Black Chip Poker Review

Black Chip’s VIP Program

Black Chip Poker operates a six-level “Elite Benefits” VIP Program that further rewards players for the action they put in at the tables. Your level in the Elite Benefits VIP Program is determined by the number of Benefit Points you collect – Benefit Points being awarded at the same rate as Award Points for paying towards the poker site’s share of a cash game pot or for a tournament entry fee.

When you first start playing at the site, you receive one Player Point for each Benefit Point you collect (Player Points are a “currency” that can be exchanged for cash rewards, tournament entries, and packages for live poker events in the online store). As you reach the higher levels of the Elite Benefits VIP Program, multipliers are applied to your Benefit Points so you acquire Player Points quicker and are eligible for a high level of reward.

Players are also rewarded with “Achievement Rewards” and “Legendary Bonuses” for reaching specific Benefit Point milestones within a calendar year. These rewards and bonuses can add up pretty quickly for a player on target to clear the maximum Black Chip Poker bonus, and the rewards continue once you have cleared the bonus – providing added value to players putting in the hours at the tables.

Level of Competition @ Black Chip Poker

All online poker sites have variable levels of competition, and Black Chip Poker is no different. The range of skills on display is exaggerated by the way in which certain players will play loosely to improve their position in the weekly “Beast” rake race leaderboard competition, while others – particularly at the higher stake levels – tend to play super-tight.

The level of competition in Black Chip Poker tournaments is a little easier to predict, and most tournaments are generally beatable. There is rarely an overlay in Black Chip Poker´s regular tournament schedule, but there can be some exceptional value in the satellite qualifiers for larger tournaments or live events. Many of the most valuable tournaments have excessively extended late registration periods, so it is advisable that you think about when a tournament is likely to end before you enter any event.

A Choice of Games to Suit Every Player

A further reason why Black Chip Poker is one of the most popular destinations for players from all over the world is that it hosts some of the most valuable cash games, Sit and Go games and online poker tournaments. It is not unusual to find cash games in progress with thousands of dollars on the table or to find players battling it out in Sit and Go games with nosebleed buy-ins. It has already been mentioned above the site hosts periodic million dollar guaranteed poker tournaments.

As a new player, you may not have the bankroll or experience to compete at these levels, but there is plenty of choice elsewhere to suit every type of player. Hold´em, Omaha and Stud Poker cash games run around the clock, there is a healthy number of players entering Sit and Go, Sit and Go 2.0 and Jackpot Poker games, and a comprehensive tournament schedule – which although weighted towards the US market, caters for players from all over the world.

While playing in cash games or Sit and Go games, players collect points towards two popular rake race promotions – The “Beast” and “Sit & Crush”. Both of these weekly promotions have a leaderboard format in which the top points earners win cash prizes and tournament entry tickets. Between them, the two promotions pay out more than $100,000 each week, and if that is not enough to whet your appetite for the site, it also has an online casino and sportsbook.

Player Security & Customer Support

Black Chip Poker is very tight on security and insists that every player account is verified before they are allowed to play real money cash games of poker. Any reports of alleged collusion or chip-dumping are thoroughly investigated and the site´s security team frequently reviews random sessions of poker to identify any unusual betting patterns.

The site´s customer support is equally as thorough. Live chat is available 24/7, and the site also provides a secure email service if players want to submit hand histories or verification documents. The customer service representatives are knowledgeable and helpful and able to answer practically any question that cannot be covered by the site´s extensive online FAQ section.

Tips for Existing Players

If you play at Black Chip Poker and want a second bonus, the way to obtain it is to register for an account with Americas Cardroom. Black Chip Poker and Americas Cardroom share databases on the Winning Poker Network, and there are no rules about having more than one account with the same network provided you do not use them to cheat other players.

To find out more about the opportunities at Americas Cardroom, I have compiled a review of the site. I would suggest before taking advantage of the second bonus, you read the section about the advantages and disadvantages of opening multiple accounts that appears on my page about WPN Freebuy Passwords for Americas Cardroom and Black Chip Poker. There may be some disadvantages you might not have considered.

Black Chip Poker – Pros/Cons

There is no “One-size-fits-all” online poker site, so what may be seen as a negative by some players could be advantageous to others. Our pet hates were:

• No support for Mac or mobile devices – although this may be coming.
• Limited action outside of peak USA hours on the less popular games.
• Little chance of overlays among the site´s excellent tournament schedule.

So, what did we like? Quite a lot. Again, what we consider to be great features may not appeal to everybody, but we recommend the site for these reasons:

• The first deposit bonus, reload bonuses, Elite Benefits VIP Program, “Achievement Rewards” and “Legendary Bonuses” add up to be a considerable amount of free poker money.
• The “Beast” and “Sit n Crush” promotions provide something to aim for on a weekly basis rather than gauging success on a session-by-session basis.
• The weekend tournament schedule is the most valuable tournament schedule available for players in the US – and watch out for valuable tournament series throughout the year.

Black Chip Poker Review Conclusion

The fact that Black Chip Poker is part of the second most popular USA friendly poker network is no accident. The site provides an excellent online poker experience, with potentially lucrative rewards, innovative promotions, and a choice of games to suit every player from a low-stakes novice to a high-rolling pro.

As the site continues to grow – and attract a higher standard of player – those competing on Black Chip Poker will have to improve their games if they wish to continue enjoying profitable sessions, and surely that is a goal that every online poker player should aim for!