T.J. Cloutier is widely recognized as one of the best poker players ever to play the game. He has won the World Series of Poker six times, three of those back-to-back-to-back, aAnd has an unheard of record of reaching the final table of the world series of poker 36 times! He is a genuine poker player and has made a very good living doing so. So what's a guy who's achieved as much as he has to do next? Why make a PC game that is chock full of tutorials, helpful hints and some decent poker playing.

World Class Poker plays pretty well. The game features several different poker games, it would actually be impossible to make a game that had every poker game, since there are literally hundreds, but World Class has several of the more well-known versions of the game, including: Five card draw, seven card stud, Omaha hold 'em and a couple different variations of Texas hold 'em. Now that's all well and good, but to the casual player, this may seem a bit overwhelming. The good news is that this title has very strong "new" player assistance. The game constantly has pop-up windows that advise you on what's happening, what the game offers and other information. There are tons of options and other unique features that really make the game as much of a teaching tool as a game. If you set the options right, you can actually review hands that were played, allowing you to see what the other players had and deciphering the percentage of probability to making your hand. If any of you out there have watched a poker show on TV, you will see that there is a percentage next to the player, that percentage tells the viewer what the odds are on winning. Of course, like any game of chance the impossible can and does happen.

I was really impressed with how good the game actually looks. Unlike other games, there is a facial profile of each of the computer players and they vary greatly. The table looks nice as well with it's soft hues and strong sharp cards.  As you play and the round of betting commences, players will talk the lingo (so to speak) with catchy phrases and other talk that is indicative of the game. The audio, more precisely the voice acting, is hit-and-miss. Some of the talk sounds really good, other talk merely irritates you. So I guess if you have played in a real tournament, then the game is spot-on, since I've played at some tournaments where there were people that really grated on my nerves with their constant blathering.

You can pick this title up for $19.99 at your local game store, or even cheaper online. For this price you really are getting a quality title. Surprisingly, there is no online play and I would have thought that in today's day and age, online is where the action is at. The A.I. in the game is pretty decent and I got into some real battles with some of the better A.I. opponents, but in the end, I did come out ahead. I've played in several different games and lost, but all it takes is that one win to put you above your starting bankroll. Something I thought was interesting of note, at any time while playing the core games, you can get up and walk away from the table, cash and all. For those of you scoring at home, that means you can sit at a table and not play a hand until you are dealt something really good, then make your bets and score a good cash win, then walk away from the table. I'm not sure if I care for this function, but it is there for those players who like to hit and run.

Gameplay: 8.0
Strong gameplay with the various games and options that are available. The A.I. is better than average and will get tougher when you start getting to some of the hot games. A good selection of menus and helpful suggestions. The game teaches you as much as you are willing to learn.

Graphics: 8.4
It's a really pretty looking table and the cards are nice and sharp looking. I like the A.I. player profiles that sit at the table. Slick.

Sound: 7.2
Again, the A.I. will say something witty and cool, then come back with an irritating and grating comment. More of the former though. I never turned the audio off.

Difficulty: Medium/Hard
You quickly learn who you can beat up and who you're gonna have trouble with. A good level of difficulty for this style of game. Anything harder would be too much for a game that aims to teach you how to play.

Concept: 7.4
The most innovative part of this game is the level of teaching that it offers. There are quiz questions and tips up the wazoo, and situational type scenarios aimed at making you a better, well-rounded player.

Overall: 7.9
This title is totally worth the price, and will give invaluable tips to those looking to expand or even start a poker playing career (no, don't quit your job, I'm only talking about free play). I wish it was online capable, but this title still works well.