I first read about Sponge Poker online at Poker
News Daily this week. I’ve also
noticed that the site has received some other reviews, most glowing for the
potential this site has. Sponge Poker is
a Facebook-type app (FB users – enter “Sponge Poker”). What they’ve done is
changed the interface (it’s their own software) to provide a very realistic
playing mode.
Sure, there are the usual “POT” and “FOLD” button, but most
betting is done by actually “handling” the chips. Just like on the tables, this provides the
opportunity to see the occasional “tell” prior to the actual bet (as players
start counting their chips before it’s their turn just like on the table). Of course, you can use this to send a “false
tell” too (did it once). There are some
other aspects of the game that do indeed provide what they say is, “the most realistic online poker game ever
created.”
Signing up is
free, and, as a bonus, the site is giving any player who builds their $1500
starting stack to $10,000 actual money – well, $10 – and it’s put in your
PayPal account. Still, $10 is $10.
Still, Sponge
Poker is a free site. Although the site
claims that they won’t be giving out free chips endlessly (you can buy them
just like at Zynga Poker), so far my experience is that most player are playing
like they will…when there are players.
The all-in disease so familiar at Zynga lives here, too. J-3?
All-in. 10-4? All in!
A pair of twos? HELL YES, ALL
IN. It’s nauseating.
The first night I played I won a few play bucks and had
fun. Since then it’s either been
a) All
in Circus, or
b) No
one there.
Seriously – go there now, sign up, and see if anyone is there. It’s too bad that the site is so sparsely
played, as the layout is one of the best I’ve played at. But no one seems to know but the All-In-A**holes,
so…I’ll check back at the site once the dust clears and the AIAs go somewhere
else.
