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Full review of CD Poker
CD Poker
www.cdpoker.com
FREE DOWNLOAD!
Established 2004
Country Antigua
Special Features
$500 special sign-up bonus for PokersList users
$2,000 monthly private freeroll by PokersList (Aug)
2D and 3D view options
Background music and other advanced options
Total weighted score (out of 10) 6.25 |
Sign-up bonus in $ $500
Deposit bonus in % 50%
Referral bonus per friend $50
Deposit free bonus $0
Paid to play ($/hour) $0
Hits
Lots of promotions
24/7 telephone support plus online and email support
Innovative graphical interface
Buddy lists and find player function
Overview over the entire betting sequence (right-hand action table)
Misses
Moderate traffic outside peak hours
Only Texas Holdem & Omaha games
Lower player volume in high stakes games |
Summary
World-exclusive $500 first deposit bonus at 50% deposit match only via
PokersList! Plus our sponsored $2,000 private freeroll for first time
depositors reaching just 1,000 points (in August) CD Poker is a very fast
growing poker room in the iPoker network which uses PlayTech’s poker software.
As lots of the players come from other online casinos in the PlayTech network,
the poker games are very loose with lots of wild gamblers and less savvy poker
players. CD Poker has a number of good promotions as they are making a big
marketing push in the summer of 2005. CD Poker’s software has a nice look and
feel, with colorful graphics and both standard 2D view and 3D view (side view
with avatars). The functionality is not great yet, as there are some minor
glitches in the software. The potential of the software is good, as PlayTech are
known for their world-class casino software. There is quite decent player volume
and games are spread in Holdem and Omaha (High and High-Low) both in ring games,
as well as heads-up, sit-and-go and multi-table tournaments.
Software and graphics
CD Poker’s share its software and players base with the other rooms in the
iPoker network. The network is developed by world-renown online casino developer
PlayTech. The graphics are nice and colorful and the overall functionality is
good. Noble Poker has buddy list function, game history function, player notes,
lots of options for music/sounds/graphics/etc, pot- and no-limit ring games,
live floor managers and all types of tournaments. On the negative side, there
are some small glitches making the playability less than perfect. For example,
if you are first to act and time out, it is an automatic check/fold – which is
extra annoying in the speed games. There was a major upgrade of the software in
July 2005, with several improvements.
Ring game traffic
CD Poker and the iPoker network have about 400-600 ring game players at peak
hours in July 2005, which almost all of the traffic at no-limit and fixed limit
Texas Holdem.
Tournament traffic
CD Poker’s traffic at the tournaments is higher than at cash games when real
money traffic can reach somewhere around 1000-1200 players at peak hours in July
2005. The sit and go tournaments are particularly popular in this network.
Game variety
CD Poker has pretty much a bare bones game variety with Texas Holdem and Omaha
Hi-Lo and High games, which are available in both limit, pot-limit. Texas Holdem
is of course available in no-limit version as well. Table stakes range from
$0.5/$1 to $20/$40 in the fixed limit games, and $0.25/$0.50 up to $5/$10 in
pot-limit and no-limit games. (The fixed limit Omaha games have a bit lower
maximum limits). There are both heads-up, sit-and-go and fixed schedule
multi-table tournaments. The tournaments have a better variety overall.
Rake
The rake at CD Poker is a bit lower than the average online poker room. The
general policy is the standard 5% rake taken in increments up to $3. But on
several types of tables there are lower maximum rakes. On fixed limit tables up
to $1/$2 there is a $1 maximum rake. More importantly all tables with 2-3
players have a maximum rake of $1 and tables with 4-5 players have a $2 maximum
rake – which also includes no-limit and pot-limit short handed games! There is a
"no flop - no drop" policy for hands not reaching the flop.
Soft competition
CD Poker has really soft games, the only downside is that there are few higher
stakes games spread (as the network is relatively new). Most of the volume is in
the fixed limit and no-limit Texas Holdem games. The view flop percentage is
normally is the 40-ies or 50-ies at CD Poker which is clearly high. The players
are also a bit passive (very generally speaking). In all, it is quite easy to be
a winning player at CD Poker and the iPoker network. Actually, the potential for
the iPoker network to build soft games is strong as they “organically” recruit
new players from the PlayTech online casino base.
Sign up bonus (9)
World-exclusive first time deposit bonus for PokersList users with 50%
deposit match up to $500 sign-up bonus. You would need to deposit $1,000 in
order to earn the $500 bonus. Bonuses are paid in $10 increments (or Euro or GBP
if that is the chosen currency) and are paid out on a daily basis. Standard
promotion is 50% deposit match up to $400 bonus. There is a 90 day time limit to
reach the required points/hands. For each played hand (getting dealt cards) in a
raked pot a player earns 1-4 CD points depending on table limits. $0.25/$0.50
blinds give 1 point, $0.50/$1 blinds give 2 points and $1/$2 blinds and up give
4 points. 400 points will give $10 bonus (600 points for 10 Euro and 700 points
for 10 GBP). Hence in order to clear a full maximum bonus of $500 you need to
have earned 20,000 crowns, which corresponds to 5,000 participated hands at a
$1/$2 game.
Loyalty bonus (5)
There is a point system (CD points), whereby players get entered into special
free rolls and can get high value re-load bonus offers.
Promotions (7)
Special $500 bonus at 50% match for our users, see full details above. Also, we
are sponsoring a monthly $2,000 private free roll for all new depositors coming
from PokersList, reaching their first 1,000 points during the month (August
is first month to count). The free rolls are held early the following month
calendar month. CD Poker will have a big promotion coming up in August for
existing players (no need to wait to sign-up) where extra money will be awarded
for tournaments. All in all, the iPoker network has lots of good value
promotions especially the tournament guarantees. CD Poker has high hand and bad
beat prizes. Recruit-a-friend earns you $50 per qualified friend (250 raked
hands) and the friend gets an extra $50 as well.
Support (7)
CD Poker has good support quality, with both 24/7 telephone support, live online
and email support.
Financial security (9)
CD Poker is secure, as this room is operated by Club Dice Casino and is also
part of iPoker, which is backed by the renowned casino software developer and
operator PlayTech.
Deposit & withdrawal options (8)
Deposit options; VISA, MasterCard, NETeller, Citadel, FirePay, Moneybookers,
InstaCash, InstaDebit, EcoCard, UseMyBank, OnDemand Funds, Pay Safe Card, VISA
Electron, Solo, Maestro, Click2Pay, wire transfer, bank draft. Cash out options;
NETeller, FirePay, Moneybookers, bank draft express, cashier’s check and wire
transfer.
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