YouTube is an Internet phenomenon that has allowed people to submit their videos and turned some people into worldwide stars with millions of video views. Pokertube, as the name suggests, is pokers version of YouTube where you can watch tons of free poker video without having to filter through everything else. Pokertube is not part of YouTube, but uses a similar format just for poker content.

You can post your own videos if you wish and register your own account but even if this is not quite up your street you can just log in every few days and take a look at some of the premium content on offer. Pokertube make their money from various offers from poker sites and so on, but on the front page are quick links to various well-known poker shows from T.V. which is really user friendly. The Aussie Millions, High Stakes Poker, Poker after Dark, WSOP shows, World Poker Tour and many more are available to watch immediately from your computer. There are also many feature programmes, usually split into ten minute segments, where you can watch documentaries and short films about poker. A recent submission, for example, is a documentary about Team Domeski which profiles four high stakes young Internet pros, currently living it up in Athens, Georgia and is very entertaining.

Pokertube is not just for filling in some of your non playing time, there are strategy benefits to using the site. Pokertube posts regular video captured from tournaments and their resident commentator “dabear” posts some lengthy video regularly discussing strategy and real tournament hands played. If you are not sure which poker room to sign up with you can watch these videos even just to check out the format of the tables, card design and playability of the sites software before downloading it to your computer.

I check Pokertube two to three times per week and there is never a shortage of shows to watch. If you delve deeper into the content some other user’s personal videos can be found which can be both good and bad in quality. But the proper shows are shown on the home page and are fantastic quality considering it is offered free and if you watch nothing else you will still enjoy Pokertube. In the future we may look back and marvel at when the Internet offered free things there is not much good free stuff around these days, but certainly Pokertube gives the poker player some good video to enjoy.

My biggest recommendation for strategy is to check out the High Stakes Poker shows on Pokertube. The whole series 1 to 5 are available to watch and these are some of the best poker cash game players in the world showing you how they play cash games. Where else can you find this tuition? Some of the play is a little loose but on the whole, particularly with starting hands and how to bet size, you see some interesting strategy that very much contrasts normal tournament strategy. I consider this essential viewing. As a poker player I take advantage of anything that can help me. I would pay for Pokertube video viewing that is how much I like it, but do not tell them that!

By Malcolm Clarke