Playing for real money - When to take the plunge?

Hi,

Just wanted to get some input on this question. Although I've been playing poker for a while, I've only just recently started to learn the details behind the game.

At the moment I do most of my poker playing online where all the money is 'fake'. I used to be awful at this, but am now getting considerably better as I understand and learn about the game more and more.

I know that playing for fake money is going to mean all I learn is how to beat fish, inexperienced or LAG players...so...

My question is when should I make the jump to playing for real money online? I already play in a local live tournament weekly in a pub (Very small buy-in), but am wondering when it would be sensible to move to playing for real money online. Has anyone else done this and how did it go?

Thanks,
DrSparky

As soon as you can afford too, get money in and play. You have to do it sometime so why not now.

Switch to cash when you can afford to lose it imo. You might want to switch to fr's to start out with. Play money games shouldn't be considered practice for real money. You'll learn a lot more from studying than you ever could at play money tables.

Good luck to you.

my rule is i dont deposit so if im not good enough to win the money im just gonna lose it so i do freerolls and play with my winnings.

Deposit 100 dollars and start playing small buyins. The only way to determine if you can play. Freerolls teach you how to play like a donk.

I suggest taking an amount of money that you can afford to lose and play as soon as you can. I know you do not want to lose any of you money but the real value to you will be in identifying the things you need to work on to improve your game. I did the same at a B&M after about 30 days of being serious about NLHE. Played the $1/$2 table with a $200.00 buy-in. Was lucky enough to walk out in the black but I really saw what I had to work on before going back.

Thanks for all the replies - very helpful
DrSparky

Well I did it backwards and played with real money to start and for a long time after I had started. Only in like the last year have I stepped into fake games. Its best to just play for money unless you are playing in a free game that pays real money if you win.

Really were is the fun if there is nothing on the line?

When you start playing for real money - even micro stakes - the quality of play increases noticeably. Be ready for it. free poker is good for learning the mechanics of the game, but once real money is at stake, the quality of play improves.

Blue_Fossil said:

When you start playing for real money - even micro stakes - the quality of play increases noticeably. Be ready for it. Free poker is good for learning the mechanics of the game, but once real money is at stake, the quality of play improves.

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...by a small amount

The sooner the better imo.
When I was pondering over making a deposit to play online poker (I'd never downloaded or played any poker online before depositing) I waited for a few weeks, did a small bit of research (mostly asking friends who I knew played poker online... didn't get much info. from them at all though) then signed up.

I only wished I'd started sooner! Seriously,... the first while playing poker online was a blast! I loved it! I'm sure you'll have a simliar experience. It might take a bit before you become a winning/break-even player but the small buyins you can play are well worth the investment for entertainment alone (not to mention for the experience they'll give you on your journey to becoming a better player).

I say 'Go for it!' Also, start off on a big site where you'll find games that suit you (ie. pokerstars would be my first choice if I was just getting started). Then consider branching out to a couple/few other sites, looking for deposit bonuses, deposit freerolls, etc. to help you build a bankroll online.

Good luck & hope it goes well for you.

Hi thanks for all the replies - time to do some research on the different sites...
DrSparky

DrSparky said:

Hi thanks for all the replies - time to do some research on the different sites...
DrSparky

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You won't be disappointed by starting out with PokerStars. (guaranteed!)

I have played at Ultimate Bet and Fulltilt (until it was shut down). I always start with play money on a site until I get a feel for the software. Deposit a small amount and work from there.

Start playing real money tourneys as soon as you feel you have the basics down. Don't risk more than 5% of your BR (gives you 20 buy-ins) and you should make the money a few times if your descent after 20 tourneys. I would recommend either sticking to cash games or just tourneys as the dynamics are different, and it's better to be real good at one than descent at both!

As soon as possible. Play money games only let you learn the basics. They will teach you nothing about reading players TRUE TENDENCIES AND BETTING PATTERNS. Start small and practice bankroll management. Figure a percentage OF BANKROLL YOU ARE COMFORTABLE (5-10%) losing AND PLAY TO WIN!! gl!!

Free tourneys are a good place to learn as all the rif raf ace huggers are gone early and then real poker can start.

Cash games can be cheap. I suggest starting around $10/month playing $0.25 games on PS.

Ring games are entirely different and not like the bingo free sites expose you to.

I'd still stick with tourneys.

I'd suggest being an active member here and getting into the freeroll club...then you wont have to deposit at all

I'm still a beginner myself, but I started out with micro cash games and regret it now.

I never played play-money games myself, but found the variance to be out of this world in the micros. I tried to play a sensible TAG style but more often than not was beaten by absolute junk in weird and wonderful ways. As a newbie, just taking my first poker steps, I couldn't adapt to this maniacal style and soon became quite bored and unhappy.

I then went to micro SNG's and found it to be a bit better, but still pretty bad. Not a great learning lab either for me personally.

IMO the best place to learn, are 18 and 45 player SNG games. The maniacs dissolve away reasonably quickly and you have a pretty fun, sane game.

It all depends on what you can afford and the game/stakes you plan on playing. Play money games imo are the same as the lowest micro games.

Start playing small stakes (that you can afford to lose) asap. Playing with fake money is a big mistake as you'll learn bad habits playing against players who play crazy as they've got nothing to lose.

SPC190960 said:

Start playing small stakes (that you can afford to lose) asap. Playing with fake money is a big mistake as you'll learn bad habits playing against players who play crazy as they've got nothing to lose.

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Very true! I've noticed my game take a dip after playing with "fake money!" That's why I don't do it anymore!

I just recently came up with this notion, I sure wish I would have thunk it up 5 years ago.

For me, a day playing live poker is cheaper than a day at Disneyland. I live only 15 miles from the original Disneyland.

Point here is that I treat real money poker as entertainment more than a business, and from an entertainment POV it can often be cheaper than dinner and a movie with a date you are not sure will put out.....or your wife.....

So, if you can treat real money poker as entertainment, then now is a good time to start playing real money. Else wait until you have amassed 43 million play chips.

^^^ will be my new attitude. My old attitude is still valid and goes along these lines;

I have no issue with playing play money poker. It can be useful for a lot of things, from getting familiar with a site and how things there work, to finding that inner sportsman in yourself that relishes the game and the competition. If you approach things right, the only thing (IMHO) that you can NOT learn is how to deal with the scared money aspect of real money poker.

Few new players will approach the play money game correctly according to that statement.

If you are cheap, and I was/(still am), then the play money road to riches can work, but it will take as long as a full Doctorate Program in College, and then the process of finding the job that gets you rich.

dont think there is any reason to wait, why not play freerolls and cheap tourneys until you build your roll up

Freerolls are great for starting up a bankroll (I did it as a complete beginner). No need to deposit anything.