Help

[leafs71 0]

Hey everyone, this is my first post so I'll try to be breif. I started playing poker about 6 months ago, right now I only play at play money tables. I seem to do reasonably well as I very rarely have to refill my play money accounts. My question is how do you know your ready to play "real" money games online or at a casino. my wife's a little leery about me playing online, (hackers, viruses etc.) and the nearest casino is at least an hour away. we just had a new baby so my recreational funds aren't what they used to be. I read books and watch TV about poker and get the concept, but it;s a totally different environment to plar for real. any insight we be helpful. Thanks.

[showstopper24 0]

You can't really judge your skill based on playmoney results. I don't want to sound mean, but people don't play how they normally do when it isn't real money. So make sure your ready before you deposit.

[JesseW316 0]

Hey everyone, this is my first post so I'll try to be breif. I started playing poker about 6 months ago, right now I only play at play money tables. I seem to do reasonably well as I very rarely have to refill my play money accounts. My question is how do you know your ready to play "real" money games online or at a casino. my wife's a little leery about me playing online, (hackers, viruses etc.) and the nearest casino is at least an hour away. we just had a new baby so my recreational funds aren't what they used to be. I read books and watch TV about poker and get the concept, but it;s a totally different environment to plar for real. any insight we be helpful. Thanks.

Go to Walgreens and get a Visa gift card (the yellow ones). Deposit on Pokerstars or Full Tilt, Stars is probably a better idea.Sit at the micro limits/stakes, go to the strat forums here. Work on your game.The difference between play money and real money is that the people at play money really really suck, and the people at real money only really suck.Winning at play money isn't too hard, as most of the people aren't really playing the way they would if it was real money they were throwing around. If you've read some books and watch TV, and participate in the strat forums and actually want to get better, you're already leaps and bounds past the average player. The strat forums are the key though.Deposit maybe 100 or 200 and play the micro micro games on Stars. Idk if you play no limit or limit (I assume no-limit holdem is most likely), but the best way is to deposit an amount that won't kill you if it's lost and sit and play hands. Don't be scared and just try to get better. You'll be fine.Don't save your password on any site that you play at, meaning don't click the little box that says "remember my password". Type it in every time you log in. Don't give out any of your information to people or accept any file transfers or things like that on AIM or Yahoo messenger or similar programs if you use them.Only download Pokerstars or Full Tilt or Ulitmate Bet or Bodog or Full Contact Poker, those are pretty much the only ones around now anyway, it's not worth playing at a small unknown site.It's not such an intimidating thing, I understand your wife's concerns, but TP/MM and she'll zip it. haha jk

[Kwest4chipz 0]

Well maybe try some freerolls, and don't play outside of your roll. For instance if you have like 25 dollars to put on a site..play .01/.02 tables and see how you do, if you aren't doing very well...shift to another table. I wouldn't go NLHE right outta the gates either, I'd look for micro limits to cut your teeth on. Some sites offer rake back, and bonuses on your deposit. I'm not real versed on how that all works. I will tell you that bankroll management is pretty crucial. I dropped 1k over 2 years just from playing outside my roll and chasing losses. It kind of depends on what you want to play as well, do you want to play MTTs? or just cash games?My new strategy has been to stick to cash games right now, because I started with .85 cents and buying into tourneys with no guarantee of cashing will hurt a roll fast. I've been sticking to .01/.02 NLHE 10 seat tables and have brought that 85 cents to almost 40 dollars. I haven't played any tournaments and some of that gain is from bonus dollar conversion. IF I DO buy into a cheap tourney and don't cash, I will grind in a cash game until I have recouped the buy in. If you keep jumping into tourneys after not cashing, your roll will disappear pretty fast. So basically its about knowing when you are in a losing session and getting out, not chasing the loss and not playing outside your bankroll.EDIT: AND DO NOT PLAY ONLINE BLACK JACK! seriously....

[DCJ001 0]

You're only an hour away from a casino. It's accessible, but not as much as the internet. I recommend playing at the casino. Show up with an amount, like $200 - $400, that, if you lose it all, you're done and go home. Play very few hands and pay attention to everything; especially when you're not in a hand. $1/$2 no limit is what I'd recommend.

[the shank 0]

Hey everyone, this is my first post so I'll try to be breif. I started playing poker about 6 months ago, right now I only play at play money tables. I seem to do reasonably well as I very rarely have to refill my play money accounts. My question is how do you know your ready to play "real" money games online or at a casino. my wife's a little leery about me playing online, (hackers, viruses etc.) and the nearest casino is at least an hour away. we just had a new baby so my recreational funds aren't what they used to be. I read books and watch TV about poker and get the concept, but it;s a totally different environment to plar for real. any insight we be helpful. Thanks.

youre not ready

[Kestral123 0]

You can't really judge your skill based on playmoney results.

SOOOOO QFT. Play money helps you with the flow of the game and the rules, but as far as being good prep for live fire, it's of very, very limited value.