Ultimate Bet and Absolute Poker Introduce Synchronized Breaks

Brand new to the popular CEREUS Network online poker sites Ultimate Bet and Absolute Poker are synchronized breaks. Staples of competitors like Full Tilt Poker and PokerStars, synchronized breaks have become all the rage for hardcore tournament grinders, who have finally found time to stretch their legs, take a bathroom break, and let the dog out. Synchronized breaks on the CEREUS Network occur at the same time as on other online poker sites, 55 minutes past every hour.

On the CEREUS Network, breaks will begin as soon as the final cards are dealt in the hands in progress when the clock strikes 55 past the hour. They will not take place in tournaments that remain open for late registration, that are still in the first level of blinds, turbo and ultra-turbo contests in the first two blind levels, and multi-table sit and gos. All other events, including the network’s marquee $200,000 Guaranteed on Sunday, will see synchronized breaks now included. Whether or not your tournament will have this new feature can be determined by checking out its lobby.

PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker, the two largest sites worldwide, introduced synchronized breaks earlier this year amid fanfare. For players on the CEREUS Network, which is the sixth largest worldwide and the third largest to accept USA customers, the news of synchronized breaks has been well-received. Ultimate Bet pro and “Celebrity Apprentice” runner-up Annie Duke told PokerSoftware.com, “As soon as Full Tilt Poker did synchronized breaks, I was urging Ultimate Bet, along with others, to get it adopted. They were responsive to that.”

Also changed as part of the latest software update on Ultimate Bet is the raise logic. Now, the raise button is labeled “Raise To.” Text found on the Ultimate Bet website explains what you can expect as part of the revamped raise logic: “Players can now raise to a desired amount without having to add their initial bet, which is already on the table. Raising is as easy as entering the amount you wish to raise to and clicking the ‘raise to’ button. This is in line with industry standards.” Previously, the Ultimate Bet software added in the amount you wanted to raise to the current bet, making the process more complicated. Now, if you want to raise to 1,500, just type 1-5-0-0 in the “Raise To” box and you’ll be on your way.

The beginning of September marked the last major upgrade to the Ultimate Bet software before this week’s system-wide changes. Last month, Ultimate Bet debuted UB Mac, allowing players on the alternative computing system to play online poker through a fully downloadable client. Although the software did not allow access to the full gamut of tables on Ultimate Bet, it nevertheless gave Mac users a simple way to play on the virtual felts.

An Instant Play option was also released, which has the same limitations as Ultimate Bet’s Mac client and launches in a web browser. This no-download version means the ability to play Ultimate Bet on computers other than your own and it supports Windows, Mac, and Linux machines. Instant Play options on sites like PartyPoker and Bodog have received rave reviews. Developers at CEREUS, previously bogged down with the merge of the player bases of Ultimate Bet and Absolute Poker, have since released a bevy of features to keep the network among the most popular havens for online poker players worldwide.

Ultimate Bet and its sister site, Absolute Poker, happily accept real money customers from the United States. According to PokerScout.com, the network boasts a seven-day running average of 2,450 cash game players with a 24-hour peak of over 3,600. Its traffic is in line with that found on Everest Poker and the Microgaming Network.