Ranks

Like in many online games, your rank will gradually increase the more you play and the better you play. You will start off at rank 0, but as you play, you'll start to see yourself earning higher and higher ranks.

The exact formula used to calculate your rank is a little complicated, but here are the basics...

* Your rank value increases for winning chips.
* Your rank value decreases for losing chips.
* However, your rank value will decrease at a slower rate for losing chips than it increases for winning chips.

In other words, if you win 100 chips and then lose 100 chips over a few games, your rank will still be higher than it was before. (But not as much as if you had just won 100 chips.)

* The amount that your rank goes up or down depends on how many chips you win and what room you're playing in.
* The amount your rank is affected is normalized based on the minimum bet for that room. However, you do get a slight boost for playing in a higher stakes room than in a lower stakes room.

In other words, winning 10,000 chips in a High Rollers room will boost your ranking a little more than winning 100 chips in a Low Rollers room, but the boost will be small. (We're talking 10% or so.)

* Playing in a Just for Fun room affects your ranking less than playing in a "real" money room.
* In some instances, playing against computer opponents doesn't affect your ranking as much as playing against human opponents.
* Although your rank value does decrease for losing chips, you'll never drop down a rank. Once you've reached a particular rank, it's yours to keep.

Q: All of that made my head hurt. Just tell me the best way to go up in rank!
A: Play a lot, and win chips. Your rank will go up faster if you play in one of the "real" money rooms than the Just for Fun rooms, but even in the Just for Fun rooms, you can go up in rank.

Q: Wait. My rank will go down when I lose chips? Why? Do you hate me?
A: Yes.

No, we're just kidding. We love you! The thing is, if you gained rank for winning tokens and none for losing tokens, some people would be out there raising every hand all the time no matter what. This tends to make the games long and drawn out and ruins the experience for players who are trying to play a real poker game.

Just remember that your rank will eventually go up the more you play, and you should just let it happen naturally. Also remember that getting a high rank won't earn you badges to pin on your chest, it won't make you lose weight, it won't help you win a jackpot, it won't get you a record contract, it won't make you a better person, it won't make your kids visit more often, it won't remodel your living room, and it won't give you super-powers or chips. It's just a measure of how experienced of a poker player you are. And that's it.