Here"s my two-penneth worth:
1) Betfair - seems OK. Missing a few features that other sites carry, but on the whole will do the job. I only use for the APAT games anyway.
2) Online league game structure - seems about right. I agree with Leigh's comment - midnight finish is late enough for those players who have an early start on Monday. I thought the FT would be a shove fest, but it was far from it in Div 3"s game.
3) Standard of players - mixed, as at any tournament, WSOP, EPT, GUKPT, WPT included. These complaints about poor opposition, bingo, and all the rest of it exists on every poker site and at every tournament. If you cannot adjust your play to beat the poorer players (over the long-term) then you are a poor player yourself. Sucking out is part of the game. Variance is a bitch and is also part of the game. Surely, those who have played online for any length of time know that by now. I couldn"t win a pub game for the first couple of months when I started one up a couple of years ago despite having years of experience on nearly all the players. Then I adjusted my play to suit the opposition and found I was the No 1 cashing player over 2 years.
4) APAT Community - In the Div 3 game, whilst my opening table was a little quiet earlier on, the banter soon followed. If you are unhappy with the level of banter, why not look to whip it up yourself?
Finally, I have been observing the APAT for over a year now and have finally found time to get involved. I am, and always have been, very impressed with their offering. As someone who is involved in a local poker community, promoting and hosting events, I know how difficult it can be to get it right for everyone. I also know how players can be worse than a knitting circle when they get together and bitch about everything they can find (stich and bitch).
Constructive criticisim is absolutely valuable. But unconstructie criticism is damaging and causes a lot of work to overcome. I would say be part of the solution, not part of the problem. And remember that you are only one customer and that not absolutely everything will suit you, but must appeal to the many.
- I would prefer not to be on Betfair, but it will do.
- I am fairly happy with the structure and see sense in the 12pm finish.
- I like banter, so I instigate it. I go out of my way to find out who is playing for who and I get on with the wisecracks.
- I want more players to join Carlisle Poker Club, so I am recuriting amongst my friends on facebook and from my local poker club. I am also contacting them on match day via APAT and supporting them by railing them.
Are you contributing to the continued shaping of this succesful poker club or are you simply bemoaning your bad luck at getting sucked out on? Look at what you have to offer APAT as well as what they have to offer you. I am sure that all players have a great contribution to make.
Cheers
Mark.