In the third instalment of the Bonus Poker Complete Poker Bonus Guide we take a look at the vital role of other players in your goal of completing your poker bonus at a poker room. After all poker is all about playing the opponent and not the cards so it makes sense to do some analysis of the players you are up against.

Different stakes, different players, different game

For those new to poker it is important to realise that at different stakes the type of player that you are likely to play against changes dramatically. The difference between those playing $0.01/$0.02 to those playing $1/$2 is enormous but it is important to know that there will be weak players at all levels if you can spot them. At the higher levels you should also expect some regular poker players who play at least semi-professionally and will have competent games for you to beat.

For once traffic is good

In order to clear your bonus you will need to play enough poker which means you will need lots of people to play against. For the biggest poker bonuses you will need a lot of traffic and you need to make sure that at your chosen room there will be enough poker players for you to play against and generate rake.

Network or Independent?

Most poker rooms are part of networks where they share players between rooms and all play together to improve the amount of traffic. Often the best poker rooms to play in are ones that are predominantly sportsbooks or bookmakers with a poker product. Taking advantage of sports bettors in poker rooms is one of the few pleasures still left to European poker players!

Independent poker rooms like PokerStars and Party Poker also have their own advantages as they have large marketing budgets to encourage new players to the game. The key is to find a room that fits with your style and has sufficient traffic to clear bonuses. You may need to try a few out when you are beginning to find the right poker room for you.

Read Part 1 here: An Introduction to Poker Bonuses

Read Part 2 here: Incremental or Fixed Bonuses