ITH Poker Forum

[RiverCascade]

Please begin here. (Discussion prior to June '06, can be found here.)

[RiverCascade]

TheWhale asked:

Does Paradise offer reloads on any kind of consistant basis. I loved played there but I can't be playing somewhere where I'm not clearing a bonus.

Imo, no. If they offer 2 a year, I'd be surprised. At first I liked this site, but for many reasons, not any longer.

Their lobby is horrid, as far as the software is concerned. It doesn't show all the tables consistently, like the ones at which you're sitting. I'm always checking pot size so when the tables don't show, it's a pain.

When you're on a waiting list, many times the tables won't open, or they won't even let you join the lists. I liked the traffice and fish volume, but for the other reasons, it's not even worth it to me. Plus, you have to request the hand histories, compared to them being stored on your computer. Many times there are errors in them. I don't play there at all, unless they're offering a bonus, so not too often. Blech!

[malteg]

A site with really a lot of fish at the 0.5/1 tables - maybe the weakest competition besides Pacific. They sometimes offer 10x reload bonuses that never expire and clear very fast at this limit.
So everything could be fine here IF they had better software, but, as RC mentioned, the software is absolutely crappy.

When you have a bonus to clear, it is definitely worth playing there. Otherwise you have a lot of better opportunities.

[Piscivorous]

TheWhale asked:

Does Paradise offer reloads on any kind of consistant basis. I loved played there but I can't be playing somewhere where I'm not clearing a bonus.

Imo, no. If they offer 2 a year, I'd be surprised.

Actually, it is more like 4-5 reloads yearly and usually averaging 20% up to $100. Paradise Poker ring games with bonus is, in the army vernacular, a fallback position. Never expiring, easily clearable. You can get 1 bonus clearing point [10 points clears $1], for each $1 in tourney fees.

Although I agree with River that the site is in desparate need of a makeover and software update, there are a number of positives about Paradise:

1) The tables are soft.
2) The bonuses you do get never expire and are easy to clear.
3) The tournaments offered are very good and cover many different buy-ins and structures.
4) The rake structure is fair and consistent across the board.

[kestrel]

I don't understand why they don't offer 5-max games on anything lower than $1/$2 LHE.

It seems to me that Paradise is more of a FR site, which strikes me as strange because the Poker sites make more money from SH games. I just don't see any logic behind it.

[hed235]

As someone who plays mainly sit and goes I dislike the fact that their $5 tournaments have a $1 add on.

Why play at $5 + $1 when other sites offer $5 + $0.50?

[Piscivorous]

As someone who plays mainly sit and goes I dislike the fact that their $5 tournaments have a $1 add on.

Why play at $5 + $1 when other sites offer $5 + $0.50?

Although it is a bit annoying, Paradise as well as Party SnGs at the $5 level are so ridiculously soft that my ROI at both surpass that at sites where the $5+$.50 is the norm. So although you may be getting gouged by the excess rake, you should more than make up for it by the softness of the games and the expected increase of finishing ITM.

However, stay away from Absolute. They charge $6+$1 and the games are not as soft as Paradise/Party.

[chillin411]

Be careful in their rebuy tournaments... as Paradise rakes rebuys as well as the initial buy-in, as the tournament fee is taken from the prize pool, and is not played at the beginning.

[therivierakid]

I've been playing on Paradise quite a lot recently (bonus clearing). 0.5/1 FR limit.

At certain times you can struggle to get a good table. At others (like today at 6am BST) good tables are a dime a dozen. I joined two tables with ASFs of 63 and 74% The play is generally as bad as the software when you get a juicy table.

The traffic is pretty constant - there's never less than 8 tables running and I've seen as many as 20. Just my experience. YMMV.

[Vegasario]

I hate Paradise's software, but I love the games at the .50/1.00 and 1/2 levels. Competition seems pretty soft, and I make more money on this site than I do at Party. I've been playing at both for about a year now.

Also there are a lot of regulars here. I don't necessarily like Paradise's note taking feature; nothing to show that you have notes on a player. You have to "hover" your mouse over their names to see if you have notes on them BUT...you run into the same people so much you can track their play very easily.

[therivierakid]

I did a cashout to Neteller earlier this week. Took less than 24 hours. No hassle at all.

[razboynik]

I haven't read the posts above.

I started to play online poker at Paradise in 2003. They gave you 100% instant cash bonus on your deposit up to $200 I think. I played TX FL 5-10 and won
I recently played there after a 2 year gap and nothing has changed. While other sites have been developing their software to perfection, Paradise has done very little to their software. No wonder they are sinking fast.

[razboynik]

I haven't read the posts above.

I started to play online poker at Paradise in 2003. They gave you 100% instant cash bonus on your deposit up to $200 I think. I played TX FL 5-10 and won
I recently played there after a 2 year gap and nothing has changed. While other sites have been developing their software to perfection, Paradise has done very little to their software. No wonder they are sinking fast.

[rickit]

paradise has offered me a 100% $100 reload bonus this week. Got a 100% $50 in March. They are pretty easy to work off.

I don't mind the software

[danny47o]

Strongly considering setting up shop at Paradise.

I hear the rake is fine?

And I hear the players are some of the softest at NL100 compared to the other sites?

Is there a way to sign-up through this site to get PokerTracker and HU Display free? I don't see it in the list of banners, can't find the claim form for it...