Party Poker has long been known as the poker site with the most fish. This is most certainly true even to this day! Although Party Poker took a major hit when they pulled the plug on players from the U.S.A., the site has made a speedy recovery. The marketers have done an excellent job exposing the site to many new countries Worldwide. It is obviously sweet being able to play against players from less developed poker countries, making the site easily as fishy as the old days.
As Party Poker is easily the most fish filled site online, it provides for a great poker adventure. On one side you have horrible suck outs and bad beats you never thought possible from fishy plays. But on the other side, consistent solid poker play yields good profits at any level from the $0.25c-$0.50c to the $100-$200, and over time in SnGs and MTTs. Party is a good site for both the beginner and veteran player. Here is a breakdown of what Party Poker has to offer:
Cash Games
Party has lots of traffic. Action can be found at any time of the day, or night, or morning. Party Poker spreads the usual suspects for games: Holdem, Omaha and Stud (hi and hi/lo). These games are offered in various forms of either No Limit, Limit or Pot Limit betting structures. There are also Bad Beat Jackpot tables, which offer a glimpse of a huge payday for the lucky few. The Party Poker cash games are filled with donkeys and fish galore, and are highly recommended if you like to win at poker.
Sit and Gos
The SnGs on party are quality. Healthy starting chips at 2k, with three various blind structures. Regular SnGs have 10 minute blinds; Speeds have 5 minute blinds and the Turbos with 3 minute blinds.
'Hellkat' SnGs are a new weird sit and go format on Party Poker. These 'Hellkats' finish at either a known time (say 15 mins) or at a random time. Whoever is wherever in chip counts finishes that way (chip leader at the finish gets first, and so on). The strategy is quite different than traditional SnGs, and provides a new and challenging format for those who like to try something new.
Lastly, Party Poker has the famous Step Tourneys. The idea is pretty basic. Buy in to any of the six levels and place up in the top three and you win an entry to the next step. Placing all the way sometimes as 8th and up provides some kind of try again in various stages. These are tonnes of fun, and a fantastic way to roll up a 3$ entry into a 500$ one.
MTTs
Party has a vast range of Multi Table Tourneys. This is probably the dominant attraction of the site. They have the Party Poker Million, which is an $8200 tournament, featured on TV, live on location on a Cruise Ship. In the past the boat has been in the Caribbean, but in 2008, it is going to be on the Mediterranean! Party also hosts a Sunday 300k guarantee tournament which can be won into from many satellites. There are daily Super Tournaments for $162 and a Friday special $215. Party has all kinds of smaller tourneys with deal making possibilities running around the clock. They offer them in everyone's favorite formats be it Holdem, Omaha or Stud (hi and hi/lo), so there is something for everybody. There is also a tourney leader board, with incentives for the top players. Whether its Freerolls, rebuys, regulars or turbos you want, Party has it all, and has it often.
Player Points
Party Points are earned through playing any party game, and can be redeemed for money on the site, or tournament entries. This is essentially rake back, and is a generous system.
Interface User/Friendliness
Party Poker has a real time hand history, accessible by clicking the dealer's tray. These hand histories are all saved on to your computer already, but it is also possible to have hands emailed to your registered email address for review.
Party has had the same graphics forever, and they are pretty lame. The lobby has been fixed up, and is much better, but the tables and stock player images are boring.
The in game statistic program is not very good. The stats are not very useful, and leave much to be desired.
Party Poker has very fast play, allowing many hands per hour. There is no messing about like on many other sites. Here you come to play hands, and lots of them.
Party offers many Play Money alternatives for the learning or casual player. The site also has a Free Poker School and free Poker Trainer for anyone that wants to brush up on some strategy advice.
Level of Play
There lies fish infested waters ahead!
Traffic
Simply the most players anywhere. Party Poker is the daddy of all online poker rooms with player traffic exceeding tens of thousands, even during the quieter hours. Finding a game here will never be a problem for any stakes player, indeed, the choice can often be overwhelming.
Support Cashier
Email support is lightning fast. Telephone support is now being used for more delicate or detailed inquiries. Staff are always friendly and helpful.
Conclusion
Party Poker still ranks up there amongst the elite sites. While it is has taken a knock from the banning of American players, it has made up for it by enticing many new nationalities to get in on the action. The support and software are decent, and the portals to other gambling endeavors are second to none. If you like poker, and want some tables full of fishy players, this is the site for you. There is no point in playing online poker, and not playing on Party Poker. The fish fest is just too good to pass up.