| Network | Skin | Score | Online Now | Best Bonus | US Players | Compare | Review / Download |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Carbon Poker |
Score: 5.1/10 |
5,663 | $5,000 | Yes |
Merge Network Review
The Merge Poker Network is one of the most recognized poker networks in the world today, and Merge is especially recognized if you are located in the United States. A large portion of players who sit every day and play poker on the Merge Network are located in the United States.
Software
The software on the Merge Network is really solid. You can use a Mac computer, a laptop, or any home desktop to download the software. If you are looking to multi-table with ease then you should have no problem filling those needs. You can play tons of great games and the view of the sites is very pleasing to the eye as well as easy to navigate.
Signing Up/Claiming the Bonus
How you sign up and get started on the Merge Network is simply by downloading the software, registering and account, and making your first real money deposit. Most players are leery of depositing money on to online poker sites since the collapse of the poker industry in the United States, but the Merge Network is one of the networks who have remained to be one of the staples in the poker industry. When you make your first real money deposit, you will receive a bonus of 150% up to $750. This is a great bonus and one that you should look to take advantage of. How you claim the bonus is simply by playing. The bonus is cleared in $5 increments at a time relative to how much you play. The more you play, the faster the bonus money clears and the more of the bonus you get.
Promotions/VIP Programs
There are a number of solid promotions that the Merge Network runs, but one of the main promotions is the freeroll tournaments that run every 2 hours, as well as bigger monthly freerolls for VIP players. If you are looking to take advantage of free money then the Merge Network will certainly accommodate you. The major freeroll each month has a guaranteed prize pool of $50,000. If you are a VIP player, you will have access to this freeroll, and it can be a great way to boost a bankroll, and have a free shot at a 5 figure pay day. The VIP program at Merge is great as well. You will be able to gain points for cash at your leisure. This is one of the main draws that Merge offers. Some of the top players receive thousands of dollars every month for free, just by converting points accumulated into cash. Few sites offer points for cash promotions, but Merge is one of them.
Cash Games
The cash games on the Merge Network are very difficult compared to other sites. The main reason for this is because a lot of the grinders in the United States play these games every day. If you are looking for soft cash games, you will have to try and sit during peak hours at night or on the weekend. The cash games are difficult in every sense of the word, and you should most likely avoid them unless you are looking for a challenge. The one perk of playing cash games on the Merge Network is that you will become a better poker player just by sitting in these games.
Tournaments
The tournaments on the Merge Network aren't too difficult and you should be able to have success here and there. There are a ton of bad players that sit every day in the tournaments, and they are certainly beatable. The one thing to avoid is trying to play against the regular players during the day. Ideally, you should play the nightly tournaments or the Sunday tournaments. The Sunday tournaments will give you the feeling that you are playing on a site like Pokerstars or Full Tilt just because of the prize
pools and the overall volume of players seated. The Sunday tournaments on the Merge Network are highly recommended, and you should definitely check them out as there are tons of great tournaments to choose from.
Player Traffic
The player traffic is relatively small throughout the course of the day, but it does culminate at night as there are tons of players who sit late at night. The cash games get better as well, and tournaments have bigger fields.
Customer Support
The customer support for the Merge Network isn't spectacular, but they do get the job done. The only hassle you may have if any is cashing money offline. Depositing money should almost never be a problem, and if you look for easy deposits to a poker site then you will find it here. The best way to reach the customer support team is by e-mail as they are fast with responses, and will help you all the way through any issues that you may have.