Time to give up on PokerStars?)

[wushibala]

I’ve been playing poker for quite a while and I feel like I have a decent skill level.
I play on both 888poker and pokerstars — using the same strategy and approach.
But for some reason, I consistently get better results on 888: I often make the money, and even reach final tables.
On PokerStars, though, it’s a completely different story — I barely get close to the money.

Has anyone else experienced something similar?
Do you think it makes sense to drop Stars and try another site instead?

 

[hardongear]

Pokerstars has better overall players than 888 Poker. At least that's been my experience over 20+ years. With that said I haven't played much at 888 poker for quite a awhile now but doubt it's changed much. Nothing wrong with trying another site or playing more where you win. Game selection is one of the keys to being a winning player.

Cheers!!!

 

[fundiver199]

It always makes sense to try another site or another game type, if for whatever reason you feel kind of stuck, where you play. Or if you are already doing well on 888 Poker, then why not just play more there? But with that being said you are mostly playing freerolls and penny games on both sites according to sharkscope, so you have not even tried to play in a serious way, or at least not really.

"Often reaching final tables" does not matter much, when you cash for amounts like $0.35 by finishing 33 out of 690, because you are playing a freeroll. So rather than a site selection issue, I think, you might have a game selection and bankroll size issue. My advice is to deposit a reasonable amount like $100 and then grind 2NL cash tables on any site, although the rake on 888 is obscenely high, so probably not there.

Or grind the $1 On Demand 9-45 man SnGs on PokerStars, if you want to stick with tournaments. This is much more of a bankroll and skill builder game than some random freeroll or 16-man hyperturbo satellite or whatever else, you have been playing in your last 8 games on both sites. I cant see any more than those, because you did not opt in on either site.

 

[Omar.Imrane]

Honestly, I'm going through the exact same experience! I play on WPT, ACR Poker, and PokerStars using almost the same strategy and game types, but the results are completely different.
On WPT and ACR, I often get good results — I make it into the money, and sometimes even reach final tables.
But on PokerStars... it’s a whole different story! It feels like luck just disappears, and everything goes against me. I even started to seriously doubt the fairness of the platform.
I'm not making any direct accusations, but honestly, something just doesn't feel right there.
The worst part is, because of that feeling, I basically abandoned my PokerStars account and stopped playing there altogether.
Now I focus more on WPT and ACR, and I feel much more comfortable.

Has anyone else experienced the same thing? Or is it just me whose luck vanishes the moment I log into PokerStars? 😅

 

[fundiver199]

Has anyone else experienced the same thing? Or is it just me whose luck vanishes the moment I log into PokerStars? 😅

My answer to you is basically the same as my answer to OP. You have 491 games on WPN (ACR Poker) for an average buyin of $0.24, and your 4 most commonly played game types are freerolls. So you have not even begun playing in a serious way yet, and it makes no sense to even try to compare results on different sites.

ACR Poker is a decent site to grind up a bankroll, but you need to forget about time scheduled tournaments including freerolls and play SnGs instead. They have both single table games and On Demand types for a buyin of $0.55 and then $1.65 and these are the games, you should be playing with a small bankroll. Maybe you can play $0.55 games with <$50, a mixture of both with $50-100 and $1.65 games with >$100.

 

[steve01991]

pokerstars has changed, but i do find playing there more challenging.

 

[Tadi]

I play for fun exclusively at PokerStars. It's important to me that I have money to play and it works for me. I haven't made any top results but I haven't made a payment for about 4 years so overall I'm satisfied.

 

[Risto234]

I’ve been playing poker for quite a while and I feel like I have a decent skill level.
I play on both 888poker and PokerStars — using the same strategy and approach.
But for some reason, I consistently get better results on 888: I often make the money, and even reach final tables.
On PokerStars, though, it’s a completely different story — I barely get close to the money.

Has anyone else experienced something similar?
Do you think it makes sense to drop Stars and try another site instead?

So what are you waiting for
Pretty sure that here are more than enough individuals who stopped using jokerstars several months ago and (to this day) dont regret that choice ...

 

[puzzlefish]

It makes complete sense to try to find a site where you are more comfortable and the games are soft enough for you to win.

 

[Brigistul]

Since a while on poker stars freerolls are fewer, so are the satellites that start as freerolls then cascade a few buyin tournaments appear until the final tournament!It's a waste of time to participate in such freerolls because tournament policy is to get into the game & then with time to make increasing buy-ins so you can stay in the tournament and get to the final tournament already started by those who buy in and sign up directly !Instead PokerStars is the site where withdrawals are immediate!I still play but not these freerolls.

 

[martinoni]

So you can grow your bankroll in other sites and play the paid tournaments in pokerstars... The Series that PS has are still very nice to play, as well as the mystery bounties!

 

[Lena M]

I stopped playing at PokerStars a long time ago and focused on 888. Since PokerStars stopped holding freerolls, it has become boring there.

 

[Like2Play2]

I only play for fun at PokerStars. I have not made a real money deposit for about one year.
I used to play so many hours there every day. I came to the conclusion that the site is programmed to make the best starting hands get a bad beat. Only my opinion.

But I still prefer PokerStars' format. And game choice variety.
I love to play HORSE, Stud h/l, and 8 game. So I play there a little every day.

 

[machinm19]

A lot more serious players play at Stars so of course it is harder. Also their is a massive difference in skill level between freerolls and paid tournaments which I found out the hard way when trying to play my tried and tested strategy from 888 over on stars real money games.

 

[IronMike9000]

888 player base is much softer

 

[Station_Master]

Variance exists too. Sometimes i run really well on PS and really bad at 888, and sometimes the other way round. I dont think the skill gap is that big for equivalent stakes between the two sites, tho 888 is perhaps slightly softer (but no rakeback)

 

[anasslaaleg]

If you think that PokerStars exhausts you or does not bring you anything, take a break or change rooms for a few weeks. Compare the results, the comfort, the pleasure of playing. Sometimes a change of environment rekindles motivation.

 

[fundiver199]

Variance exists too. Sometimes i run really well on PS and really bad at 888, and sometimes the other way round. I dont think the skill gap is that big for equivalent stakes between the two sites, tho 888 is perhaps slightly softer (but no rakeback)

And its not like, the freerolls and penny games on ANY site are filled with super strong players. And the same is true of course for 2NL cash games. So if you are playing these kind of stakes and still find it difficult to win, then the issue is not, that the site is to tough. The problem is always something else. Years ago I moved from PokerStars to 888 Poker looking for softer games. But this was, when I had reached 25NL, not when I was playing tournaments for an average of $0.6.

If I had to build up a new bankroll today from a small deposit like $50-100 playing tournaments, then I would do it on PokerStars, because they still have MTT SnGs and a large selection on microstakes MTTs far better than for instance 888 Poker. If I wanted to do it playing cash games, I would probably give GG Poker a try, because they now have the most activity, and PokerStars "dynamic waiting list" is kind of annoying in my opinion.

 

[Dimidrol2]

It was easier for me to play on 888. PokerStars is a fast-paced poker game

 

[dreamer13]

The room is disgusting, it oppresses you terribly - a real poker mafia.I have never met a person in my life who said that he is in the black on PokerStars.

 

[Poker Orifice]

if you're trying to build a roll in the micros I'd suggest playing 2nl on 888Poker and on partypoker.

For 10nl, SportsBetting/Betonline is without parallel (incredibly softer game vs. other sites). Unfortunately there's very little volume above 10nl
I swear the games there (with all of the USA players) plays like the other sites back in 2010. They are incredibly bad. BUT... also 'unfortunately' they don't have games lower than 10nl and you're going to want to have at least $200 to play on those tables.

 

[antonis32123]

Well I rarely play there anore . They gave innumerable bad beats to my games the last many months, apparently this is not a downswing , it's sth else . So I stopped playing there . I play rarely, at least for hhx time being

 

[Rmi]

They are different levels of players, maybe that's your answer. You should play lower levels to balance your game.

 

[ironduke11]

pokerstars is a trap as far as i am concerned

 

[MishkaZL]

For me, PokerStars has lost its relevance since they stopped holding our CardsChat freerolls. They don't deserve my attention, but they still have a chance to change. They just need to resume our freerolls and I will start playing there again.