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Cake Poker Review
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Cake Poker
began development of their software in 2004, tested the online
market in 2005, with the main network site going fully live in 2006.
Since then, they have grown at a
steady pace due to the reliable way the site is managed and
the balance of freeroll tournaments that encourage players to
deposit and enjoy their many buy-in events. |
| Cake Poker
do not over extend themselves by giving too much variety in game
choices, preferring to offer well attended common poker games in
various betting formats, with a choice of slow and fast blind
structures that should keep players happy across the buy-in
ranges. |
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The majority of ring games, sit and go tournaments and scheduled
tournaments attract Texas Hold’em players, with a good number of
Omaha and Omaha Hi/Lo players also finding company.
An average approaching 2,000 real money ring game players are
online playing every hour on Cake Poker,
with peak times reaching 3,000 poker players going hard at it. The trend of growth
experienced a quick rise early in 2009, when Doyles Room joined
the network.
Game formats include - Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Omaha Hi/Lo, Seven
Card Stud and Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo.
From the lobby
The functional lobby lays out all game options
very clearly. Two large buttons divide the ring games and
tournaments.
The ring game lobby has filters which separate the game formats on one row
and the betting formats on the next. Players may further refine their ring
game selection by table stakes, numbers seated, average/flop, average pot
and hands per hour.
Tournament players are given the choice of sit and go and scheduled games,
along with satellite, gold chip, freeroll, special event and private options.
Each tournament area can be filtered by the game type and betting format,
and may also be rationalized by game state, number enrolled, date and more.
Sit and Go tournaments
Sit and go tournaments begin every few minutes with a spread of players across
the $1 to £10 buy-in range. Many are no limit Texas Hold’em games for fields
of under 30 players, although there are plenty of Omaha and Omaha Hi/Lo games
also taking place.
For a site of its size there is a good number of mid range buy-in
players taking their seats at $20 to $100 games; marginally less
action is seen at the higher end.
Look out for the turbo Omaha Hi/Lo games that give all-action fun;
and for a real lottery, Cake Poker
host Kamikaze games where players are forced to go all-in with every hand.
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Scheduled tournaments
There is a good mix of scheduled tournaments on Cake Poker
that feature plenty of guaranteed games with good overlays, and bounty
games that attract enough variety of players to make the time there
challenging and rewarding.
As an example; typically around 350 players will enter a $2.20
re-buy/add on tournament with a $1,500 guaranteed prize pool. Up
to 150 players pay an initial $5 to test their skills in the
$1,500 pot limit Omaha R/A, and the daily $10,000 bounty game
often has close to 400 players adding their $30 to the prize pool.
Higher buy-in games ($50 to $250) see 100 to 300 network entrants.
Ring games
The lower stake NLH games are the best attended, however the
action is not concentrated at the $0.02/0.04 level. Often the
$0.10/0.20, $0.25/0.50 and $0.50/1.00 ring games out-number the
micro tables. The medium stake games also draw regular players as
do the high
stake tables though in lesser numbers.
At the table
The default table layout is novel, easy on the eye and as simple to
use as any other online poker room. The selection of player avatars
may be turned off with the simplified view taking nothing away from the
atmosphere. The table is re-sizeable (handy when multi-tabling) with
four color decks also being an option.
Large clear action buttons allow players to place bets at pre-set amounts,
they may also use the slider to increase bets, or may enter any bet amount
in a text window (provided limits allow). Hovering the cursor above your
player name allows you to view your cards if you have folded from the hand.
Common check boxes allow players to sit out, fold to any bet and
auto-post their blinds. In-play check boxes give players the
opportunity to pre-set a betting action if they make an early
decision.
An information area gives player stats and concise tournament
information, plus has a dedicated tab for player notes.
Bonuses
Cake Poker
has a generous bonus scheme for depositors including a 110% first deposit bonus
(maximum $600) and entry to a new depositor freeroll tournament. Use bonus code kp500
when signing up to the room.
Ring games and tournaments offer players a share of over $20 Million in monthly tournament
pay outs from sit and go games, multi table tournaments, bounty, loyalty and guaranteed events.
Gold Chips equate to frequent player points and are earned through
ring games and tournament play. The more you play, the more you
earn. Gold Chips may be spent on entry to Gold Chip tournaments or
Cake Poker products.
Cake Poker’s Gold Card
promotion offers players access to the rewarding loyalty program. They are randomly given
to real money players, regardless of funds wagered or sessions logged.
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