Did you have a fear of playing poker for real money?

[Carlloss]

I was also scared at first, because when I started playing there was a certain prejudice about poker, about losing money with "gambling". But I never took money out of my budget for other expenses, I always used what I had extra, so today I'm pretty calm about this.

 

[franken222]

I have a fear of playing poker when it comes to cash games, or high buy-in tournaments.

With cash games, the fear is losing everything I've gained (after hours of playing), in one hand. This has happened many times to me, so I only play cash games for a predetermined amount of time.

With tournaments, when I play larger buy in tournaments, the play is totally different, and you can see that there are really, REALLY, good players there, and they will usually win out.

 

[57noona]

Yes when I first started playing I had a fear of losing money playing poker

 

[xXFelaXx]

i cannot play in fake money, only real money

 

[Roger1960]

I am scared of being in public. I am sure other players will think I am showing a tell but.....
I have played two live tourneys, real small ones and won them both. I hope to get the courage to be playing a real tourney.

 

[Jdawglet]

Fear of losing money instead

So I have never made a deposit to any poker site not out of fear of playing with real money, but of losing my hard earned money.

I’ve played in free rolls and have made some final tables to get a bit of a bankroll. But then when I use that bankroll there’s no fear. It wasn’t my money to begin with.

My real fear with online poker is the stories I’ve heard about players hacking a table to play cards up. I would hate to play in that with my money and get scammed.

I’ve also noticed my luck is better in freerolls. It’s like the sites want me to win to build my confidence and then when it’s a real money game I get nothing but 72 off. So I’m afraid of making a deposit and spending eternity getting garbage cards and no luck.

I’m sure it’s all in my head…the real question is which one of you put it there???

 

[VITOS]

Like any feeling, fear appears almost from scratch. Often the appearance of this emotion is the result of one mistake. Yes, it is necessary to take a more responsible approach to making serious decisions, but do not be afraid to take them.

Professional players do not succumb to the yoke of fear, they calculate all actions in accordance with the strategy. They do not doubt the correctness of the decision, do not blame themselves if they lose. They just got rid of the power of fear a long time ago, someone did it for a long time and consciously, and someone unconsciously just does not give this emotion any chance to master themselves.

If you notice signs of fear in yourself, take action immediately. Thoughts are material, so what we fear is happening, but is it worth being afraid of something that will never happen? Don't let fear become a part of your life and game. Good luck to you!

 

[pwalker4201977]

I started playing with just friends, I definitely didn’t feel comfortable the first time at a casino but over time I just got a gameplan n it works for me

 

[theStarfish]

There is still some kind of excitement, when I play for real money, in real life as well online. Though I play low stakes, I´m still cautious. But I try to focus on the game and usually it works well.

 

[korbal29]

Not at all ,being gambling a big chunk of my life,so being there done that

 

[jason2626]

Bigjay wants to know

No.... what kind of question is that if you have a fear of playing for money then don't play

 

[Sivraj]

Never cause I have bankroll management. I know what lines I can financially cross and what lines to not cross. As for fear of playing poker for big money on not afraid to but their is a stomach butterfly of nervousness but I get over it after a few minutes and start winning.

 

[AizenFalck]

I'm not afraid of playing for real money, maybe I would be afraid that it will become a vice although I don't think so either. I'm more afraid of playing for money and hoping to win a good tournament and never do it.

 

[619Leafs]

For me not so much as long as I set a limit of how much to spend.

 

[Poker Orifice]

I can honest say I was never afraid over the money being played. I was more excited that afraid but I can say when playing in the 1st bug $$ event I was afraid I may do something dumb at the table.

This ^ was the same for me.

 

[uri73796]

it would be better not to play poker at all if there are doubts and feelings of fear.

 

[lyki67]

Only if buy-in are big. Than I feel fever because I would like to come "in money".

 

[marvinsytan]

no fear, I just play accordingly to my bankroll

 

[daurensdo]

I'm not afraid, I just don't invest my money, I spin off freerolls, win a certain amount and withdraw))

 

[Lenka65]

poker

I started playing poker with freerolls. Along with understanding the essence of the game, the fear of playing for real money went away.

 

[Qairo]

If you scare to play real money, u shouldn't to do it.
Scaring change your game style to worse side.

 

[Phoenix Wright]

tell us more about it how did you overcome your fear?

I'll let you know when I play with real money, kidding, kidding

To be fair though, I've only played cardschat freerolls and micro stakes poker. I'd like to "move up" in stakes eventually and play at a brick and mortar casino (when the covid pandemic is fully over), but at least for now, I play the same with money on the line or not.

One may argue that is because the money on the line is "insignificant", but I disagree. We'll never know until I do move up to a little larger amounts (hopefully and eventually), but I disagree because I don't play primarily for the money - I play poker as a way to challenge myself and play the best I can play. That means the "winning" strategy or "best play" I can do should be the same - money or no money on the line.

Besides, even the "playchip" games, or cardschat League games etc. I've played in, I play competitively as if there was money on the line and sometimes I play those "non-money" events as hard as if it was a wsop event!

 

[No Bologna]

No Bologna

No. Play cash game every week, for thousands.

 

[Phoenix Wright]

Hell no although i have met some people who are that afraid lol :bebored:

Scared money doesn't win, does it?

Afraid to play poker ??? Why then even sit down to play ???

I think they aren't afraid to play, just afraid of losing lol

When my husband first introduced me to online poker, yes I was nervous and afraid. I did not want to lose our money and I was completely new to poker. He helped me to understand the basics. I played very, very tight. I played only at Freerolls or micro. I still only do that right at this moment also because I had been away from poker for a few years and just started up again in the summer. I think doing bank roll management helps lots for fear.

Yes, I feel like part of the original nervousness is from uncertainty and a subconscious fear of variance getting to you eventually. With bankroll management, there is a security in feeling "in control" and realizing when things are spiraling downwards or not BEFORE it is a problem - recognizing a lack of games volume for instance is different than losing consistently for years; bankroll management not only helps prevent this (hopefully with adjustments and things like table selection), but also serves as a "tally" of finances and helps point out when things are going which direction

I agree with you, if you play for money that you can lose, there is no fear.

This should be the ONLY way to play - although this isn't for everyone. I understand how some people are more willing to risk going broke with a bankroll, but no one should be playing outside of the bankroll they can handle etc.

I have less fear online in real money games than in person. I do not have a good poker face, but I play well online. COVID masks are helpful.

Perhaps this fear isn't of money versus playmoney then, but rather adjusting to the "live" environment. Both are poker, but they both have differences (not just live tells and more psychology in love poker, but also how online is more math-oriented due to HUDs etc. whereas in live poker, someone shouldn't have updated stats in real time

Scared money don’t make money!

I thought this too

I was not afraid. Probably because I did not and do not make deposits. All the money won from tickets and freerolls.

I did the same; I started playing poker through cardschat via freerolls and using that to build my bankroll for online/live games in the future. At least as of now, I've never deposited - just building a nice bankroll from my winnings so far Thanks for the resources cardschat

No. Play cash game every week, for thousands.

That's cool Why not post more actively in cardschat then? Is it lack of time, since typically busy playing or something? I'd imagine someone playing poker at a higher level would be more immersed in a poker community even away from the tables

 

[denis_og79]

I've never been afraid to play with real money, since the intention is to have real money prizes, nothing more than normal