Playing online...

[Spidey44]

Hey...I'm new around here and thought I'd put up my first post.

My question is this... I'm new to online poker (been playing at Full Tilt). Anyway, I haven't put any money into my account yet. Am I getting anything out of playing with "play" money? I know that you're not going to play against guys who always play like they play when they are playing for real, but am I getting anything out of it?

Thanks!

[GeoffM]

Welcome to the board.

To be honest, if you already know what you're doing, and I assume you do, play money may actually help your game deteriorate. People will chase all the way and you may do the same which may equal future bad habits.

I would suggest dropping a $100 on a site with a good deposit bonus (or PP, can't go wrong). The online play is very weak on pretty much every site so just start out at the low limits where the play is extremely loose-weak and build up your bankroll a bit, collect your bonus, open a neteller account and start bonus whoring, ie move the money around to other sites (use links on this page) and continue to collect bonuses and even if you are break even on these sites, you'll be up the bonus amount.

After you've whored a few sites you should have a decent bankroll. Then it is really up to you what you want to do, move up, be satisfied with what you have made, or stay at the same limit.

[Spidey44]

Thanks Geoff!

I hear you about chasing. I've been just playing sitngos as to avoid those going all in and then just sitting right back down. I think the play is better (still not great since it is still just play money) towards the end of the games.

I haven't yet tried PP, but it seems like everyone here loves it. Thanks again!

[PShabi]

THERE IS NOTHING TO BE GAINED FROM PLAY MONEY TABLES.

[bdawg31]

Especially in the 'cash' games. I hear people at work talk about their plays and bad beats and what-not in their pretend-money games and i just cringe at what they are describing.

I think the more time spent at pretend-money games, the harder it is going to be to go to real money. Mistakes that will cost you in real money games are not going to hurt you (and might actually show a profit) in the play-money games - it will take a long time for you to 'unlearn' bad habits you develop. I would guess it would be cheaper in the long run to pump in a couple hundred - and learn on the fly then it would to flounder around in play money and then lose playing with the bad habits you develop. Like someone suggested - deposit where you can get a nice bonus - that bonus can be your 'learning money' - if you play pretty straight forward poker at the $.5/$1 level - you shoudl be able to come close to breaking even or losing just a little fairly easily - your initial bonus would cover your learning curve.

I could see someone maybe spending like a week or two if they were new to the game, just to see how hands develop and just to become familiar with the flow of the game. But, i wouldnt wait to long before making the move.

I have heard a theory that learning to play tight and be patient in a 'play-money' game can be beneficial when you first start out at the micro limits (i am talking $.5/$1 - i cant comprehend the people that play for stuff like $.05/$.1). Would be interested to hear any theories on that.

[Spidey44]

Thanks fellas...makes MUCH sense. Making the move now!

[Talking Poker]

Instinctively, I would say Play Money tables can only hurt your game, but for a *brand new* player, I'm not so sure. It would help them familiarize themselves with the action and the absolute basics of the game - like reading their own hand and that sort of thing.

For even a semi-skilled player (anyone above an absolute beginner), I think it would not be worthwhile, and in fact may hurt one's game.

I would recommend you start small - say $100 ($500 if you can swing it), and start bonus whoring. Literally open a new acount, make your deposit, earn your bonus, cash out, and move on to the next site. This is a great way to build a bankroll - or, if you are losing in the beginning - to help yourself stay even because of the bonus money.

Ordinarily I would recomment working your way right down this list (and yes, using my afiliate links would be appreciated):


But if you want to guarantee yourself a boost to your bankroll, start with Pacific:


They have micro limits there, and I'll make you a sweet deal too. Deposit at least $100, play at least 250 raked hands (yes, even on the microlimits), and I'll give you another $25 free and clear (on top the the bonus they will give you). I can even put it into a Poker stars account for you or something, so you'll have a small roll for a new site.

I can make you a similar deal for Absolute Poker if you deposit just $50 there, so that would be a good second step:


Hmmmmm..... I really should put together a step by step process for people on how to build a bankroll, starting with little or nothing... It's very doable.

[Spidey44]

TP...thanks! I will try and do this tonight. Funny...can't get to most poker sites at work

[GeoffM]

I would also not recommend micro-limits even though TP said they might help. They work just about the same as free money, even the no-limit games. Hell, even at .25/.50, the play is still not so great. I would start at .50/1.00 on PP, play tight like a virgin and people will pay you off.

[Spidey44]

Thanks Geoff. I can see why the micros could create a problem. Glad I found this site...

[GeoffM]

I'm glad you found this site too, now do me a favour:

STOP SAYING THANKS.

I am always glad, as I'm sure just about everyone else on this board is, to help out.

[Spidey44]

Geoff...I'll make a deal with you...

I'll stop saying thanks, if you stop adding unnecessary "u"s to words

[eddo31]

definitely play for real money. there is really no point in playing the fake money tables. it will just create bad habits that you will then have to break in real money games. the only use for play money games is to help you understand the rules of a specific game (say if you wanted to familiarize yourself with omaha or stud), and that can be done just as easily at the micro limits.

take tp's advice here. there are so many deposit bonuses out there that as long as you can play close to break even poker, you can build your roll very quickly. play solid, tight poker, and you wil do well in the beginning. dont worry about fancy moves, just play it straight up.

[Talking Poker]

LOL... Damn Canadians!

As for the micro-limits, I have never played them myself, but that HAVE to be better than play money, even if it's just a little. I was more suggesting playing those in order to build a bankroll, not to learn how to become a better player... It depends on how much you deposit, but I would think starting at .50/$1 or $1/$2 would be a reasonable starting place.

Oh - and welcome to the forum!

[GeoffM]

ChipFish, a little help here?!?

Actually Spidey, I believe, but I'm not 100% sure, that "favor" is indeed spelt with a u up here. I could be wrong. Nice catch though.

You guys are lucky I'm in a very giddy mood today or I'd go medieval on your asses. I'm upset now, I think I'll go smoke it off.

But I suppose micro-limit could increase a bankroll a little, however you wouldn't be bonus-whoring in that case since the hands aren't raked. That and also get ready for a pile of bad beats. But yeah, I moreso used the micro-limit to learn O8B drawing odds, pot odds, and general board-hand reading. Anyway, made about $25 but studied the game for about 2 months on strictly micro-limit, and I'm talking a good 30 hours a week. I never went back to hold'em, and don't know now how comfortable I would even be at a no-limit table.

[Tony Cheval]

I can certainly testify to the fun of building a bankroll.

Latest stop: InterPoker, up $310 in a week, not counting bonus which for some reason hasn't ticked at all yet.

Also ahead at Gaming Club, with plenty of that $300 bonus to work off. Absolute has been slow though, haven't been playing as well there for some reason.