January 2006
$300 Bonus at Absolute Poker:
Absolute Poker is the undisputed king of online poker room bonusing. They've moved things up a notch, besting even their own high water marks for generosity by awarding 100% bonuses to new payers, up to a maximum of $300. That's the best dollar for dollar bonus I've found online, and I'm thinking it'll last for the month.
If you're not a player at Absolute, now is a good time to consider joining. I'm not sure a promotion like this is destined to live forever.
World Series of Poker Satellites
The World Series of Poker is only growing larger each year, and the chances to get into it on the cheap are growing as well. When MoneyMaker qualified after plunking down less than $40, it was amazing. Now, Superior Poker has brought the price to enter a WSOP STEP satellite down to under a dime.
They've set up a series of STEPPED tournaments where you can begin the journey with a 5¢ entry fee. Here's how it works . . .
To win the $13,000+ prize, you need to defeat 45 other players in a series of single table tournaments. The first tourney has an entry fee of a nickel, and pits you against four other players. If you win, you advance to the next level.
Here's the first great thing, you can buy in at any level, so instead of playing through several of the ultra-low buy in tables, you can dig deep and plunk down $8, and find yourself 26 players away from the World Series of Poker.
The second great thing, at many of the levels placing second gets you a free pass to try again at the same level. First place naturally advances, but it's not a series of "winner takes all" events. In some cases, third places even gets compensated with a free pass to a tournament one level below the one just played. So, once you get in and get moving, you won't be bounced if you fail to win an event.
This is looking like my pick for "insightful road to the WSOP" for the 2006 season.
