When should I start real-money play

X

xxXZimmmerXxx

Rising Star
Bronze Level
Joined
Jun 13, 2013
Total posts
4
Chips
0
Hello all. If you couldn't tell I'm new here but I have a question ask, when should I start real money play? I have been playing holdem for a year, and I've seem to be getting better. On full tilt I used to be averaging 35th at the 10,000 play money tables, but now I seem to be adding onto my technique as out of the 2 tournaments I played yesterday I made it to the final table both times placing 5th and 8th and have been placing in good standings consistently. Should I start doing small tournaments or keep practicing with play money.
Note: my budget would be about 40$ a month
 
vinnie

vinnie

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Apr 12, 2013
Total posts
1,208
Awards
1
US
Chips
50
You should have started real money a long time ago. You'll probably have a period of adjustment (real money plays differently than play money), but you'll find the game is a lot better.

Edit: If you're willing to redeposit up to a certain amount each month ($40 in your case), I would start at 2nl, but I would take shots at 5nl near the end of the month if you're breakeven or better. You're not going to worry too much about bankroll management when you are going to be able to rebuy in a couple days if you go busto.

I've done it all from $0... and it can take months to get from $0-$200 when stuck playing at the lowest limits worrying about bankroll. That's only because I wasn't willing to reload. If you can reload, you can move up at a more aggressive rate and start building your bankroll a lot quicker.
 
N

NL_Dynamite

Rising Star
Bronze Level
Joined
Jun 13, 2013
Total posts
1
Chips
0
Need much experience with play money!
 
J

jcla6985

Visionary
Silver Level
Joined
Apr 27, 2013
Total posts
638
Chips
0
Ya real money for sure. Start low stakes if your nervous
 
E

Eur47wiktor

Rising Star
Bronze Level
Joined
May 18, 2013
Total posts
9
Chips
0
But isn't it a big difference in play money and real money?
In play money people go all in for fun and in real money they play serious?
I play a lot of freeroll, what do you think about that?
 
vinnie

vinnie

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Apr 12, 2013
Total posts
1,208
Awards
1
US
Chips
50
But isn't it a big difference in play money and real money?
In play money people go all in for fun and in real money they play serious?
I play a lot of freeroll, what do you think about that?

Is it different? Sure. That said, at the lowest limits, you still have people going all-in for fun. You just need to pay attention and adjust to what people are doing. It's really not that much harder.

freerolls are the same basic idea. Just watch how people are playing and adjust to make the most out of their mistakes. I've got some crazy hands where people make insane real money calls, hands you expect to see at play money.

One example, I backed into the nut flush on a board with 4-suited cards. I overbet shoved all-in (3 times the pot) knowing my opponent was never going to fold any flush and would probably fold everything else anyway. My opponent snap called with 3rd pair from the flop (no flush)! I knew they were calling wide, but never thought it would be that wide for real money.
 
bezobrazny

bezobrazny

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Jan 26, 2013
Total posts
1,138
Chips
0
I would say never because it can easily be your waste of time and money but if you really like the poker game you can start now and go slow until you feel the game better and see how it goes. Minimum tournament fees and minimum ring game buy ins.
 
B

BomTombadil

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
May 1, 2013
Total posts
100
Chips
0
Start real money now. You'll never get very good just playing at the play tables.
 
kidkvno1

kidkvno1

Sarah's Pet
Bronze Level
Joined
Aug 20, 2008
Total posts
16,281
Awards
4
Chips
50
It all depends, what's the buyin level you're playing at in play money MTT, oh 10K.

I would say it's time to play some real money games!
 
Yoshimiii

Yoshimiii

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Oct 16, 2012
Total posts
1,058
Chips
0
Play money is nothing like real money, go to real money asap. You can't progress as a poker player vs idiots.
 
X

xxXZimmmerXxx

Rising Star
Bronze Level
Joined
Jun 13, 2013
Total posts
4
Chips
0
Yeah I agree the play money vs real money is much different which is why I was doing the 10k buy in instead of the 275 or 1k because its the highest buy in tournament with more the 20 people, so people play a bit more seriously. However, still play money, so yeah, still different. I'll watch some more strategy videos and such and get started. Any highly recommended sites?
 
X

xxXZimmmerXxx

Rising Star
Bronze Level
Joined
Jun 13, 2013
Total posts
4
Chips
0
Forgot to mention, yeah 90 player tournaments
 
Poker Orifice

Poker Orifice

Fully Tilted
Platinum Level
Joined
Jan 19, 2008
Total posts
25,599
Awards
6
CA
Chips
968
Play money is nothing like real money, go to real money asap. You can't progress as a poker player vs idiots.
this ^

At first, consider it a small investment in entertainment (or an education to learn game).
 
XXPXXP

XXPXXP

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Sep 7, 2012
Total posts
5,511
Awards
2
Chips
0
Hello all. If you couldn't tell I'm new here but I have a question ask, when should I start real money play? I have been playing holdem for a year, and I've seem to be getting better. On full tilt I used to be averaging 35th at the 10,000 play money tables, but now I seem to be adding onto my technique as out of the 2 tournaments I played yesterday I made it to the final table both times placing 5th and 8th and have been placing in good standings consistently. Should I start doing small tournaments or keep practicing with play money.
Note: my budget would be about 40$ a month

you need to try to start RIGHT NOW!
if you afraid to play real, and want to postpone play real to Tomorrow, then you will not ever find a good chance to play real!

40 USD is enough to start from micro buyin!

eg, FL4, you have 100big bets,
0.5 or 1 USD SNG you have at least 40 buyins

GL:D
 
vinylspiros

vinylspiros

PIRANHA-------->< (((º>
Silver Level
Joined
Oct 9, 2012
Total posts
4,393
Awards
1
Chips
1
play money poker is a game. real money poker is not a game. It's serious business and you must understand that you will be up against people who are trained to take your money.

But be very careful in the beginning and play at the lowest limits possible to be able to slowly adapt to the new playing styles you may encounter.
 
X

xxXZimmmerXxx

Rising Star
Bronze Level
Joined
Jun 13, 2013
Total posts
4
Chips
0
Yeah, I'm definitely not nervous, just, I don't know, slightly hesitant. I know how to work with a little money, after all in my last tournament I was in dead last out of the 57 people left out of the 90 and managed making it to the final table, until I lost my KK to QQ for about 90% of my stack. That was a major bummer... I'm gonna search around for the right site, suggestions would be helpful
 
Yoshimiii

Yoshimiii

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Oct 16, 2012
Total posts
1,058
Chips
0
Yeah, I'm definitely not nervous, just, I don't know, slightly hesitant. I know how to work with a little money, after all in my last tournament I was in dead last out of the 57 people left out of the 90 and managed making it to the final table, until I lost my KK to QQ for about 90% of my stack. That was a major bummer... I'm gonna search around for the right site, suggestions would be helpful

I was nervous when playing with real money at first too, however I did so much research on the game before that everyone at 2nl was alot worse, same probably applies to you.
 
MasterOfDisaster

MasterOfDisaster

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Dec 3, 2011
Total posts
3,841
Chips
0
Check if pokerrooms has new depositors freerolls and sometimes they also give tournament tickets away or even instant free money as a new player.

I would try to split up the $40 in 4 pieces of $10 (if that is the minimum deposit)and put them up on 4 different rooms who have these kind of promo's.

This way you got extra free value and you can enjoy your $40 much longer
 
Arjonius

Arjonius

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Jun 8, 2005
Total posts
3,167
Chips
0
The only way you'll find out if you're ready for real money play is to try it. I'm not just talking about the state of your game, but also the mental / emotional side. Different people have different levels of (dis)comfort playing for different amounts of money, and different degrees to which they can desensitize themselves. You'll never know what your real money comfort zone is unless you go and find out.
 
Aleksei

Aleksei

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Feb 20, 2013
Total posts
1,527
Chips
0
play money poker is a game. real money poker is not a game. It's serious business and you must understand that you will be up against people who are trained to take your money.
Poker in general is a game for like 80% of people who play it.

If it was serious business for everyone there'd be no real fish and the game would be near-unbeatable (since you have to beat the players AND the rake to make money).
 
vinylspiros

vinylspiros

PIRANHA-------->< (((º>
Silver Level
Joined
Oct 9, 2012
Total posts
4,393
Awards
1
Chips
1
Poker in general is a game for like 80% of people who play it.
^^^^
If it was serious business for everyone there'd be no real fish and the game would be near-unbeatable (since you have to beat the players AND the rake to make money).

i dont know how accurate this may be. It doesnt seem that the recreational players are that many. Id say maybe 50-50% but again, this is a guess.
 
Aleksei

Aleksei

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Feb 20, 2013
Total posts
1,527
Chips
0
i dont know how accurate this may be. It doesnt seem that the recreational players are that many. Id say maybe 50-50% but again, this is a guess.
The overwhelming majority of live players are recreational. Online is tougher, but most players at the micros are recreational too afaik.

Then if you got a place like Bovada where they have a casino and sportsbook and all that shit so that poker is a secondary attraction, it plays out like a casino and almost everyone is a huge fish.
 
vinylspiros

vinylspiros

PIRANHA-------->< (((º>
Silver Level
Joined
Oct 9, 2012
Total posts
4,393
Awards
1
Chips
1
The overwhelming majority of live players are recreational. Online is tougher, but most players at the micros are recreational too afaik.

Then if you got a place like Bovada where they have a casino and sportsbook and all that shit so that poker is a secondary attraction, it plays out like a casino and almost everyone is a huge fish.

Im pretty sure that on STARS there are way more regs/players who have studied tha game, than we think. esp in the cash games. Dont know about live though. never played live yet.
 
Aleksei

Aleksei

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Feb 20, 2013
Total posts
1,527
Chips
0
Stars is one of the toughest rooms out there yeah.
 
E

Eur47wiktor

Rising Star
Bronze Level
Joined
May 18, 2013
Total posts
9
Chips
0
Haha, i don't know if i should start with real money, i have a wery bad patient ;)
 
Real Money Poker - Real Money Casinos
Top