself from spending more money when playing online poker. This is known as a poker rakeback.

In the simplest of terms, a poker rakeback is a refund of the rake that you pay. By finding the proper rakeback site you can actually save over 30% of the overall rake that you would normally pay when sitting down at an online poker table. There are systems in place that allow you to keep track of all of the rake money you are paying, then get refunds based on a revenue share agreement that will have been put into place. In most cases a rakeback is paid once a month and is put directly into your poker account rather than any bank accounts being used.

Your savings can be exponential if you play a lot of online poker, and there are also rakeback calculators that you can use to determine just how much money you could be saving in the short and long term.

How is a Rake Calculated?

Many online poker rooms will give you an exact breakdown of the total amount of rake that has been taken from pots. In terms of your poker accounting, the personal rake you pay is recorded by the backend of the software and your rakeback total is then calculated based on those numbers.

With the shared rate calculation, the rake is divided amongst everyone that receives cards. So if the rake is $1 and there are ten players then 10 cents is taken from each player.

If you are serious about online poker and dedicated to playing often then you will definitely want to look into setting up your own rakeback. Doing so is actually quite easy in the end, as all you have to do is select a rakeback site that can help you get your money back, and then sit back and allow them to do all of the work.

There really is no reason why you shouldn’t, unless you like losing more money than you have to.

Network: Ongame network
Refer-a-Friend: $50

Available in many languages
Good guaranteed tournaments
Many players at all stakes

No US players
Software layout
–

Deposit bonus

• Get $250 regardless of your deposit
• $10 min. deposit

No deposit bonus

• N/A

Deposit bonus

Screenshots:

Red Kings poker bonus

In comparison to many of the top flight poker sites online today, RedKings Poker is a relatively new player on the scene. However, it is quickly building up its own reputation and its customized software, shared player base, and ties with the OnGame Network have made it an option that all online poker enthusiasts should take note of. Players who climb onboard with RedKings Poker have the ability to participate strictly online through the Java client version or by downloading the software, and both options do more than enough to please. The software itself is one of the best that you will find as both functionality and the graphics are impressive enough to keep you coming back time and time again. RedKings Poker Players consistently state how much they enjoy the variety of game options as well as the plethora of bonuses and promotions that seem to be taking place every month. Tie that in with the fact that the site sees 9,000 players during peak hours and you have everything you need for real, honest, online poker fun.

Bonuses and Promotions

RedKings Poker offers a unique bonus program that is paid it at 12 times its original value. This means that for every 120 points you earn, you end up receiving $10, which can really build up over time based on how much you play. During cash games, every $1 that is raked from you earns you a point, and in tournaments you receive five points for every $1 paid in fees. On top of those every running promotions, RedKings Poker also offers all kinds of bonuses such as bonus money, bad beat jackpots, referral promotions, and so on. There are a number of opportunities to build up your points overtime and the 50%-300% bonus reload is something definitely worth looking into.
Dizzypoker and Redkings offer you a unique deposit bonus: with a minimum deposit of only $10 you will get $250 bonus. Make sure you use the bonus code: DIZZY250

Tournaments

One of the big draws for RedKings Poker is the large amount of tournaments that take place on a regular basis. Some of them even offer buy ins as low as $1 or $2 while others can exceed a few hundred dollars depending on your skill level and what you are looking for. It is worth noting that there are daily tournaments and that game play usually efficient and quick. RedKings also offers a variety of freeroll tournament options, but they are often smaller than what other sites may offer.

Software

As touched on earlier, RedKings Poker runs on the same software that the OnGame Network has become known for, and it is about as impressive as it gets. A stunning 17 languages are offered which gives you the chance to play against people from all over the world and the graphics and ease of use are what keep regular players coming back for more. The newest version of the RedKings software is exceptional for multi-table play and makes the process as fluent and uncomplicated as possible.

Support

In all honesty, many avid poker players note a lack of information and advice available on the actual RedKings Poker site when it comes to support. However, this is completely made up for in terms of the friendly, fast, and quality support that is offered over the phone and via email. The support team is known for providing valuable help in a very short time period, which is quite important when choosing an online poker site.
In the end, you have quite a few options when it comes to online poker sites and software options, however it really doesn’t get much better than what RedKings Poker offers. Often times making a decision between sites comes down solely to personal preference, but giving this site a try is definitely something worth looking into to say the least.

There is good news for online poker players that enjoy EPT satellite qualifiers as there have never been more options available. In fact there is so much choice when it comes to these types of satellites, that it can be hard to determine which qualifiers are most beneficial or suitable for your needs. That is why in this article we are going to cover the best sites for EPT satellite qualifiers online. So get comfortable and get ready to find out where you should focus your time and skills. Overall, the European Poker Tour has surged in popularity over the past few years while the number of qualifiers and venues has increased ten-fold. Now there are more than enough options to win a seat in an EPT satellites and get a crack at some huge prizes and life changing rewards. What is even better than that is the fact that some of these qualifiers are now available for just a few dollars, which makes the risk low and the reward incredibly high.

Best Site for EPT Satellite Qualifiers-Poker Stars Poker Stars is the main sponsor of the EPT so it is obviously one of the first choices when it comes to online EPT satellite qualifiers. If you have never visited the site before, there are many reasons to consider it now. The loyalty rewards are enticing, the software is excellent, and there is a dizzying array of tournament options available. Poker players can find a number of formats when it comes to EPT satellites at Poker Stars such as supersatellites, double shootouts, and multi-table tournaments. Often times the starting buy-ins for these types of tournaments are only $3+30c and Poker Stars usually reserves a seat number of seats that ensures that the most amount of people qualify for EPT satellites as possible. Users can also take advantage of Poker Stars Steps as a way to qualify by working your way up recreational ladders at the SNG tournaments.

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Best Site for EPT Satellite Qualifiers-Full Tilt Poker Every Saturday Full Tilt holds EPT satellite qualifiers that are known as winners choice tournaments. The winning packages for these qualifiers include all kinds of bonuses such as accommodation, flights and other add ons on top of a seat in the EPT. However, entry to these types of tournaments can cost as much as $200. On the other side of the coin, there are also sub qualifiers that start as low as $2 that are definitely worth checking out in terms of low risk, high reward. Considering those options and the fact that Full Tilt offers a 100% sign up bonus and it is easy to see why it is one of the main options when it comes to EPT satellite qualifiers online.

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Best Site for EPT Satellite Qualifiers- Titan Poker While Full Tilt and Poker Stars are often known as the two best options when it comes to EPT satellite qualifiers, Titan Poker is seen as the best option for non-US players. On top of that, many people feel that this site offers the softest fields that opportunistic veterans can take advantage of. There is also an impressive 3 stage qualification system that gives players with big and small bankrolls alike a chance to qualify for an EPT seat. At the moment, only a select few EPT events are listed in the satellite schedule for this tournament but that means that Titan players can often benefit from smaller tours that take place in exciting destinations across Europe. No matter which site you choose to take advantage of, the fact is that there are more than enough options online when it comes to EPT satellite qualifiers. Try your luck today and you may just be rewarded with some impressive prizes and opportunities that may not be available any other way.

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Poker Knockout tournaments have continuously increased in popularity over the years, and have now become a steady part of some of the biggest online poker sites today. Knockout tournaments range from buy ins of just a few dollars all the way up to massive buy ins such as the Sunday Brawl, which can be found at Full Tilt Poker, and the Pro Bounty Knockout that is offered at UltimateBet.

In order to help you have the most fun and earn the most from knockout tournaments, let’s take a look at some of the strategy and tips that you can use. Winning these tournaments can prove to be more than possible and incredibly rewarding.

Main Knockout Bounty Tournament Strategy

The most popular and successful strategy when it comes to Knockout Bounty Tournaments is deciding whether or not you want to adjust your play in order to seek out bounties or try and play a standard MTT game. No matter how you decide to play, it is important to adjust your gameplay accordingly and make the necessary adjustments at the very right moments. Keep that thought in mind and take note of these 5 important knockout bounty tips.

Plan for Looser Play

Knockout tournaments are a lot of fun and that is why the attract a lot of players just looking for fun. Recreational players flock to these games and that often brings forward a lower level of play and you need to change your strategy accordingly. Plan for some all in bets that don’t make sense and winning hands that are more than mediocre, but if you plan right you can use that all to your advantage.

Lack of Co-Operation

In other types of tournaments it is normal for players to check down when there is a small stack left. However, in knockout tournaments, the bounty that is put onto players stops this check down altogether and ensures that betting on dry-side pots become more widely played.

Dealing with Small Stocks Entering the Pot

In most hands there are a number of people chasing after their bounty thanks to small stacks that are always raising the pot. During game play and these types of tournaments this type of play can lead to a number of calls in a row or raises followed by one after another. That is why it is so profitable for players to isolate small stacks or try and catch medium stacks.

Stay Above Average

It can be devastatingly frustrating to win a big hand but miss out on the bounty based on the fact that your opponent was more covered. Be sure to stay aggressive enough to keep your chip count higher than the majority of the stacks and your chances of pulling through on the bounty will be greatly increased.

Prize Pool

The overall setup for poker knockout bounty tournaments means that 80% of the fees laid down by players will be used in the prize pool. While you want to do your best to win bounties, the big money is sitting at the final table, so make sure that is your focus throughout.

Knockout bounty poker tournaments are a lot of fun, and can be incredibly profitable if you use the right strategies. If you are looking to get involved in these types of games then your best bet is to get into the action at Full Tilt Poker or at UltimateBet in order to get the most for your money and your time.

5 Card draw is one of the most popular poker games both on and offline, mainly because it is simple and easy for beginners to learn and play. If you are new to online poker then 5 card draw is one of the best ways to get involved and start to learn before jumping into more complicated games.

You have two options when it comes to this form of poker, fixed limit 5 card and no limit 5 card. Both games begin with players laying a set amount of money into the pot. In fixed limit poker you will use small and big blinds and all of the limits are agreed upon before the game begins.

When the initial round of betting is done, each player is dealt 5 cards and players can place another bet after reviewing their cards. You can choose to fold, call, bet, or raise depending upon what you have and whether you want to bluff and so on.

After that round of betting, players have the option of keeping their cards or discarding as many as 5 of their cards in order to get new ones. After that round of dealing players then take part in another round of betting.
Once all the betting is finished, each player shows their cards and the best hand overall wins the pot. There are certain times when players will have a hand that is identical in value, in such a case the pot is split among them.

5 Card Strategy

Many 5 card experts will tell you that you are far better off the later you end up drawing in any given round. Thus, when you are the last player to draw you will have an advantage seeing as you can see how many cards others drew and may have noticed some of their tells. However, there is a time when drawing first can be an advantage. If you have a strong hand you can muscle everyone out of the game with a strong bet right off the bat.

One of the major strategies involved with 5 card poker is the bluff. A lot of players will stand pat with a weak hand in order to make everyone around them think they have a strong hand. If you bluff and everyone leaves the game, you have won the pot without much power in your hand. However, before you start to bluff you need to be aware of the game around you. How much is everyone betting? If people are betting strong then they will often have strong hands and will not leave the pot. Better yet, be sure to pay close attention and make sure your opponents are not bluffing you.

In whatever way you choose to play the game of 5 card poker, just always be sure to remember that the amount of cards you draw is a major indication of your hand. Same goes for everyone around you. The more cards people draw from the pot, the weaker their hands usually are and vice versa.

Pokerstars is one of the best poker sites that offers 5 card draw poker games. Check out the poker room now. They also accept US players.

Network: CEREUS
Refer-a-Friend: $75 + $50

One of the best poker sites
Best deposit bonus
–

No live chat
Few cashout options
–

Deposit bonus

• 111% up to $1100
• $10 min. deposit

No deposit bonus

• –

Deposit bonus

Screenshots:

Ultimate Bet Poker Review

Ultimate Bet has been a part of the poker world for quite some time, but it wasn’t until late 2008 when the site and company merged with Absolute Poker that it truly took off and become one of the most recognized poker sites online. In many ways, UltimateBet has now become the leading poker room in the entire world thanks to its massive player base and the fact that games can be found 24/7 each and every day of the year.  There are a number of loose players involved in the games which makes it attractive for savvy vets and UltimateBet offers and holds some of the best poker tournaments in the world.

If you enjoy poker tournaments and fast paced action at all times of day, then UltimateBet Poker is one of your best bets.

Software

The software of UltimateBet is known for its sleek design and clean look overall. The lobby offers various options and adjustment options and gives you the opportunity to view all kinds of statistics such as table and hand stats as well as account settings. Many online poker players discuss the software as being the best online as it really gives you the feeling of sitting at a legitimate poker table.

Traffic

Being the largest online poker room in the entire world, UltimateBet is a leading authority when it comes to traffic and game options. There are over 60,000 tournament players within the system and up to 25,000 ring games during the peak hours on the site. The site and its players are known for preferring Texas Hold’ Em but there are still a number of available options at all hours for versions such as Omaha and Seven Card Stud.

Tournaments

The tournaments at UltimateBet offer the largest pros. There are a number of qualifiers available for tournaments such as the World Poker Tour and the World Series of Poker, but there is a lot of competition. The games held here house some of the best players in the world. On top of those tournaments there are a number of free roll tournaments, and regular MTT games that range all the way from $1 buy in to $200. On top of all of that, there are many satellite tournaments that start with just a $3 buy-in.

Game Variety

The game variety for UltimateBet is very impressive. On top of the regular options when it comes to poker games, you can also take part in games such as Triple Draw, Seven Card Stud, Omaha, and even Pineapple Poker.  Stakes for the games vary from as low as $.01 all the way to $300.

Sign Up Bonus

UltimateBet is known for having one of the most generous sign up bonuses online today. They will match your first deposit bonus by 111% up to $1,100, while the minimum deposit is only $10. Use the Ultimate bet bonus code DZMAX

Promotions

On top of everything else, UltimateBet is known for being very generous. They offer $100 for each friend that you refer and even offer that friend a $50 bonus when they deposit $100 into their account.

Support

The support at UltimateBet is as good as it gets. While there are no options when it comes to phone or live chat, emails are answered in about 5 minutes which is incredibly impressive.

Overall, UltimateBet is the largest online poker room in the world for a variety of reasons. Exciting games, promising promotions, dedicated support, and impressive software ensure the best experience possible when it comes to online poker. But why take our word for it, take a look for yourself.

Ultimate bet sign up bonus: 111% up to $1100

Ultimate bet has one of the biggest deposit bonuses in the industry: 111% up to $1100 and the minimum deposit is only $10. Use the bonus code: DZMAX. US players are not accepted as of April 2011.

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Network: iPoker network
Refer-a-Friend: up to $25

Many weak players
Good VIP program
New poker room with great promos

No US players
Low refer-a-friend reward
–

Deposit bonus

• Get $500 instead of $100
• Many depositor freerolls
• Easy to clear

No deposit bonus

• N/A

Deposit bonus

Screenshots:

Winner Poker Review

Any online poker enthusiast that is in search of a safe, reliable and secure poker room network does not need to look any further than Winner Poker. The standards are set high with Winner and the iPoker software is known around the globe as being one of the most functional and impressive systems there is. While graphically Winner poker is not as impressive as other systems, the ease of use and reliability more than makes up for it.

Promotions and Bonuses
Winner Poker has come up with a number of promotional offers that make it worthwhile stopping in and seeing what it has to offer. Every new player receives a 100% bonus when they sign up, to a maximum of $500, and another $25 if a friend refers you to the site. On top of that bonuses came by way of points that can be earned when taking rakes. Every time a player takes $5 in a rake they receive 14 points. Once a player has 1,000 points they are given $10, which can really add up over time.

Tournaments
There are a number of satellites and tournaments offered at Winning poker and you will need to check the schedule in order to keep up to date. There are many freeroll tournaments and unlike other sites, Winning Poker allows new players to access those events within the first 3 months. A lot of other sites ensure that new players are registered for at least 6 months to a year before they can participate in freeroll tournaments.

Customer Service
The customer service at Winning Poker is considered to be the best in the industry in man ways. Support is available by phone, fax, email, and chat 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. You never know when you might need support or just have to ask a question, and that continued support can really come in handy during the wee hours of the morning.

Security

The entire poker system is secured by SSL security and is considered to be one of the safest that you will find online. The exceptional customer service also attributes to this and you will rarely ever hear a complain about the way this poker system is run.

Traffic

You can always find willing and capable opponents within the Winner Poker network no matter what time of day you are seeking out a game. While it does not boast as much traffic as some of the more commonly known poker sites, you will never run into a shortage of players and the competition also tends to be a little bit more serious than at other sites.

Overall, the gambling and poker experience at Winner is exceptional in most regards. The graphics could use a bit of an update, but that is a very small price to pay in terms of the security and reliability that the system offers overall. If functionality and usability are at the forefront of what you look for in online poker, then there is not much need to look any further than Winner Poker.

Winner poker deposit bonus: 100% up to $500

Winner poker offers a very generous first deposit bonus: 100% up to $500. You will also get entries to the depositor freerolls and regular freerolls. Don’t forget to take advantage of the VIP program this poker room has to offer.

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Poker Stars and Full Tilt Poker are two of the biggest and most popular poker rooms online today, but the biggest decision that players often have to make is which one they should sign up for and play on. In this article we will compare both sites on some of the most important online poker criteria in order to help you make a decision when it comes to your online poker play.

Two of the most important factors when it comes to online poker are traffic and quality of opposition, so that is where we are going to start.

Poker Stars has far more traffic than Full Tilt Poker in the end. At peak hours Stars offers 200,000 members that are online and playing while Tilt only has 80,000 at the same time. In terms of Poker Stars, this means that there are a wide range of games to choose from, tournaments to join, and tables to sit at. This is important for options such as SNG games where you need a lot of traffic and options in order to benefit the most from small buy-ins.

Both Poker Stars and Full Tilt Poker offer a nice mixture of skill levels when it comes to players. Both sites have a decent number of pro grinders that are online and playing very tightly at a number of different tables. However, there are also quite a few recreational players that are looking for a little fun and throwing money around at the lower to mid level limit tables. In the end, there is not much of a difference when it comes to opposition levels at both sites but there are many people that feel there are more recreational players at PokerStars than there are at Full Tilt.

Tournament Selection and Cash Games

Poker Stars and Full Tilt have a large variety of games to choose from whether you are a fan of cash games, SNGs, tournaments, or satellites. There are very few differences to point out in this category when comparing these popular sites, as both offer more than enough options to satisfy everyone.

However, the larger group of players that are online at Poker Stars lead to a wider range of niche games and options throughout all levels. At this site you can find all kinds of unusual but exciting options such as 2-7 Triple Draw, Omaha and Stud variations, and even Badugi games. There are also quite a few more tournament categories at this site than Full Tilt but this can either be a positive or a negative depending on whether or not you enjoy big or small tournaments.

Conclusion

While both sites have more than enough options when it comes to games, one should note that Full Tilt offers larger prizes and smaller blind increments. That is why many veteran players enjoy the payout structure that can be found at Full Tilt while newbies enjoy the rewards offered at Poker Stars for spending hours in a tournament.