Overall: 4
InterPoker is the online poker front on a
popular online casino and it’s pretty popular both in
Europe and North America. Their main promotion is their
player loyalty program, which offers players a $90
loyalty bonus that can be earned each month. Another
bonus is their player prop program, which offers to pay
players an hourly wage to start up new games. This site
has a number of international currency tables, offering
ring games in U.S. Dollars, Pounds, and Euros. The
software is basic without a lot of extra frills, and
they have strong customer service. The competition is
typical from European players – extremely aggressive
both preflop and postflop so pots build up quickly.
Overall, this continues to be a solid poker site that
largely goes under the radar, but should especially be
considered by players who are after extra bonuses each
month.
Bonus: 5 ($90
every month)
I like the bonus structure at this site, and their
initial deposit bonus is a 100% match up to $90.
InterPoker clears this bonus faster for
higher-stakes players as the raked hand credit depends
on the limits you play at, so smaller stakes players
should multi-table and/or play at tables with higher
average flops if they want to earn the bonus faster.
What’s neat about the bonus is that you can earn it
every month by playing the same amount of raked hands,
so it’s a nice offer if you plan to make this one of
your main site.
Promotions: 4.5
Of course, the monthly bonus is probably their main
promotion but they have a few others as well. Players
have the ability to play as “prop players” for
InterPoker. Basically, the poker room is
paying you to stimulate action at slow or empty tables.
You’ll receive a pop-up in the software letting you know
the table and terms of the deal, which you can either
accept or turn down. Typically, you can earn between
$10-30 per hour as a prop through the site. Also, they
have Royal Flush Jackpots, a Bad Beat Jackpot, special
holiday promotions, and other offers for regular players
to earn free books and merchandise. The prop player
program is unique for online sites, and we also give
them a good score especially for the monthly bonus.
Fish: 3
The quality of play is actually pretty interesting at
InterPoker. You won’t usually find the
typical fish here per se, but rather overly aggressive
European players. This type of player likes to raise
preflop with lots of different hands and then continue
that aggression after the flop. This player can get into
a lot of trouble if he runs up against you with a real
hand. You shouldn’t expect to dominate these tables,
since they’ll already be ahead of you. Just choose your
hands well and either let them lead out and build a pot,
or show your strength right away with a reraise. Typical
flop percentage is average at about 30-40%, but the
average pot sizes are quite large for the respective
stakes.
Tournaments: 3.5
The player traffic for tournaments is relatively low since
InterPoker is still establishing itself. You
usually don’t find a huge number of players at smaller
events, but sometimes it can reach a few hundred
players. The exception to this is for guaranteed events, which do attract a good number of players.
Also, one advantage to lower tournament traffic is the
low turnout for live satellite events. It is much easier
to win a seat against fewer opponents, even if you have
to win it all or come in the top 3.
Software: 4
Yes,
InterPoker has another basic software
package. I’ve heard this software criticized by internet
poker snobs and it’s probably because of the basic
graphics and unoriginality of the layout. Personally, I
don’t really place much importance on advanced graphics
and just use the basics out of poker software anyway.
The visuals on the table are sharp enough and you can
see the cards well. The best feature is the game speed,
which typically runs quickly at 60+ hands per hour.
Finally, you should play at the U.S. Dollar tables when
you can since the rake at InterPoker is 3 currency
units. This is pretty standard for Dollars, but you see
a good chunk of the pot taken with Euros and Pounds,
since each unit is worth more than our currency.
Best Features
-Generous monthly bonus program. If you play here often
you can get a bonus every month.
-Large average pots. These are aggressive tables so you
can win more at smaller limits.
-Player prop program. If you are a well-rounded player
and could use a few extra bucks, this is a neat program
that pays you an hourly rate to start new games.
Cashouts: 3.5
The actual time it takes to receive your cashout from
InterPoker is typically quick. However, we
give them a lower score because some players may find
the added security measures frustrating. You have to
provide them with a PIN each time you electronically
withdraw, which is only sent to you via snail mail. So
long as you don’t lose the small form they send you, it
is a minor inconvenience. Some players may appreciate
the added security, and I do give them credit for trying
to prevent theft.
Customer Service: 5
The customer service is definitely top-notch, since they
give individual telephone support for each country.
E-mail support is also quick, but providing a telephone
number goes the extra step.
Game Selection: Hold'em, Stud, Omaha
Limits: Fixed Limit: .25/.50 - $150/300
No Limit: .15/.30 - $10/20
Tips
As I have mentioned throughout the review,
InterPoker is a haven for aggressive players.
First of all, the advantage to this is that you’ll be
able to play at small stakes but still expect to play
for larger pots. This cuts down on your expense for the
blinds. So, how do you play against this type of player?
My recommendation is to either punish them early, or to
let them take control until the river. If you punish
them early, you should raise and reraise them preflop
with your premium hands. Why not get the most value out
of your hand if they’re willing to pay? If you let them
take control, you’re running the risk of them drawing
out on a hand like pocket Aces, but you’re also trapping
them for more bets and showing that you’re willing to
mix up your play.
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