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THE WORLD’s LARGEST POKER SITE

* Free to download and play * Award winning 24/7 support * Fully licensed and regulated * Best software and game selection * Secure deposits, fast cashouts

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THE BIGGEST AND BEST POKER EVENTS PokerStars VIP Club

PokerStars has more cash game tables and tournaments than any other site. We offer the widest selection of poker games, including Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Stud and mixed games like HORSE, available at stakes that suit players of all levels. Whatever kind of online poker game you're looking for, you’ll find it at PokerStars. It’s also where you’ll find Team PokerStars Pro - a group of elite pro players that includes Daniel Negreanu and WSOP Champions Joe Hachem and Chris Moneymaker. Start playing for free now.

Our groundbreaking and innovative software is free to download and available for Windows and Mac. It gives you everything you need to get the best poker experience anywhere online, with secure deposits and fast cashouts. Everything is backed up by an award-winning support team, on hand 24-7 to answer your questions.

PokerStars is home to the best live and online events. Every year we run the biggest online tournament series in the world - the World Championship of Online Poker. We also host the biggest weekly tournanemnts - the Sunday Million and Sunday Warm-Up. Our live events include the European Poker Tour (EPT), Asia Pacific Poker Tour (APPT), Latin American Poker Tour (LAPT), World Cup of Poker and the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure. We also send more players to the World Series of Poker than all the other poker sites put together.

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* TOURNAMENTS * Online Tournaments o Daily Schedule o Tournament Types o Tournament Rules o Prize Structure o Weekly Round-2 Tournaments o Frequent Player Tournaments o Tournament Leader Board o Satellites to Live Tournaments o Sunday Warm-Up o Sunday Million * POKER EVENTS * Asia Pacific Poker Tour * European Poker Tour * Latin American Poker Tour * Russian Poker Tour * Czech-Slovak Poker Tour * Italian Poker Tour * World Cup of Poker * World Championship of Online Poker * Spring Championship of Online Poker * PokerStars Caribbean Adventure * World Series of Poker * World Poker Tour * Australia New Zealand Poker Tour * Aussie Millions * World Blogger Championship of Online Poker * PokerStars Passport * PokerStars Macau *

Poker Tournaments

PokerStars is excited to host the best multi-table online poker tournaments and satellites anywhere on the Internet! Tournaments are elimination games that are normally played until one player has all the chips. Prizes are distributed based on the number of entrants.

For basic information about playing in our online poker tournaments, see about poker tournaments.

Before registering in one of our poker tournaments, please take a moment to look over our poker tournament rules. Playing in a PokerStars Tournament

To play in a poker tournament, select the "Tourney", "Sit & Go", or "Events" tab from the main PokerStars lobby. If you select any tournament in this tab, you will see information about this tournament in the information box at the right. Under the State column, look for a tournament which has a state of "Registering".

You will find the details of each poker tournament game, such as game type (Texas Holdem, Omaha, Stud), structure (limit, no limit, pot limit), and buy-in are listed beside the state column. Double-click on a tournament in "Registering" state or click on the "Tournament Lobby" button and this opens the tournament lobby. Click the "Register" button, and log in if you have not already done so. The software will confirm your registration. You will be taken to your seat automatically shortly before the tournament begins. Check the tournament lobby screen for registration and seat times.

Poker Tournament Lobby

Tournament Lobby at PokerStars

Note that for all tournaments and multi-table satellites, players are all assigned random table seats when tournament play begins. As is customary in poker tournaments, seat changes are not allowed. The button in Hold'em and Omaha tournaments will be assigned to Seat 1.

As in a regular poker game, when it is your turn to act, you may check, bet, raise, call or fold (where applicable). You will notice another button called "Time Bank" when it is your turn to act, shown after you receive a time warning in the chat window. The Time Bank allows players extra time to decide on a course of action during a tournament, and will slowly deplete as it is used throughout the tournament.

Another way in which the PokerStars tournament interface varies from the ring-game interface is the "Info" tab on the chat box. This tab gives your current position in the tournament, as well as the highest, lowest, and average stacks for remaining players. The Info tab also tells you how much time is left in your Time Bank. The "Stats" tab provides statistical information about your play during the current poker tournament. Tournament Lobby Screen

At any point during the tournament, players can check the tournament lobby screen for information about the current progress of the tournament. The lobby will show the current limit level for the tournament, information about players' stack sizes, and the breakdown of the prize pool. A good poker tournament tip is to check the lobby fairly often, to keep an eye on your progress.

The tournament lobby also lists all players, and double-clicking on any player's User ID (nickname), or clicking on the "Player info" button, will give you current tournament information for that player.

After the tournament, the winners will receive an e-mail providing comprehensive information about the tournament. Anyone can request a tournament history at any time after the tournament conclusion by going to the main lobby and selecting "Tournament History" from the "Requests" menu. Final information for each completed tournament will remain in the lobby for a few hours after the tournament conclusion.

Specific prize money breakdown will be shown after the registration is closed. Viewing a Poker Tournament or Table in Play

A player in a poker tournament can observe any other table by double-clicking on that table in the tournament lobby's table list, or clicking the "Observe Table" button. Players who are not participants may also observe any table of a tournament. Poker Tournament Dollars (T$) - PokerStars Exclusive

As the world's largest online poker site, PokerStars is proud to offer a unique Tournament Dollar system. When you qualify to any event through a satellite (excluding the W$ events discussed below), you have the option to unregister from the target event and receive Tournament Dollars (T$). T$ can be used to register in any PokerStars tournament or combination of tournaments, including Sit & Gos, special events, and satellites. If you win multiple seats to the same target event, the value of these seats will be automatically credited to your T$ account. T$ differ from real money, because they cannot be used in ring games - only for buying into tournaments.

To check your T$ balance at anytime, please visit the cashier window through the lobby. W Dollars (W$)

In addition to Tournament Dollars, we also offer special W$. W$ can be used to register into any qualifying special PokerStars event.

Special poker events include:

* PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA) * European Poker Tour (EPT) * Asia-Pacific Poker Tour (APPT) * Latin American Poker Tour (LAPT) * Spring Championship of Online Poker – All Stakes (SCOOP) * PokerStars World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP) * World Series of Poker (*WSOP)

When you win a seat in one of the W$ special events, for example a seat in the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure event in the Bahamas, you will be required to play the event and will not be allowed to unregister. If you win multiple seats in the same event, the value of these seats will be automatically credited to your W$ account. If you win a seat to a satellite for a W$ special event, you have the option to unregister from the satellite and receive W$. W$ can be used to register in any W$ special event.

To check your W$ balance at anytime, please visit the cashier window through the lobby.

Note: In some cases it may not be possible to unregister from a tournament yourself. In that case, you may email PokerStars support at support@pokerstars.com to have us unregister on your behalf. Be sure to write from the email address listed on your PokerStars account, including your User ID, and the tournament number you wish to be unregistered from.

PokerStars is the Internet's largest poker room, and hosts more tournaments than any other site. We invite you to download our free poker software and see for yourself the large selection of online tournaments we have to offer. In our poker room. Whether you are looking to play small games or enter big events such as the World Poker Tour or *World Series of Poker, PokerStars has something for you.

* World Series of Poker and WSOP are trademarks of Harrah's License Company, LLC ("Harrah's"). Harrah’s does not sponsor or endorse, and is not associated or affiliated with, PokerStars or its products, services, promotions or tournaments.

** Tournament Dollars can be used to register into regular and special events; W$ can only be used for special events.

*** Any tournament data provided on this page is for information only. The most up to date tournament structures and start times can always be found in the PokerStars software, in the appropriate tournament lobby

**** WSOP events - certain terms and conditions apply. Please refer to our World Series FAQ for requirements of using W$ for events.

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Copyright © 2001- 2009 , PokerStars.com. All rights reserved. Rational Entertainment Enterprises Limited, 49 Victoria Street, Douglas, IM1 2LD, Isle of Man. License No. 7, granted July 2005. Online gambling is regulated in the Isle of Man.

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Poker Room

Why go to Las Vegas when you can play at the best online poker room with the best online poker tables - PokerStars! You can play all of the following games through our downloadable card room: Texas Holdem, Omaha Poker, Omaha High-Low, Seven Card Stud, Five Card Draw, 2-7 Triple Draw, 2-7 Single Draw, Seven Card Stud High-Low, Razz, Badugi, HORSE, 8-Game Mix and Poker Tournaments.

Poker Room Click on any poker games listed above for a detailed description of that game's rules. If you're a new online poker player, we recommend that you read our basic poker rules section before joining a table. Also check out PokerStars' glossary of poker terms.

PokerStars is proud to offer a wide variety of multi-table poker tournaments in all of the games we offer. And by popular request, we are happy to offer play money pot-limit and no-limit poker on our free poker tables. These are in addition to our standard structured-limit play money games.

Like a traditional Las Vegas poker room, if a table that you want to play at is currently full you can request to be put on the waiting list. Only when you're playing online, getting on the waiting list for a poker table is as easy as clicking a button. Once a seat becomes available at the poker table, you will automatically be asked if you want to sit down and join that game.

At PokerStars, no matter which table you decide to play at, you will always be playing poker against real online poker players. Your fellow players may live down the street or halfway around the world, but they are guaranteed to be playing on their own behalf. That's because, unlike some other online poker rooms, at PokerStars you will never play against any house bots, shills (paid players), computerized opponents or against the "house" in any way.

You can review more of our policies and rules on our poker room rules page. Room Limits

PokerStars is proud to offer a large selection real money poker games, from micro-limits of $0.02/$0.04 up to high stakes games of $1000/$2000. PokerStars also offers no limit, pot limit, and mixed limit tables, with games from $0.01/$0.02 blinds up to $200/$400 blinds. If you are interested in playing for play money, check out our free poker page. Minimum Table Buy-In

The minimum buy-in our poker room for fixed limit tables is ten times the small bet (the bet on the first two betting rounds). For example, on a $10/$20 table, the minimum buy-in would be $100. For no-limit poker games, the minimum buy-in at most tables is twenty times the big blind. All-In

When a player puts the last of their poker chips into a pot, that player is said to be all-in. An all-in player is not eligible to win any money past their final bet. If the bettor's all-in is greater than one or more of the other players still active after the bettor has made the bet, then the excess part of the bet is either returned to the bettor, or if it can be matched by one or more of the still active players, it will in turn form one or more side-pots, and at that point any excess still remaining is then returned to the bettor. However, the all-in player will be eligible for the main pot, and therefore cannot be forced to fold from the hand.

Sometimes a player has enough chips to continue betting or calling during a hand, but has been disconnected and is unable to respond. If you disconnect from the PokerStars game server, you are given a small amount of time to reconnect. If you are involved in a big pot, you may be given additional time to reconnect and return to the table. (The exact amount of extra time varies depending on the game and the size of the pot.) If you are unable to respond after the extra time given, your hand will be folded. "Fast" Tables

These tables are identified by the word "fast" in parentheses after a table name. These special tables are designed for those players who want to keep the game moving at a faster pace than a standard table. These are the differences with a "fast" poker table:

1. You receive only 15 seconds to act in a Limit poker game, instead of 25. 2. You receive only 18 seconds to act in a no limit and pot limit poker game, instead of 35. 3. You only have 1 second to show or muck, instead of 3 seconds. 4. The pot is pushed to the winner faster. 5. The showdown is over faster, in 2 seconds instead of 4.

In addition, "auto-posting" of blinds is required at a "fast" poker table. When you sit down, you're automatically in "Wait for Big Blind" mode, and will post at your first normally scheduled big blind. If you wish to begin play immediately, uncheck "Wait for Big Blind" and on the next available hand your big blind will be posted and you will be dealt in.

If during the course of play you want to take a break when the blinds reach you, then click on "Sit out next blind". You will continue to be dealt in until the blinds reach you, at which time you will be placed in "Sitting Out" mode. Game Issues

In the rare event that our poker room server crashes, all transactions will be posted to your online PokerStars account at the completion of each hand. When a hand cannot be completed for any reason, all of the players' accounts will be restored to the way they were at the beginning of the hand. All bets are considered off and a new hand will be dealt. If a poker tournament is interrupted by a server crash, and is resumed, the poker tournament will resume play from the beginning of the current hand. Poker Room Rake

PokerStars receives compensation for hosting poker games by taking a rake, or a small portion (for most games, 5% to a maximum of $3) of the pot. For detailed information about the rake see our poker rake page. In poker tournaments, a fee is taken in order to participate; no additional rake is taken for each hand dealt.

We hope to have answered any questions you may have had about our poker room here at PokerStars. Download our poker software now to start playing in our free poker tables or our real money poker tables. You can also learn more about our Las Vegas style “comps” by visiting our poker promotions page. We have done our best to make PokerStars the best internet poker room to play at on and hope to see you at our tables. Texas Hold'em|Omaha|Omaha Hi-Lo|Stud|Stud Hi-Lo|Draw|2-7 Triple Draw|2-7 Single Draw|HORSE|Razz|8-Game Mix|Badugi

* Poker Games * Poker Strategy * Poker Rules * Poker Hands * Poker Terms * Poker Bonus * PokerStars Blog * About Us

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Copyright © 2001-2009, PokerStars.com. All rights reserved. Rational Entertainment Enterprises Limited, 49 Victoria Street, Douglas, IM1 2LD, Isle of Man. License No. 7, granted July 2005. Online gambling is regulated in the Isle of Man.