PartyPoker.com is the third largest online poker room despite not currently being open to US players. They have made major gains in the European and Asian markets offering good first deposit and reload deals.

Apart from the regular poker games you’d expect to find, they also host a unique Double Hold’em game where players are dealt three pocket cards, one of which the player selects pre-flop and combines that with one of the other two cards to form their best poker hand.

From the lobby

The lobby design is clinical with intelligent filtering and a ‘Quick Seat’ option to preset your preferred game conditions. A collapsible sidebar gives players several shortcuts including one to their excellent 24/7 telephone and email support.

At the table

In keeping with the lobby, PartyPoker.com maintain a contemporary table design that looks cool and easy on the eye, with some of the best looking chips found in online poker. The accompanying audio is also pleasant and fitting; the card dealing sounds real enough, the chip ‘chinks’ are appropriate and the action alert ‘ping’ doesn’t intrude. While none of those are a clincher they all add to the positive experience of playing there.

Optional avatars along with emoticons add some colour to the table and chat window; good sized and clearly marked buttons make player actions easy. Standard check boxes speed up play when decisions are taken early and four colour decks are an option.

Ring Games

Texas Hold’em ring game players will find action spread nicely across all the table stake levels; 7 Card Stud and Omaha (also available as Hi/Lo) along with Double Hold’em cash tables enjoy less action, but a choice of game can be found at most times.

Tournaments

PartyPoker.com Sit and Go tournament action is most buoyant for the single table games. The regular tournament schedule is well filled throughout the day with good participation at all buy-in levels. Typically you will find 300+ players beginning a $1 game, 100+ players entering a $2,000 GTD tournament for $11, while 200+ higher rollers will set aside $215 for a $40,000 GTD event.

Bonuses

There is such a wide choice of promotions including a welcome bonus available in Dollars, Pounds Sterling and Euros, I’d recommend you visit the site’s bonus page for details.

The pick of the bunch would be the first depositors bonus, the monthly million tournament with freeroll, FPP and $1 satellites, as well as a $1,500 freeroll for depositing players that runs every Saturday and is capped at 5,000 entrants (so book your seat early).