Full review of CD Poker

CD Poker
www.cdpoker.com 
FREE DOWNLOAD!
Established 2004
Country Antigua

Special Features
$500 special sign-up bonus for PokersList users
$2,000 monthly private freeroll by PokersList (Aug)
2D and 3D view options Background music and other sophisticated options
 

Total score (out of 10) 6.25

Sign-up bonus in $ $500
Deposit bonus in % 50%
Referral bonus per friend $50
Deposit free bonus $0
Paid to play ($/hour) $0

Hits
Lots of promotions
24/7 telephone support plus online and email support
Innovative graphical interface
Buddy lists and find player function
Overview over the entire betting sequence (right-hand action table)

Misses
Moderate traffic outside peak hours
Only Texas Holdem & Omaha games
Lower player volume in high stakes games
Summary
CD Poker has a number of good promotions as they are making a big marketing push in the summer of 2005. CD Poker’s software has a nice look and feel, with colorful graphics and both standard 2D view and 3D view (side view with avatars). The functionality is not great yet, as there are some minor glitches in the software. The potential of the software is good, as PlayTech are known for their world-class casino software. There is quite decent player volume and games are spread in Holdem and Omaha (High and High-Low) both in ring games, as well as heads-up, sit-and-go and multi-table tournaments.

Software and graphics
CD Poker’s share its software and players base with the other rooms in the iPoker network. The network is developed by world-renown online casino developer PlayTech. The graphics are nice and colorful and the overall functionality is good. Noble Poker has buddy list function, game history function, player notes, lots of options for music/sounds/graphics/etc, pot- and no-limit ring games, live floor managers and all types of tournaments. On the negative side, there are some small glitches making the playability less than perfect. For example, if you are first to act and time out, it is an automatic check/fold – which is extra annoying in the speed games. There was a major upgrade of the software in July 2005, with several improvements.

Ring game traffic
CD Poker and the iPoker network have about 400-600 ring game players at peak hours in July 2005, which almost all of the traffic at no-limit and fixed limit Texas Holdem.

Tournament traffic
CD Poker’s traffic at the tournaments is higher than at cash games when real money traffic can reach somewhere around 1000-1200 players at peak hours in July 2005. The sit and go tournaments are particularly popular in this network.

Game variety
CD Poker has pretty much a bare bones game variety with Texas Holdem and Omaha Hi-Lo and High games, which are available in both limit, pot-limit. Texas Holdem is of course available in no-limit version as well. Table stakes range from $0.5/$1 to $20/$40 in the fixed limit games, and $0.25/$0.50 up to $5/$10 in pot-limit and no-limit games. (The fixed limit Omaha games have a bit lower maximum limits). There are both heads-up, sit-and-go and fixed schedule multi-table tournaments. The tournaments have a better variety overall.

Rake
The rake at CD Poker is a bit lower than the average online poker room. The general policy is the standard 5% rake taken in increments up to $3. But on several types of tables there are lower maximum rakes. On fixed limit tables up to $1/$2 there is a $1 maximum rake. More importantly all tables with 2-3 players have a maximum rake of $1 and tables with 4-5 players have a $2 maximum rake – which also includes no-limit and pot-limit short handed games! There is a "no flop - no drop" policy for hands not reaching the flop.

Soft competition
CD Poker has really soft games, the only downside is that there are few higher stakes games spread (as the network is relatively new). Most of the volume is in the fixed limit and no-limit Texas Holdem games. The view flop percentage is normally is the 40-ies or 50-ies at CD Poker which is clearly high. The players are also a bit passive (very generally speaking). In all, it is quite easy to be a winning player at CD Poker and the iPoker network. Actually, the potential for the iPoker network to build soft games is strong as they “organically” recruit new players from the PlayTech online casino base.

Sign up bonus (9)
World-exclusive first time deposit bonus for PokersList users with 50% deposit match up to $500 sign-up bonus. You would need to deposit $1,000 in order to earn the $500 bonus. Bonuses are paid in $10 increments (or Euro or GBP if that is the chosen currency) and are paid out on a daily basis. Standard promotion is 50% deposit match up to $400 bonus. There is a 90 day time limit to reach the required points/hands. For each played hand (getting dealt cards) in a raked pot a player earns 1-4 CD points depending on table limits. $0.25/$0.50 blinds give 1 point, $0.50/$1 blinds give 2 points and $1/$2 blinds and up give 4 points. 400 points will give $10 bonus (600 points for 10 Euro and 700 points for 10 GBP). Hence in order to clear a full maximum bonus of $500 you need to have earned 20,000 crowns, which corresponds to 5,000 participated hands at a $1/$2 game.

Loyalty bonus (5)
There is a point system (CD points), whereby players get entered into special free rolls and can get high value re-load bonus offers.

Promotions (7)
Special $500 bonus at 50% match for our users, see full details above. Also, we are sponsoring a monthly $2,000 private free roll for all new depositors coming from PokersList, reaching their first 1,000 points during the month (August is first month to count). The free rolls are held early the following month calendar month. CD Poker will have a big promotion coming up in August for existing players (no need to wait to sign-up) where extra money will be awarded for tournaments. All in all, the iPoker network has lots of good value promotions especially the tournament guarantees. CD Poker has high hand and bad beat prizes. Recruit-a-friend earns you $50 per qualified friend (250 raked hands) and the friend gets an extra $50 as well.

Support (7)
CD Poker has good support quality, with both 24/7 telephone support, live online and email support.

Financial security (9)
CD Poker is secure, as this room is operated by Club Dice Casino and is also part of iPoker, which is backed by the renowned casino software developer and operator PlayTech.

Deposit & withdrawal options (8)
Deposit options; VISA, MasterCard, NETeller, Citadel, FirePay, Moneybookers, InstaCash, InstaDebit, EcoCard, UseMyBank, OnDemand Funds, Pay Safe Card, VISA Electron, Solo, Maestro, Click2Pay, wire transfer, bank draft. Cash out options; NETeller, FirePay, Moneybookers, bank draft express, cashier’s check and wire transfer.