26 September 2025
PokerStars is studying some alternatives in order to curb predatory attitudes of many heads-up players - they usually open multiple tables and only play with opponents they pick (usually weaker).
This behavior of opening tables and then refusing to play against opponents that are not to a player's liking is already being fought on other networks .
Microgaming, for instance, has removed its heads-up cash tables, creating a sort of 8-players zoom poker. In this format (designated HU 8-Man Blaze) the player joins a pool of 8 players and plays against a different opponent in each hand.
iPoker has also created a system that aims to prevent this predatory attitude - players who sit at the heads-up tables without playing have their access to the tables restricted after procrastinating (not playing) .
PokerStars, according to its representative Nick on 2+2, is focusing on two different options: mandatory playing tables or a kind of " King of the Hill".
In a "mandatory playing tables" system, players must play a minimum number of hands before leaving the table. If the player leaves the table before playing this minimum ammount of hands he will have to pay his adversary a penalty (depending on the blinds).
The modified version of "King of the Hill" would lead to the provision of a limited number of tables per game, blinds and structure, being that whoever is at the table will have to play against all opponents who sit down, or otherwise lose the seat.
Taking into account all feedback from the players, the PokerStars representative has said that the work group who is focusing on this problem is leaning towards the first option - mandatory playing tables.
