You are here

Merge Gaming Network: SNG Improvements

 The Merge Gaming network is making changes again, this time to SNGs....

Carbon Poker - Merge Gaming Network - SNG Improvements

Professional Rakeback has more online poker news for you concerning the US friendly poker sites housed on the Merge Gaming Network. According to a representative of one of our partner skins, Carbon Poker, Merge Gaming will begin implementation on major Sit-N-Go improvements aimed at standardizing their offerings to better compete with other skins and networks. The announcement was made on Monday after lengthy discussions with Carbon players and the poker community in general.  The changes will be implemented in stages, though players should be able to see some changes already in effect.  The changes should be in full effect by some time Wednesday, May 29th 2013.  Here is the full list of changes below:
  • Adjustments have been made to the amount of rake taken. These changes were made to fall more in line with industry standards, and to scale appropriately. 
  • We’ve adjusted the buy-in levels to reflect our network standards. The buy-in levels with rake included are: $0.11, $1.10, $2.20, $5.50, $11, $22, $33, $60, $109, $215, $530 and $1,050. These levels do not apply to all Sit & Go types, so check the Carbon Poker lobby for the offering within the Sit & Go type.
  • Upon review of our existing offerings, it was clear that the lobbies were being clogged up with games that never, or rarely ran. For now, we’ve reduced the non-hold’em offerings to full ring, turbo PLO8 games. Some 1-Table and Heads Up variants that used to offer both full ring and 6-max, have now been consolidated to one or the other. We’re hoping this consolidation can better allow players to jump into our lobby, find the game they want, and have it run without delay. In the future, we’ll look to expand all offerings, but for now things are being brought back to the essentials.
  • Another addition based largely on player feedback, is to refine the Multi-Table Sit & Go offerings. We’ll now run 18 and 45 player turbo Sit & Go’s. Going forward, if these perform well, we’ll look to expand the buy-in and player entry levels.
  • Within a given variant (game type), all starting stacks and blind level lengths will be uniform. In most cases, this will mean 1,500 starting stacks, with the only exception being 6-max Super Turbos, which will have 300 chips to start.
  • Minor display issue on this Mac poker sites related to HUSNG lobby was fixed.
  • We will now allow coupon and VIP point entryon all Sit & Go’s. For example, players that earn an $11 coupon will now be able to use it for Multi-Table Tournaments or any of our $11 Sit & Go offerings. You’ll be able to review the coupon entry and amount of points needed to enter in the lobby of any given Sit & Go.
  • Breaks have been removed from all Sit & Go’s, largely at the request of players (for a short time, Sit & Go’s will still be listed as having a 5 minute break, but this will be fixed by Merge, and no actual break will take place). We’ve also standardized the amount of time bank available, depending on the speed of the game in question.
  • We’ve implemented a name standardfor all Sit & Go’s. This should help to clean up the appearance in some of the lobbies, and be a little easier on the eyes. This applies to the tournament description as well, which will provide clear and consistent information such as buy-in, starting stacks, and level length.
  • In a move to hopefully clarify things, and avoid confusion for our players, we have renamed Super Turbos to Hyper Turbos, and Bounty tournaments will now be known as Knockout tournaments. This was based on long term player feedback, so while there may be some time needed to adjust, we believe this will improve the player experience. These changes will be reflected in the filters shortly.

 

While it's not quite the same as the “good old days” when you could hook up on Pokerstars in a 180-man SNG for $4.40 that filled up within 30 minutes, it appears to be a step in the right direction. The downside seems to be the decline in offerings of non-hold’em games, such as no-limit Omaha (however, try out the Winning Poker Network who just added NL08 and Intertops has NL0 / NL08 cash game action). However, the moves appear to have been made according to their own traffic analysis, so hosting games that either aren't played or aren't making money wouldn't make much sense. And players of all skill levels can appreciate lower rake!
In any case, if you're looking for some SNG action, you'll probably be on board with these moves. And if you still don't have an account on the Merge Gaming Network, or you'd like another account with a new 5k bonus, p2p transfers, WU and MG cashout, then PROFRB would be more than happy to sign you up with one of our Merge partners including PokerHost, Carbon Poker, and Aced Poker.  PROFRB would be honored to be your affiliate/advocate at Merge Gaming, and all US friendly poker networks!  There are many Internet poker sit and go options for you to play at. If the Winning Poker Network is not your cup of tea, try out the Equity Poker Network if you are a small stakes player, or the Chico Poker network if you are higher stakes sit and go grinder.  Bovada of course has the best anonymoust tournaments available for our US poker players and active game selection up to the two hundred dollar buyin games, but six max and heads up sngs - SNG & HUSNG.