Playing Poker For Play Money - Is it Real Poker?

[abgvedr]

Most people says poker for play money is not a real game, it's fake.
But if you go outside and play football, or tennis, is it fake? Cause there are no money involved?
You know, one might argue, that money is the most fake thing in the world.
The most important thing in life is to have fun. It's a true meaning of life. You know, one would say 'You wrong, your family is the meaning of life', or 'Religion' or other stuff, but really, its just the different ways to have fun in this life. To be happy.
If you having fun then its good for you and for people around you.
And playing for fun does not mean not caring about the outcome. It means enjoying the process. Look for example at some players like isildur1, going up and down milions of dollars like he dont care. Its just that they care so much that its too much. It's like constantly being in the middle of the game.
And that means staying young in your soul, but growing up in your mind.

 

[spectralwave]

There is a gap in the poker information that I intend to fill. For me, treating your poker like a business and playing successful poker go hand in hand. Most people play poker much better than they run a business. They have the skill, but they don't know how to monetize it. The modern poker player acts like professional athletes before they have agents. They played in crowded stadiums, but made $ 10,000 a year. Today's ball players know that they are the attraction - some earn more than the owners of the teams. This is because they have learned to monetize their skills. Since online poker is still in its infancy, the player who effectively manages his poker operations can become a real tycoon.

 

[Joe1]

Poker can also be more than just a hobby, it can also be like a part of your life, connected with a lot of passion and fun. For me poker is more than just a game. It's just unlikely to be a lot of fun to play and you can only say if you love the game too

 

[abgvedr]

Sorry guys, i think i screwed up with the thread title. I appreciate the replies but i think its a bit hard to sum up what i intended to talk about. And i failed. The body of the thread is where the stuff is. I will ask mods to change the title and also to move thread to General Poker

There is a gap in the poker information that I intend to fill. For me, treating your poker like a business and playing successful poker go hand in hand. Most people play poker much better than they run a business. They have the skill, but they don't know how to monetize it. The modern poker player acts like professional athletes before they have agents. They played in crowded stadiums, but made $ 10,000 a year. Today's ball players know that they are the attraction - some earn more than the owners of the teams. This is because they have learned to monetize their skills. Since online poker is still in its infancy, the player who effectively manages his poker operations can become a real tycoon.

Poker can also be more than just a hobby, it can also be like a part of your life, connected with a lot of passion and fun. For me poker is more than just a game. It's just unlikely to be a lot of fun to play and you can only say if you love the game too

 

[Debi]

It is real poker and plenty of people enjoy playing for play money.

However - you are not likely to improve your game much and move beyond the mentality of play money games if you continue to play them. Not saying that you shouldn't play them - if you are enjoying it then by all means keep at it.

Poker players who have nothing at risk - and nothing to gain except more play money - will not care much about the decisions they make.

So when you switch from play money to real money just be prepared for a steep learning curve as the game will be very different.

 

[MURDACK]

Personally I think playing play money does not contribute for your poker skills because if you are a decent player and you know the game you will gain nothing from play money poker simply because people (including yourself) do not react the same way when is their money or a chance to win real money is not at stack hence you will probably just get bad habits from playing play money because it is 2 distinct games yet with same layout and rules.

 

[Delenia]

Play money poker is real poker, it's just different than real money poker. Kind of like cash games are different than tournaments.
I play a couple of leagues that are play money and the games can be a lot more Fun than the real money games because we don't ever have the "allin donk plays". I like playing for real money, but the play money games are very refreshing!

 

[Cooking]

I think it’s real poker, there are still a winner and loser in every hand. The difference in my opinion is that players on play money poker play more in a loose aggressive style, because they don’t have much to loose.

 

[DS3]

It depends solely on the individual.

If you take play money seriously then it is a serious game and you do care about decisions made. I understand how some say that playing with real money ups the stakes in a manner no play money can, fair enough.

But you have many losing day in and out with real money (the majority) so taking the matter more seriously does not seem to improve their outcome.

Then you have the Bill Perkins type player who just makes frivolous plays because he can afford to. MJ Gonzales who is coaching Perkins (or trying to) for his upcoming challenge against Landon Tice said Perkins is the worst player and student he has ever seen. Yet he binks off millions.

 

[Newzooozooo]

Hi.
In my opinion, every beginner can always afford to play in freerolls, and thus build a bankroll and gain experience. Therefore, in my opinion, it makes no sense to play for game money.

 

[sharipov8090]

Not that people in order to understand the meaning need to lose something or vice versa to gain in the game.When you play for money, you worry more and concentrate more on the game.I think that with each loss comes experience,with each acquisition also with pleasure.

 

[MattRyder]

There is a gap in the poker information that I intend to fill. For me, treating your poker like a business and playing successful poker go hand in hand. Most people play poker much better than they run a business. They have the skill, but they don't know how to monetize it. The modern poker player acts like professional athletes before they have agents. They played in crowded stadiums, but made $ 10,000 a year. Today's ball players know that they are the attraction - some earn more than the owners of the teams. This is because they have learned to monetize their skills. Since online poker is still in its infancy, the player who effectively manages his poker operations can become a real tycoon.

You've made some very good points here. Poker is a solitary activity - it's just you and the game. Business is a group activity - you can't succeed in business without working with others and/or gaining the support of others. One relies strongly on people-skills, the other not at all.

Monetizing in poker is simple - you study, you learn, you practice, you get better, you make more money. "Reading" people is pretty much irrelevant in online poker, and not critical to becoming a good (but not outstanding) live poker player. Even so, "reading" people is a one-way activity, not interactive. BTW, when I say "simple" I mean "IF" you apply yourself and put in the work. Many of us have the potential, but will never work hard enough at it to become "good".

Monetizing a business activity is complex - you can do all of the above and still fail because once past childhood, you can't learn to be a people-person. You've either already got it, or you never will.

Sports is a hybrid - it's maybe 75 - 95% solitary skill and the rest people skills. Same with acting. There are lots of reallly good athletes and actors, but very, very few will make it to the top because you also require people-skills to get there.

BTW - I love playing for play money on pokerstars. It's mostly Americans and Canadians. There's no pressure. It's just plain fun!

 

[zerosalex]

It's real. Just expect a bunch of donks and suck outs. The higher the stakes the more real poker gets. The cheaper it is to play and see flops then people will just chase. But you can always turn a table into a serious session by playing smart trying to get most of the chips and having others trying to take them away.

 

[MattRyder]

I think it’s real poker, there are still a winner and loser in every hand. The difference in my opinion is that players on play money poker play more in a loose aggressive style, because they don’t have much to loose.

Not exactly my experience - real money poker is much more aggressive (NOT stupid-aggressive. Serious-aggressive) than play money poker. That's the BIG difference - you can get into a lot more hands for cheap in play money games. In real money games you're risking your tournament life with many more hands. Almost every move you make is going to be challenged.

 

[wpilson70]

Play money poker vs freerolls.

Absolutely zero difference but I’m surprised at some of the responses.

Freerolls are sacred here. A building block of this house.

IMO there’s zero difference between the two. Certainly no difference in quality of gameplay. You divide the 3000 players who show up for a monthly by the $50 or $100 available and we’re talking a difference measured in pennies.

 

[Luca Santos]

In the PS game Sin & Go of ficticios to accumulate tokens for games in HG and it works. In addition to being a great test for final tables and a push fold test.

 

[linf]

will you play the same if you lose 1000 play money or 1000 real $? And will all players play the same way? This is the answer to your question

 

[Shells]

Play a couple of CardsChat League games, which are play money, and those who think it's a bunch of donks going AIPF, you would be wrong. The CardsChat events can often fall into the same category.

Actually, I play 5 Card Draw play money games on PokerStars and I would say 95% of those who play them are serious enough, too. And there is nothing to gain but possibly a few play chips and some decent learning experiences.

 

[Lucky_Shark]

Play money allow beginners to learn poker. I used to study like that myself. Playing for real money is different from playing for play money. I practice playing chips with my friends. isildur1 is an exception to the rule.

 

[TheDude6622]

It allows you to practice and test out different strategies. Unfortunately a lot of people just treat it as a shove and pray for no reason. If you're playing a home game with play chips with people you know it is definitely more beneficial and fun.

I also enjoy the league games that utilize play money chips. Definitely a strong competition!

 

[skalibur]

difference is in thinking

Most people says poker for play money is not a real game, it's fake.
But if you go outside and play football, or tennis, is it fake? Cause there are no money involved?
You know, one might argue, that money is the most fake thing in the world.
The most important thing in life is to have fun. It's a true meaning of life. You know, one would say 'You wrong, your family is the meaning of life', or 'Religion' or other stuff, but really, its just the different ways to have fun in this life. To be happy.
If you having fun then its good for you and for people around you.
And playing for fun does not mean not caring about the outcome. It means enjoying the process. Look for example at some players like isildur1, going up and down milions of dollars like he dont care. Its just that they care so much that its too much. It's like constantly being in the middle of the game.
And that means staying young in your soul, but growing up in your mind.

to a big difference in your piscological playing fictional you don't worry too much and you end up paying with average hands already playing for money you tend to think twice before you call with any more hands being fictional or money poker is the same what changes and our way of thinking

 

[MrPokerVerse]

I cut my teeth on play chips. Seem pretty real to me. Spent a Saturday afternoon playing for 8 hours to take a screen shot of a first place trophy. It was time to make a deposit after that.

 

[MrPokerVerse]

Play a couple of CardsChat League games, which are play money, and those who think it's a bunch of donks going AIPF, you would be wrong. The CardsChat events can often fall into the same category.

Actually, I play 5 Card Draw play money games on PokerStars and I would say 95% of those who play them are serious enough, too. And there is nothing to gain but possibly a few play chips and some decent learning experiences.

I enjoy limit with play chips. Harder and harder to find SnG's that run real money.

 

[Ronaldo7]

No it is not... I don't care about play chips.... I mean if i am on tilt i just buyin on some 0.55 tourmey to go allin...

 

[Lena M]

Hello.
I think that only beginners who study the functionality and mechanics of the game can play for conditional money. But in general, I also think that freerolls are the best option for beginners.