PokerStars to introduce Zoom only high stakes games

PokerStars have announced a big change to the high stakes games that run on the world’s leading online poker site. Starting on January 1 2014, all $50/100 NLH and PL Omaha tables will be removed and replaced with Zoom Poker player pools. 

According to PokerStars the change is strictly on a trial basis to see how it affects the high stakes games and has been made at the request of players who have voiced their concern about table selection software.

“PokerStars developed a special High Stakes Zoom product with an eye toward replacing all high stakes games with Zoom, and it’s now time to put it to a test,” said Nick Williamson, Ring Game Manager for PokerStars.

“Our players have told us that they want to focus on playing poker, rather than worrying about seating, lobby and software settings to get them the best seat at the table. This is in an effort to allow players to concentrate on actually playing poker while encouraging a healthy, competitive, non-predatory environment in our highest stakes games,” continued Williamson.

There has been no decision made on whether the change will be a temporary or permanent one but let’s hope the reaction is positive and it rejuvenates the action at the higher levels. 

By introducing Zoom game PokerStars should eliminate players ‘bumhunting’ and ‘buttoning’ (players simply playing the button and leaving). The focus will be purely on the poker instead of game and seat selection.

But don’t worry if you are a regular railer of the big games, the Stars server will automatically pick the most exciting hands played during the previous ten minutes and display them at a special ‘Observer’ table.

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