Essex and East London are well-known for being hotbeds of poker in the south-east of England in years gone by. People have always travelled from far and wide to take part in the region’s biggest guaranteed tournaments, as well as the leading cash games.
As a matter of fact, the area has poker tournaments to cater for all levels of player. The beauty of poker is that it attracts a conveyor belt of new recreational players. That’s because it’s easy to understand the rules of poker, especially once the hand rankings and betting dynamics have been overcome. With a consistent player pool, it’s no surprise that the Essex and East London poker scene is doing well. With increased accessibility, many players in the region are sure to be trying their hand at games with players worldwide via the leading online poker rooms too.
The British Poker Series
The British Poker Series stages events in Stratford, East London, at the Aspers Casino in Westfield. This year’s British Poker Series Main Event is scheduled to be hosted at this venue in October. There are other British Poker Series London dates held throughout the year, with the BPS Carnival event including a Main Event, as well as other events, including a Pot Limit Omaha tournament and a Ladies-only tournament.
All the big events in the British Poker Series have 30-minute blind levels which is plenty of time for players to settle in and pick their moments.
Aside from the British Poker Series, Aspers Stratford also plays host to the London Poker Festival, which is held in early September. Aspers Stratford also has its own regular tournaments including rebuys and freerolls too.
Westcliff Cash Games
Head further east to the Western Esplanade at Westcliff on Sea and you’ll find a venue hosting cash games from 7pm on Thursdays to Saturdays, as well as Sundays from 4pm. It’s a location that’s also been the backdrop for the headline shows of the Southend Jazz Festival. There’s no tournaments on offer here, which is a disappointment and underlines the dearth of exciting multi-table tournament action in the Essex region. These Westcliff cash games feature a 10% rake, capped at £6 per pot.
Why the Number of Live Poker Events in Essex Is Diminishing
The number of live poker events is down simply due to the success and accessibility of online poker tournaments. The leading online poker rooms offer the utmost convenience when it comes to playing multi-table tournaments on desktop, smartphone or tablet devices, known as fully responsive user experiences aided by HTML5 technology. It gives players the ability to play their favourite games or formats from the comfort of their own homes. Of course, in doing so, some players may miss out on the social aspect of engaging in face-to-face in tournament play.
Nevertheless, online poker rooms are 24/7 operations. Their software and tournaments are essentially fully automated, ensuring those who want to play through the night can do and those who prefer daytime play can also get their fill.
The leading online poker room software even makes it possible for players in Essex and beyond to “multi-table” events. This concept means taking part in multiple tournaments simultaneously, with the aim of running deep in at least one or more events. Online poker rooms usually offer a “tiled view” for their poker games, enabling players to fit 4 tables comfortably on one desktop screen.
The general overheads of playing poker tournaments online is significantly smaller than those of live poker players. There’s no need to pay for accommodation overnight or food and beverages, all of which helps to keep the bottom line as low as possible.
For some, online poker also offers a level of anonymity and safety which live poker rooms simply can’t compete with. Most online poker rooms today will fully encrypt users’ connections to ensure all sensitive data is shielded end-to-end. Some players also enjoy the privacy of being able to play without the pressure of being watched by others, which can be intimidating.
