What's the best way to practice with no bankroll

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theresets

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Whats the best way I can learn to play poker at a winning level without paying real money?
 
vinnie

vinnie

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How can I learn to play winning poker without playing with real money? How can I learn to drive a car without sitting behind the wheel? How can I learn to swim without getting wet? etc.

These questions are all based on the false assumption that it's possible to do one of these things without also doing the other. You can play freerolls or with play money, but you're very unlikely to become a strong, winning player from the experience you gain in those games.

Poker is a game of risk. It's pointless without something at stake.

Now, not all is lost. You can play freerolls until you have enough money to play at a micro table. When you go busto, back to the freerolls and repeat. This cycle will take you a very long time, but it can be done. Or, you can just suck it up and deposit a small amount (say $50) and play the micros with that. You might spend more than that on a nice meal out. You should get a lot of play out of it. Some sites have micros all the way down to 1c/2c. That means you'll have 25 buy-ins.

Of course, you'll want to read and watch videos on basic strategy. Some books and reading will help form a solid game. But, it's something you actually have to do for real to get good at. You can't read a book on how to swim and expect to compete in the Summer Olympics. It's the same with poker.
 
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SyCo

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Play freerolls like "PokerShool Open Skill League".
Watch youtube videos about correct poker, calculate odds and outs etc.
Play with playmoney.
Or just pay 10 Dollar in and goto 1/2 Cents Sit and Go s
You dont lose much then, if you lose.

Hope it helps
regards
 
cliffordsimak

cliffordsimak

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Vinnie's post give u hard, but really true answer mate)

Without bankroll and practise play on real money, u cant be a serious poker player :p

Just win freeroll and play on real money, good luck in tournaments
 
thetick33

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Whats the best way I can learn to play poker at a winning level without paying real money?

is like vinny and other said play some freerolls use winnings to move up.

started week ago had like 3 buy ins on carbon for 1.50 double or nothing im at 16.00 dollars had nothing on acr at like 14.00 today had nothing on black chip im at 13.00 today nothing on bet online im at 2.00 and nothing on full flush and im at 16.50 today and nothing on intertops and have 40 cents

so i show its not impossible not to deposit and move up slowly playing pennies nickles or freeroll winning playing a smaller buy in event working way up in mtt's etc.. I am doing well I missed out on another 22 on black chip had chip lead went called all in guy had pocket fours I had ace queen suited he pre raised flop I caught aaq full house he all ind for like 22k giving me if win hand 70 k 3rd player had 8 k lol 4 4 runners lmao. Cost me that extra 22.00 in that free roll but won like 8.50 i think. It happens but is only thing im mad at so far. Just brutal luck. I was unable to move my stack back like 12k left and lost to that huge stack finally just couldnt get a hand to make a move. Funny thing the third place guy 8k did come all the way back thats poker at times lol


so yes freerolls only problem is a lot of people dont respect those levels and play like idiots to put it kindly but honestly ive found idiots in 50.00 dollar buy ins too.
 
vinnie

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I totally agree that it can be done by starting with freerolls. I don't think freerolls, themselves, will teach you how to play well. People don't play well and you can do some really bad stuff and still do fine in the freerolls. But, they are a way to get real money to sit in the real games and start practicing for real. You can also play well in freerolls, you should actually, and learn a little. You just won't become a great player if you've only played in freerolls. You'll have to move out of them eventually.

Personally, I have only deposited on one site. And that was a $50 deposit just because you needed a certain amount of points from real money play to get into a really +EV freeroll (which I won $700 in and promptly withdrew my original $50 deposit). The rest of the sites, I have built my bankroll from freerolls. So, I can also state that it can be done.

Now, as I get older, I am getting more and more inclined to just deposit money and start out with a full bankroll. It also would allow me to take advantage of first deposit bonuses and other stuff like that, which build bankrolls faster. It just takes so long to grind up from freerolls.

I am playing on ACR, for example, grinding up from their freerolls. I cashed in a couple, got a couple dollars, and started playing the cash games. I'm playing PLO2 (which is extremely swingy and a bad choice when you are under-rolled like this). I've been up to $9, and I am back down now to $2.50 after a typical amount of variance. There's a good chance that I will lose it all and be back to the freerolls to get more.

If I think back, most of the sites I have money on, or had money on before withdrawing, started in a similar way. Days or weeks of freeroll grinding following by weeks or months bobbing around just above $0 until I had enough to play full stacked with a bankroll. Then slowly grinding my way up. It can be done, and it's great for learning. Even if you deposit, I recommend starting at the micros and making sure you can beat them first. They're not hard to beat, and you beat them by having a strong foundation
 
Clasher

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Whats the best way I can learn to play poker at a winning level without paying real money?
u already get some information on ur question above (post)...but if u really want to play without real money i highly recommend u to play at pokerstar (play money)..most of the players play seriously there..but through my experience (and all players) i want u to deposit some money n play bcause the risks, the excitements, the pain, the gain its what makes poker a worthy game...deposit it feel it n gl to ur journey😊
 
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