Card expert Mike Caro,  also known as the Mad Genius of Poker,  liked this online poker room so much he became part of it.  Now you can play against him on PlanetPoker.com  and win cash prizes if you knock him down.  This is swiftly becoming one of the most-liked poker rooms on the net.  Its graphics,  games and chat are enjoyable,  and it offers some huge tournaments such as the Sept. 1 $20,000 Guaranteed Tournament.  This site makes a clear effort to be user-friendly and seems to have good customer service,  which is reached by phone or email.

The graphics present a birds-eye view of the table,  with characters in the seats you choose amongst.  Chat is begun simply by typing.  There are always active tables in Hold'em and usually Omaha;  sometimes there are no activity in some of the game categories.  It was interesting to see Razz as one of the games offered,  because this is a fun game.  The games currently offered are:  Texas Hold'em,  Omaha,  Omaha Hi-Lo,  Lowball,  7-Card Stud,  7-Card Stud Hi-Lo,  Razz,  and Draw Poker.  The tables range from $.05/$.10 to $10/$20.  The maximum rake is $3.

There are a minimum of 15 daily tournaments;  buy-ins range from free to $100,  or you can use PlanetPoints.  As on some other poker sites,  the points players earn can be used not only for gameplay but also in a store to buy items like golf balls or playing cards.

PlanetPoker's promotions are attractive.  It offers a 24% deposit bonus,  has a Bad Beat Jackpot -- which is always a nice consolation for the frequent player -- and a grand-sized contest on Monday,  Sept. 1st in the $20,000 Tournament.  Players can buy in for $150 or 7500 PlanetPoints,  or win a seat through satellite play in designated games running every day.

There are several new features to PlanetPoker.  You can now play 2 tables at once,  easily, or watch 2 tables at the same time.  Or, when visiting a game,  scope out the hand history of a game of the last hand.  And then there's the Tournament Sit-Out feature,  where you can step away for a few minutes and your hand will continue to play to keep you in.

The personality of the site is friendly; it's fun when you can challenge the pros of the cardroom, and in this case you get to take on Mike Caro, Roy Cooke the Cardroom Manager, the Floorman, and the Floorgal. And they will pay you if you succeed in busting them.