PKR will also scan your ugly mug onto your avtar if you supply a photo of yourself.

The future of online poker is here and it might just be spelt PKR. Why? Because PKR is an ambitiously sophisticated 3D site being launched this February by former video games developers who claim it will revolutionise the online poker experience.

PKR will allow a virtual reality version of you to sit down at famous tables around the world playing for cash in the same way as other mainstream cardrooms. The 3D characters (see right) are fully customisable creating the possibility for millions of users to have unique versions of themselves playing. To cap it off, PKR will also scan your ugly mug onto your avatar if you supply a photo of yourself.

PKR boss Jez San, who has an OBE for his success in the video games industry, told us that the balance of online speed and experience was paramount during development. ‘We’ve been trying to make it as close to real life play as possible but still deal 50 to 60 hands an hour,’ he said.

‘In the states there are tens of millions of people that play for real but only a fraction play online. Why’s that? Maybe they’re not happy with the options and experience. Maybe it’s because they’re missing the interaction of the game.’

Character building

San claims that some of the big names in the business have already given that interaction the thumbs up. Why? Because the environment is richer with more information and more tells. If you count someone else’s chip stack your character’s head will tilt towards it and everyone at the table will be able to see what you’re doing.

Loyalty points will be used to grow your avatar, such as buying the ability to perform chip tricks or display emotional reactions. So if you’re sat opposite someone riffling huge stacks or celebrating wildly you know they’re a shark. Beware.

PKR should be able to run on most home computers bought in the last five years… except if it’s a Mac, although we’ve been assured this will be addressed shortly. We’ll have more on PKR in the near future.