Paradise Poker Heads Up Review
Paradise Poker once competed with the market leaders with great software and
a large player base. Since pulling out of the US market in 2006 there have been
some changes to this site. Joining the ‘Boss Media’ network where several rooms
pool together their players has seen traffic on the increase again, you will
find almost 22,000 opponents online at peak times. The once familiar 3D software
interface has been replaced by attractive, yet more standardized tables to fit
in with the Boss Network. The bonus incentives and promotions that made Paradise
Poker big are still around, this includes a 100% match on your first deposit up to $100.
Heads Up Games Available.
The Heads-Up Games at Paradise Poker are mainly No-Limit Texas Holdem Matches
in sit and go format. There are a wide range of buy-in levels starting at just
$3+15c and going up to an exceptional $10,000+$250 for the high rollers. The
most popular games are at the lower levels with many opponents available on
tables with limits up to $30+$1.50c. A smaller number of Pot Limit Holdem
heads-up sit and goes as well as the fixed limit variety are also available.
Paradise also run knockout heads-up multi-player tournaments, entry is $10+1 and
the number of places paid depends on the number of participants who enter.
Other Games Available
Paradise Poker hosts a wide range of both cash and tournament games. Cash tables are available at a range of limits for Holdem, Omaha, Stud, and 5 Card Draw. Sit and Go Tournaments are Holdem based, with no-limit, pot-limit and fixed limit betting structures all available – speeded up (3 minute) blind level variations can also be chosen. Tournaments is where Paradise have their strength, the selection includes many guaranteed prize pools (some with overlays), re-buys, satellite qualifiers and freerolls.
Player Traffic
The number of players hits a peak of almost 22,000 at evenings and weekends European time. There are opponents available at the lower buy-in heads-up poker matches throughout the day. As you get to the tables with $30+ buy-ins the number of opponents is smaller during non-peak hours.
Poker Software
The Paradise Poker Lobby is nicely laid out and reasonably easy to navigate. To find the heads-up poker matches simply click on the gold ‘Single Tourney’ tab then on the ‘Heads-Up’ button that appears on the sub-menu below. The table list can then be sorted by buy-in, betting structure or status. The tables themselves are clear and simple to use, the view is towards the top of the table and there is a handy menu bar with all the information on the game readily available.
Bonuses and Promotions
The sign-up bonus at Paradise Poker is $100 as a 100% match on your first deposit. This is complimented by several
regular incentives for existing players. The Paradise ‘Poker Ladder’ promotion
gives away $100,000 a month on-the-spot prizes to cash game players at various
levels – the betting limits at which you play determining whether you join the
low, medium or high ladders. In addition you will collect Frequent Player Points
for all cash and tournament play which can be used to enter freerolls including
qualifiers to big live events.