PokerStars Expanding Horizons with Natural Born Players

When David Baazov stated couple of days ago that the company will be looking to significantly increase poker traffic despite of all their other endeavors, more than a few were skeptical. These days hardly a day goes by that you don't hear a phrase 'poker is dead' or some variation of it on different forums across the Internet.

While that particular phrase is an exaggeration, the fact is that online poker is far from what it used to be several years ago. So making a claim about significant increase in number of player is certainly a bold move - but the one that doesn't already today seems much more attainable then a week or so ago.

Do you have what it takes?

Natural born poker player is the latest promotion brought by PokerStars, but unlike the other promotions aimed at poker players, this one will try to grab the attention of those who have never (or hardly ever) played poker.

Well, of course, you don't be a genius to understand that this is what you need to do to bring new players into the game but wanting to do something and actually doing it are two quite different things. How do you get someone who has never played to join the party?

Not through poker, that's for sure. You can put all the money you want on the table, people who don't play will shrug it off. They already have lotteries and big casino jackpots if they want to gamble. Why would they want to spend hours in a casino, surrounded by total strangers or starring in their computer monitors. They need a bigger motivation then just some eluding promise of big money.

And this is where I find the latest idea from PokerStars quite brilliant. The site features several mini-games that put people in real life scenarios, even if some are a stretch. These are scenarios that most people can relate to and have fun with. In every of these scenarios, players are presented with completely non-poker related choices, but based on these choices, their Poker IQ will be measured. After that, they can proceed to the playroom, where they are introduced to poker knowledge, once again through an interactive and great looking interface.

The games

Currently, there are three different games for players to choose from: 'The Chase', 'The Khazi' an 'The Poisoner', every one of them aimed at measuring different aspects (or talents) of poker IQ. Skills being estimated are those of detection, bluffing, bravery and logic.

When the games are completed and choices are made (spoiler alert: you will try to assassinate an ambassador), the final Poker IQ is calculated and then the player proceeds to The Playroom. The games and situations found there will be custom tailored according to specific talents and choices made by a player.

Let the games begin

What is the biggest motivator for most people? I am no expert in the field, but from my own experience, I don't really think it's money or power. Sure, these things can be really good motivators, but nothing beats passion.

If you can get a person to become really passionate about something, you've given them more than you ever could by promises of money or fame - and this is what I think this new project is all about: getting people passionate about poker.

And although these games are intended for new players, you can still get a kick or two out of them even if you've been around for a while. The graphics is really nice and, if nothing else, it might make you laugh.

Without trying to guess the actual impact this might have on the market (some analysts in the company have probably done that already), big thumbs up for thinking outside the box!