12:23am: It was extremely overdue, but PokerStars finally got around to skinning their lobby. I, like many others, have felt that PokerStars lobby was in desperate need of a makeover, and finally the wait is over. The update was made available two days ago. Here is a picture of what the new lobby looks like, provided you have enabled it:

First thing that stands out is that the lobby is a lot more sleek and contemporary than the former. PokerStars made the shift in style to the “Web 2.0″ standard that is all the rage in web design/software development now a days. Gone are:

• Rounded Buttons
• Background Images
• Frames Around Pro’s Faces
• Outer Beveled Buttons

Perhaps the most notable difference is the simplification of the color scheme. The old theme had at least 6-7 different main colors on screen (that didn’t compliment each other very well), which is frowned upon in software design. The new theme was simplified to only 3 main colors: black, red, and green — black and red being the two main colors.

All in all, I have to say the new lobby theme is a step in the right direction to improving the GUI for PokerStars. I’ve always said that if PokerStars was as pretty and intuitive as Full Tilt, they’d have a complete stranglehold on the online poker market. Stars took another step in that direction by making improvements to their GUI.

To enable this skin for your PokerStars client, simply:

• Click “View”
• Click “Lobby Themes”
• Click “PokerStars Black Theme (Beta)”
• Click “Install/Apply”

Start a Clean Slate at a New Room, a New Sharkscope, and Keep HFL Free in the Process

3:58am: After a very busy week of painting, and eventually some poker, I was finally able to finish narrating, converting and uploading the fifth (and still FREE) tutorial. This match in particular was interesting, especially for HFL regulars, because it featured the so called “Sunday Night Showdown” between myself and up-and-comer “dnt” (which is short for “dont call it a come back”).

On a side note, I love doing these tutorials for you guys, and it’s very rewarding for me. That being said, I would REALLY appreciate it if you guys helped me out by joining some of these poker rooms we advertise. I’m not seeking to become rich by running this site, but I’d like to at least break even from a time/effort standpoint, as I don’t feel the number of people who have joined poker rooms through our site reflect the effort that is put into this website on my part. It doesn’t cost you anything, and it helps keep what I believe to be the best heads up sng website in the world completely free.

Here are the various poker rooms we support, and the corresponding links. Even if you don’t plan on making a deposit today, it would still help just to download the software and create an account through our links:

1. PokerStars
2. Full Tilt
3. Bodog
4. Cake Poker
5. Ultimate Bet

I value every single person who signs up through HFL for any of these poker rooms. Each sign up gives me more motivation to crank out the tutorials, articles, daily hot chicks, and daily videos better and faster. I cannot stress this enough.

Thanks guys.

-trujm

Start a Clean Slate at a New Room, a New Sharkscope, and Keep HFL Free in the Process