A review of Duplicate Poker.

[winbig]

It seems the only way to make this truly skill based is if bots are in every seat but one at a table.

And for each bot to act independently of each other.....ie: play each hand different than the bot in the same seat at a different table.

Personally, I don't really care for the format, especially if you're playing in a tournament where you can see exactly where you rank in chips against your "opponent" at a different table. What ends up happening is it's a donkfest towards the end of the round...someone ends up going all in (preflop) each of the last few hands because they need to at least double up to either advance, or win. If you're stuck in the middle of that crap, you can end up losing either by getting a good hand cracked, or by not playing at all because you had a mediocre hand and didn't want to risk most of your chips.

[pokeraddict]

And for each bot to act independently of each other.....ie: play each hand different than the bot in the same seat at a different table.

Personally, I don't really care for the format, especially if you're playing in a tournament where you can see exactly where you rank in chips against your "opponent" at a different table. What ends up happening is it's a donkfest towards the end of the round...someone ends up going all in (preflop) each of the last few hands because they need to at least double up to either advance, or win. If you're stuck in the middle of that crap, you can end up losing either by getting a good hand cracked, or by not playing at all because you had a mediocre hand and didn't want to risk most of your chips.

This is exactly what I mean by the skill being eliminated after the first hand.

[jolub]

I got an offer of $10.00 free for opening an account. I have never played there for one reason or another. After reading these posts I think they can keep their free $10.00. I don't think I want anything to do with this site until many of the listed issues are fixed. Thanks for the great review, you save me fro wasteing my time.

[Snowman]

I too had a $10 introductory offer to register with DP which, true to their word, was availale as soon as I completed my details. However, I have to agree t skill element disappears after hand #1. But the main reason I've not played the site for a while is the software and format makes it unbelievably slow. One hand lasted longer than my first marriage. If I stayed on the site long enough to get a decent bankroll established, continental Europe will probably have drifted somewhere close to Rhode Island. A friend of mine used the site (once, vowing never to return) and said the last time he saw anything that boring it was elected to the White House. However don't take my word for it, try it yourselves for a hand or two. Just make sure you're on an extended vacation before you log on.

[GaryWatson]

So I take it, its just like hand by hand play on the bubble?

[DoverPro]

Hi,

Just wanted to post a positive. I have played at Duplicate Poker, although not a lot lately. I have never made a deposit, however, I won cash in several freerolls they offered, have been paid by them by check with no problems whatosoever. I've also played in a number of their buy-ins. I still have around $50 in my account. In addition, I was promptly paid $65 when one of my referrals signed up and made a deposit.

It is a different way to play poker, but it can be fun and challenging. However, I only play in the show rank at all times games, since knowing where you stand in a tourney is a major part of yuor betting strategy.

There are some very good players there, and the competition is good.

Play tight and beware the bluffers, there are fewer of them than you may think

[lots0]

Signed up and played my free $5.

Not my cup of tea.

Too slow.

1/2 the time or more I'm in heads up play and it seems like no matter how many chips I win, I never win.

You can clean out your opponent time after time in Heads Up play and still lose, I can't deal with that.

[lots0]

Press Release from Duplicate Poker

DuplicatePoker.com Introduces Revolutionary New Look and Launches New Age in Skill Gaming
Wednesday November 14, 10:00 am ET
New Game Design Debuts at only U.S.-Based Online Poker Site

NEW YORK, Nov. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- DuplicatePoker.com, the only US-legal online poker site, has introduced an innovative new look to its revolutionary online poker game site. The state-of-the-art design allows online poker players to sign up and play games and tournaments with ease in a fun yet highly-competitive environment that is both legal and secure.(1)

Imagine a poker game with no luck involved. Imagine a poker table where there are no bad beats. Imagine a poker game based on just one thing -- pure skill. Now, there is indeed a place where the best player always wins. It's called DuplicatePoker.com.

Duplicate Poker is unique in many ways. Players compete against opponents who are placed in corresponding seats, sitting at other tables. Your goal is not necessarily to outplay each of your opponents at your table as is the case in a standard poker game. The object of Duplicate Poker is to win more chips (or lose less chips) than your opponents in the same seats at other tables. All players in corresponding seats receive identical hole cards. Each flop, turn, and river is also the same at every table. So, it's up to you -- not the luck of the draw -- to outfox your opponents. In short, the best player wins. That's how real poker should be, right?

DuplicatePoker.com's new design offers several unique features. First and foremost, the improved interface makes it easier to play the game and follow the action. Much more information is now available to players via an easy-to- use navigation system. And as always, customer support is available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. Other features include:

-- The Main Lobby which serves as a complete menu of all the types ofgames and formats available to players

-- Player avatars to display your unique table image

-- Regular announcements which remind players about upcoming events and special promotions

-- A "Game Format" section which allows players quick and easy access to answers on how to play duplicate poker

-- A live scoreboard with updated rankings, so players can track their progress

-- Player preferences, which include avatars, sounds, player and dealer chat, and other options

"This innovative design makes our games easier and more fun for players of all skill levels," said Dan Goldman, Vice-President of Marketing for DuplicatePoker. "Our players have given us terrific feedback and suggestions for improving our site, and most of the improvements we've made have come directly from those suggestions."

Newcomers who visit DuplicatePoker.com benefit from a quick, interactive video tutorial on how to play the game. Once the game is successfully downloaded, the site offers both "play money" and "real money" games to its customers. Play money games allow novices a chance to become more familiar with the nuances of Duplicate Poker, at their own pace. Players can also compete for real money legally, since Duplicate Poker is considered a game of skill rather than chance. All players, even those living in the US, can deposit using Visa, MasterCard or American Express.

DuplicatePoker.com also offers cash bonuses just for signing up and frequently holds free tournaments for its players, called freerolls. Recently, the site has been offering a 100% sign-up bonus (up to $100) on any deposit made by new players. The site is also currently offering all players, whether they deposit money or not, a free $5 gift certificate for playing on the site with no obligation.

Poker Pro magazine described the site this way in a recent review:

"Duplicate Poker is different...There is no doubt that this is a new
experience. From the ability to play with real money by using your Visa,
Mastercard, or American Express account to transfer funds, to the fact
that winning is based on skill, not luck, Duplicate Poker is a concept
that has been a long time coming."(2)

Duplicate Poker was patterned after duplicate bridge, which is popular worldwide in clubs, tournaments, and online. Just as in duplicate bridge, each player faces an identical set of circumstances, where skill and not luck is the primary component.

Visit the site to try out the next big thing in skill-based gaming. Duplicate Poker can be found at: http://www.duplicatepoker.com

More about DuplicatePoker.com

Duplicate Poker is a high-tech company that creates online and offline skill-based poker games for consumers. The company's mission is to create fun, secure, and user-friendly poker games, as well as to develop innovative and groundbreaking technologies.

Duplicate Poker applies the principles of duplicate bridge to popular poker games, such as Texas Hold 'em. Duplicate Poker increases elements of skill and decreases elements of chance. Essentially, all competitors are dealt the same cards within a given period and win or lose based solely on performance. Hence, Duplicate Poker is predominately skill-based. Duplicate Poker.com is not a gambling site and is legal in most U.S. jurisdictions.

U.S.-based players may use standard forms of payment -- such as Visa, MasterCard, and American Express to make deposits into their Duplicate Poker accounts.

The management and shareholders of the company are well-respected individuals in their respective industries. The assembled talents of the Duplicate Poker Team have developed a new way of playing online poker that elevates the image of the game to a new level of respect in the gaming community. All employees and shareholders are proud to be a part of this unique enterprise that converts poker to a mentally-challenging sport, while providing financial rewards to its best players.

Duplicate Poker was established in 2004 as a privately held Delaware company. Headquarters are based in New York, NY, with satellite offices in Los Angeles, CA, Las Vegas, NV and Tel Aviv, Israel.

(1)Duplicate Poker is legal in most U.S. jurisdictions. Players are encouraged to check with local authorities to determine legality in their area.

(2)Source: Poker Pro magazine, written by Jennifer Newell, November 2007

[1819]

it would be better if you played "with" the other people in your seats. i tried it once. i remember i got pocket 3's big blind. the other guy folds preflop. i win 10 chips, 3 3 flops, the other players in my seat all cleaned up and i lose because the bot i'm playing against folded. where is the skill in that? i manged to win i think 5 out of the 6 hands and got clobbered because of the folded hand. not for me.