Requirements for a good online board game

Well - I like to play board games.
That feeling when a bunch of friends sit down; a cup of coffee, cold drinks, snacks,..; open the box, rip out the old Trivial Persuit, or Risk, or even Monopoly. Nothing like it for a few hours of fun.

I like to win, but mostly I like the game itself - the interactions, using your intellect for something else (I have a pretty high-strung day job), the way the hours just disappear.

I have played a lot of computer games, and it is a different kind of joy. Its fun, but ultimately I don't find it absorbing to the same level. I suppose the lack of human interaction makes the difference.

So - lately I have taken to seeking out online versions of the popular board games. A surprisingly large number of sites offers multiplayer adaptations of the classical games, where you can just sign in and in a matter of minutes get going.
I like games where skill and intellect decides the winner, but I don't like games with a lot of complicated rules and a steep learning curve. Chess is the ideal game in this respect - you can learn the moves in 2 hours, but spend the rest of your life getting good at it.

I have the following expectations of a good online multiplayer board game:

• Must model a well known game, and have simple rules that makes it easy to get started.
• Should permit me to join a game with other players online.
• Must be able to finish the game in one sitting, 4 hours tops.
• Should have a tutorial mode, so I can learn the basics before I enter a game with others.
• Should not have extensive registration procedures, and must not be filled with ads or other distractions. Some non-intrusive ads, or a modest registration fee, is ok. I know it can be expensive to run gaming servers.

In this blog I will review the games I like (no point in using time and space on the ones I don't), and their online representations.
Hopefully you will suggest other games for me to try, and if I like them I will review them as well.