It’s been about a month since I last posted about PokerStars’ new online poker concept, Home Games, which basically means that you can create a private club within the PokerStars poker software client and invite your friends to join you. So instead of meeting up in person, you can play against each other online, from the comfort of your own home.
You don’t get the same “social” experience and the feel of stacking your chips, but you get to play – privately – against your buddies.
PokerStars also keeps track of winnings, so you’ll have a leaderboard within the Home Games club also, making it easier to find out who has bragging rights till next tournament…
Speaking of tournaments. Luckily it’s possible to also create tournaments within your Home Games club. You can create both cash game table (also play money) or you can set-up a buy-in tournament for whatever date and time you prefer as well as how much the buy-in should be.
One thing I think is lacking though, is the possibility of creating Sit and Go tournaments. It would be cool to have a table ready to go as soon as 6 or 10 players joins it, rather than having to set up a tournament for a specific time.
So, what has happened in the month or so since PokerStars launched this new Home Games? Well, I’ve seen TV commercials advertising Home Games, I’ve seen them on banners all over the Internet (gaming related sites, mostly) and I’ve seen tons of “join my club”-threads on gaming related poker forums. Whether or not it’s a financial success for PokerStars, I have no idea, but it seems to me that people are really digging this new feature.
I’m sure this is not something for the pro’s, but for the average poker player or poker players who also enjoys playing with (against) their friends, Home Games is likely to be even more successful in the future.
Personally, I haven’t joined or created a club myself. I prefer to take money from strangers rather than friends. Or, actually, I might be giving money to strangers, but let’s not get into that now… I don’t play that much anymore to be honest, so whether I win or loose is mostly up to what Lady Luck has up her sleeves for me on any given night, rather than how good or bad I might be.
Check it out, PokerStars Home Games, if you want to hang out with your friends online while playing poker.