PokerRoom.com

Registration was a snap at PokerRoom.com. After receiving a quick confirmation email I was ready to go. Downloading PokerRoom was easy and only took about 90 seconds.

Talk about excellent graphics! The site obviously spent some considerable time on its image and color schemes. In the lobby you see a brilliant array of greens and black, while at the table, colors are soft: green table, red background, yellowish-brown chairs, and a red velvet rope.

For table representation, a player can choose from a variety of character images that are at each chair. In honor of Doyle, I chose a cowboy. Again, PokerRoom spent time creating realistic images. The novelty of my character lasted for about five minutes.

Plenty of tables to be found in a variety of games. My favorite, Hold'em, was offered with a variety of blinds and skill levels. The site also features Omaha, 7 Card Stud, and a brand new Sit'N'Go section where players can try their luck.

Cards fly at the table, so you had better pay attention. It took me a few minutes to figure things out. When a player checks, raises, or folds, the response appears in a bubble in front of the player. The chat has its own space so it doesn't interfere with play.

The site features a great note-taking section. You can use your notes or label a player by selecting a small ball that gives you quick info about the player's ability.

I have only one problem with the site and that was the speed of the game. Things moved quickly so it took me time to get use to. Personally, I prefer software that is a bit slower so that my brain can process all of the information on the screen. I don't like feeling rushed and I did here.

Some players will like the speed. Others, like me, will like the large numbers of games going on at once. All together, PokerRoom has something for everyone and if you can keep up, you too will really like it.