So where am I at?

R

roreyn02

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Jun 26, 2014
Total posts
29
Chips
0
So ive recently took up playing poker with funny money online. Dont plan to play it with real money anytime soon.
I like the game and I will always play it. But im super realistic about everything I get into. Never do I let feelings cloud my judgment. I gamble for fun normally, but... I want to win. Everyone does. But like anything else in life you cant just "have it". I heard a story of a guy who took up poker in college, got a six figure salary on it, quit college to focus on poker. It was a rough ride, went thru lots of losses and had no salary from a regular job to fall back on. Later this guy decides to go back to college because while the poker won him big he decided he wanted to be something other than a poker player.
On the other hand ive heard of a guy who lost his whole retirement to poker, lost his wife and kids and family due to him paying more attention to the game rather than to them as well as not providing basic necessities because he was blowing all his family's money on the game.
Is there a healthy balance for a hardcore game like no limit texas holdem? Or is someone getting a bunch of money while EVERYONE else gets taken to the poor house?
I really want to be the guy who got the 6 figure salary on poker. Badly. But being a realistic individual I am not going to count on that happening. The guy who said he made 6 figures basically said that he never expected his life would play out that way. The guy who lost everything to it was TRYING to win.
So because im realistic im willing to just play texas holdem with funny money and if thats as far as I go, then thats as far as I go. blackjack and pai gow never took me to the poor house so ill play those once in awhile for real money as I do now.
But still.... its fun to play a game without losing EVERYTHING but being able to know that someday you could win big. Am I way too laid back to really win at poker?
 
D

DenverDave

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Dec 28, 2010
Total posts
92
Chips
0
When younger people, I am 53 and perpetual old fart, make that kind of money, it is hard for them to see down the road. Indeed, even if they were not making that kind of money, it is hard to see down the road.

I too, would love to be able to make a good living from playing poker. That is why I only play with money I have saved up from my change jar and side jobs. Never taking from the family budget. You will hear a LOT about bankroll management. How many buy ins should I have for this level of the game? Some say 50 some say 100. Variance is a bitch and will eat you alive if you are not careful. So only play with money you can afford to lose.

Because playing with play money is good to a point. Because it is not real money, you will see folks doing some crazy shit with that funny money! Like all in with 72o and you have AA and you lose your stack when they flop 772. I have seen it happen. And in real money games too. Mainly freerolls. So play with play money to try things out, play different games. But if you want to make real money, you play with real money.

You need to become a student of the game. Go on training websites, read all the books. Get Poker Tracker or Holdem Manager and track your hands and your opponents hands. Review your winning and losing hands. Post hands here. Defend your thought processes.

I would also get(not a shill and get no $$ from him) Jared Tendler's books about Poker mindset. He has broken down the mental side of the game in a very easy way to understand. I am reading the 1st book for the 3rd or 4th time. Every time I do, I find a new nugget.

Be prepared to play well and lose. Also, be prepared to play like shit and win. They are called fish for a reason. Don't let playing like shit and winning make you think you are a poker god. You may run into someone from here and they will take a few buyins.

I wish I lived in a place where I could play on the good sites(PS/FTP/Party/etc) and make a decent wage. But I am in the "free" USA so have limited options. But many still make a good living from online poker.

Also look into SNG/MTT's to punch up your bankroll. But that is another bankroll management conversation :)

Good luck!
 
goaldriversv

goaldriversv

Legend
Platinum Level
Joined
Jun 21, 2014
Total posts
1,429
Awards
10
Chips
151
if your goal is to play poker for a living, starting with play money is not the way to do it. i don't even consider play money as good practice. there's no pressure, nothing at stake, and players are more idiotic than even at the micro stakes level. i'd start playing freerolls or starting with some cash to build your br and to start grinding. you also need to study the game like it's a job...an 8 hour job. you have to take it seriously. things i'd never do as a casual, winning player such as studying my hand history, tendencies, and stats in certain situations should be part of the daily/weekly routine as a pro. like everything else, you have to work hard for it and be ready for the stress, pressure, and the swings.
 
Mase31683

Mase31683

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Sep 27, 2008
Total posts
1,474
Awards
1
Chips
1
I was making more money as a poker player than I am now as an almost Captain in the military. I had several factors that went into my decision to leave poker, but mostly I just didn't want to be an old man on my death bed and when people ask what I did with my life all I can say is "I played cards"

Anyway, I certainly wanted it. I worked hard to make it happen and got to the point where my "job" was in the way of me actually making money (playing cards).

It's hard to tell from a little blurb on someone if they have what it takes. Just wanting it won't get you there though. I put hours upon hours of study in with books, talking to friends, sweating, more talking. You need to throw yourself into it and treat it like any other school and job combo. Put in the work and quality instruction time and keep yourself honest and to a schedule. Making sure I put enough hours in was hard for me. If I made a good win my first day of the week it was hard not to take some time off and hit the club or bars.

I'm not sure how much play money will help you. I did play that for a prop bet with a friend to hit a million play chips, and there wasn't a single level that played even on the level of $2nl. Just don't want you practicing one way then moving to real money and wondering why you're not winning now
 
Last edited:
Rain92

Rain92

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
May 30, 2014
Total posts
183
Chips
0
Playing poker does not necessarily mean you need to quit your current job or studies even if you make a decent amount of money. It can always be a second income and a hobby as well. I find it better not to depend on poker alone solely because of the variance that can happen which can leave you in a bad state if you have no other source of income. Have fun and don't take your losses seriously because anything can happen in poker.
 
T

tomnovember

Visionary
Silver Level
Joined
Jun 6, 2013
Total posts
598
Chips
0
Do not play funny money any more if you really want to improve yourself! People won't play funny money in the same way as real money. Being brave and well self controlled will steadily bring you profits.
 
H

hffjd2000

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Jan 6, 2014
Total posts
2,329
Chips
0
Play money poker is not the real poker.

Almost all are loose.
 
R

roreyn02

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Jun 26, 2014
Total posts
29
Chips
0
I had several factors that went into my decision to leave poker, but mostly I just didn't want to be an old man on my death bed and when people ask what I did with my life all I can say is "I played cards"

As of right now ill be an old man on my death bed and when people ask me what I did with my life all ill say is "I stocked shelves" or "i made cold calls to people for a survey and got yelled at and hung up on all day". So if I ever miraculously make money playing cards im good.
 
R

roreyn02

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Jun 26, 2014
Total posts
29
Chips
0
I had several factors that went into my decision to leave poker, but mostly I just didn't want to be an old man on my death bed and when people ask what I did with my life all I can say is "I played cards"

As of right now ill be an old man on my death bed and when people ask me what I did with my life all ill say is "I stocked shelves" or "i made cold calls to people for a survey and got yelled at and hung up on all day". So if I ever miraculously make money playing cards im good.
 
G

gianni

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Feb 24, 2014
Total posts
33
Chips
0
play money poker is just for fun but u can become some skills..
 
pokertroll

pokertroll

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Jun 20, 2014
Total posts
184
Chips
0
Why not play real poker lots of micro grinders have been sucessful and have other careers to fall back on-Do sell yourself short :)
 
John A

John A

Poker Zion Coach
Silver Level
Joined
Apr 12, 2012
Total posts
6,492
Awards
3
Chips
37
Use as many free resources as you can to get started. Play money doesn't really help other than learning basic rules. The game with real money is totally different.

Ace poker solutions has a free youtube channel with good holdem strategy, and I have the free ebook. It might be a little advanced for where you're at right now, but it's good to have as a resource.

Post lots of hands on here and stay active in a poker forum. Those things are key. Then when you're ready get a poker database. GL.
 
dj11

dj11

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Oct 9, 2006
Total posts
23,189
Awards
9
Chips
0
My take on it is to play poker as serious entertainment. This means you can have fun, get better, and one day maybe hit a big one. I did. But you don't fixate on the game and you will still have somewhat of a life.

Think of it more along the lines of getting good at (fill in any competitive hobby) purely because you love the game. If you ever get that feeling that you 'have to win it back' you should immediately stop playing, go home and get drunk.

I thoroughly enjoyed play money poker for a very long time, and will say that if you use it both as entertainment and a tool for focused learning the only thing you can not learn via play money poker is how to play with scared money, which no one should be doing anyway.

If you set a goal of 1 million play chips, you will eventually be playing the biggest regular buy-in games, where there is an equivalency to small stakes real money poker. This is my long standing position, and I stick by it.;)
 
Top