PokerStars

So ... I have become a member of PokerStars and am so far pretty impressed with it. The software is really the best poker-room interface I've ever seen, and well worth playing around with (options/customisation), all very nice. I'm going to play $10 sit 'n' go's there (some seem to cost $11 and others $12, have not yet worked out why and/or what the difference is). The prize-money is about 10% smaller than at other sites, because they have 9 players rather than the usual 10.

In accordance with "received wisdom" I have paid in about $340 (30 entry-fees), and I will play through that once (i.e. play in 30 of them) and see how I do. This will take me longer than it normally would, because I'm going to London today to see my father, and then on Monday to Greece. Normally, when I'm working, I will be able to have one event running almost all the time, I think (but certainly not two or more at the same time as many people do), so from September onwards will get a lot more play in. But in Greece it will perhaps be too hot and sunny for Baltic blondes to be out much during the day anyway, so I will get some play in anyway ...

No blood spilled yet: so far, I have played limit (1$/2$) and no-limit (50c/1$ blinds) just for about half an hour each, to get a feel for the virtual tables, and am level.