MERGE POKER NETWORK REVIEW:

Software & Features

The Merge lobbies are clean and clear and very easy to navigate. Tournaments are identified by stake and game type and further information comes in the form of various icons. The meanings of which are clearly displayed to the right of lobby window. The cash games are equally simple to navigate and the usual statistics of average pot, players seeing flop and hands per hour are available.

The tables are highly customisable and if the standard colours are not to your taste there are four preset choices. Alternatively you can choose your own colours for the table, rail, carpet, cards and interface. One particularly nice feature is the mini-mode which is ideal for anyone wishing to multi-table. In many online poker rooms when you shrink the table it can be difficult to read the amount bet or to even see the cards clearly. This is certainly not the case with Merge`s mini-mode. Text and cards are enlarged to be clear and easy to read. Seating at tables is random but preferential seating is an option. The betting options at Merge are varied. There is a slider and there are also option tabs for betting either a fraction of the pot or a multiple of the blind.

Player icons are standard displaying your name with a small box on the left where the room`s corporate image is shown. This can be changed to one of several images offered by the network or you may upload your own image. On the right of the player icon is a space where any accolades you receive for winning certain special tournaments are displayed. If you wish to hide your accolades this can be done in settings, accessible in the lobby.

A unique feature at the Merge tables is the smilies/emoticons. A bar underneath the chat window offers a choice of twenty smilies that you simply click to activate. However there are many more "hidden" ones that may be accessed by typing the appropriate word into the chat box and the programmers are always adding more. They are something you will probably either love or hate. Personally I find them quite amusing. If you happen to loathe them simply play in mini-mode where they aren`t visible.

Other features include a rabbit cam, allowing you to see the rest of the board once an opponent has folded. Players also have the option to expose a single card at the conclusion of a hand if their opponent has folded.

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Player Traffic / Ease of Competition

Merge is a medium sized network. Traffic ranges from an average of around 4,000 players to up to 7,000+ at peak times. The skills of the players vary but there are certainly plenty of fish to be found in both the cash games and tournaments. One advantage of the relatively small numbers of players is that you will often find yourself playing against familiar competition. Another thing worthy of mention is that at present neither Poker Tracker nor Holdem Manager works with the Merge software. So Merge could be the network for you if you’re looking for a game away from the statistic crunching data-miners.

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Cash Game Action

The cash game action at Merge is fairly good at the lower limits. At most times of the day you should find plenty of players at stakes up to $0.50/$1. There are also usually a few tables up to $5/$10 and at peak times you may find limited action as high as $50/$100. As Merge is a relatively small network in terms of players if you are playing the higher limits expect to find yourself against the same opponents more often than not. Here’s a full run down of games available across the Merge Poker Nework:

Hold`em NL/PL ($0.02/0.04 – $50/100): No limit hold`em is by far the most popular cash game at Merge. Although pot limit games are offered they are much less popular and you will usually only find a few tables at the lower limits during peak hours. For those hoping to cut down their variance there are also Deal It Twice tables where you have the option to deal the turn and river two times.

Hold`em Fixed Limit (0.05/0.10 – $50/$100): At peak times there is usually a reasonable amount of tables of limit hold`em certainly up to $1/$2. There are also usually a few tables of higher stakes action available.

The Merge Poker Nework actually offers the biggest range of games of any poker site. As well as the usual hold`em tables you can find Omaha, Omaha8, Seven Card Stud, Seven Card Stud 8b, Razz, 5 Card Stud, 5 Card Draw, 5 Card Draw with Joker, 2-7 Triple Draw, A-5 Triple Draw, Badugi, HORSE, RASH, HAR, HO, HA, and HOSE. Unfortunately the action at these poker tables is very limited. However if you are willing to sit and wait you may attract a few opponents.

Players also have the option to create custom tables. So if you want a friendly game against just people you know you can have it on Merge. You can set the game, the number of players and to a limited degree the stakes (NL Hold`em games have a minimum stake of $0.10/$0.25. Other games vary). You can also put a password on just to make sure no uninvited guests crash your table.

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Multi-Table Tourneys (MTTs)

The Merge Poker Network offers a decent range of online poker tournaments. The focus is on NLH but there are other games scattered throughout the daily schedule. Buy-ins range from freerolls to a few cents to $60 and even though the majority are NLH there is plenty of variety with freezeouts, rebuys, second chance, bounty tournaments, shootouts and even all-in-or-fold games. There are also Ladies only tournaments. Many of the rooms within the Merge Poker Network also have their own special tournaments that you may only play through their specific skin.

It is worth mentioning that there are a number of guaranteed prize pool tournaments and quite a few of these do not attract enough players to cover the prize pool making them distinctly plus EV. This is certainly true of Merge`s big Sunday tournament the $50,000 guaranteed, which has a buy-in of $100+9.

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Sit & Go (SNG) Selection

Merge offers hold`em and Omaha Sit & Go tournaments. Traffic for these games is light so depending on the stakes you wish to play and the time of day you may have to wait a while for your table to fill.

However Merge does allow for the creation of custom SNGs. Stakes start at $3+30 and you may opt for any game on the network. As with the custom cash tables you can password protect your game if you wish to.

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Bonuses / Promotion

Since Merge is an online poker network, promotions do vary from site to site. However there are several that run across the entire Merge Poker Network. These include:

Royal Flush Bonus – At Merge when a player makes a Royal Flush with their pocket cards on any real-money Texas hold`em ring game they will receive a bonus of 100 x the big blind.

First Deposit Freeroll – Players making their first deposit at Merge sites receive two weeks entry into the Daily First Depositor`s $500 Freeroll.

VIP Club – This is Merge`s frequent player bonus. Points are accumulated for playing real money tournaments, SNGs and cash games. Points may be used either in the online store or to enter tournaments. Points are accumulated individually at each site on the network.

Satellites – Merge offers satellites to many of the big live events including the WSOP, APPT, WPT and the Aussie Millions.

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Customer Service

The customer service at Merge is usually very good. They offer both a live chat and e-mail service which puts them way ahead of even the biggest sites like PokerStars and Full Tilt who only offer support via e-mail.