Is it the right time to play real money?
I am a novice player and new to online Poker. I started a play money account with PokerStars a few weeks ago and turned $1000 to about $4000 in a few days. Then I switched to Full Tilt Poker and so far has managed to turn $1000 to almost $12000.
Is it the right time for me to go live and play with real money?
Is it the right time for me to go live and play with real money?
Comments
It is great that you're becoming passionate about the game, but play money is really irrelevant.
What it IS time for, is increasing your knowledge base. Decide which games, eg. Hold'em (nl, pl, or ghey) SNGs, MTT or Cash.... you're most interested in playing and begin reading books.
(and ask here for suggestions on which)
GL sista!
You have the right idea of using the play money accounts for practice and learning and making mistakes with play money rather than real cash.
I'd look at playing freeroll tournaments that way you can build up a bankroll for nothing. Rather than depositing money, sign up for every freeroll tournament you can. I've build up my bankroll from nothing starting with freerolls. It's frustrating at first since the fields are so large but stick with it and you get better (and perhaps get lucky).
then try some small stakes (with baked potatoes)
gl josh
Play money bears no relation to real money, although I guess if you are a losing play money player - that would be really bad.
Win your way up with freerolls. Right now Stars has a Canada Summer games promo running under the regional tab where top 250 win $5 and maybe 650 enter, so good odds. It is mixed games though but week 1 is limit poker.
Then take your winnings and try the micro-stakes.
Finally stop opening new accounts. Poker sites will pay you for your action with free money, deposit bonuses and gifts, but not if you already have accounts at their site. They won't pay to draw you in if the already have you. Check out pokersourceonline.com to see how it works.
Is it time for you to drop all of your money into poker because of your success at play money tables? Clearly, no. The play money tables real value is showing you how the software works.
Should you try your hand at some smaller real money games? Sure, if you can easily afford it. Perhaps one of the Poker Source Online's instant bankroll plans may be the type of thing you are looking for.
If you do decide to play for real money, be sure to sign up at whatever site you choose through an affiliate that will provide some extra incentives.
Toss like 50 bucks and go for it. Just don't toss $50 in so much that it becomes $1,000.
Read first, you don't know half as much as you think you do!
(and sadly, most of you can't rely on natural talent like I do... :P)
Although I am quite sure it is past time for me to start I have an unnatural fear of bots and hackers.
Read a lot, play a lot and then try it out but start small. Remember poker is like sex... EVERYONE thinks they are good at it but so few people actually are. BTW you can read and practice to get good at that too. I might be talked into seminars on either topic if there's enough female interest
lol..you're on fire today!
(and sign me up for the lecture)
[Edit] I had an off topic reply about the course content but I thought better of it and removed it[/edit]
Do you know anyone who already plays for real money
and is reasonably successful at it ?
I've gotten several of my friends started playing online.
They wanted to deposit some money and go at it,
but I convinced them to wait until I could come
over to their house and basically walk them through it.
They had some basic skills, but it is incredibly helpful
to have an experienced player sitting beside you to
explain why a call/raise/fold is right or wrong in each
situation. The experiencd player can probably save
you from losing your entire deposit, and maybe even
help you grow it.
The first guy I helped, we turned his $50 deposit
into $205, playing $0.10/$0.25 over several hours
on a Friday evening. But more importantly, he learned
first hand, the value of quality starting hands and position.
With a couple more tutor sessions, I let him loose
on his own. His bankroll fluctuated, but he never went
broke (atleast not for a few months).
If you can find someone experienced to sit beside you
and watch and critique your play, you'll probably learn
quicker and save some money.
Books are great (I read everyone I can get my hands on),
but applying that knowledge is another totally different thing.
I know people who've read books but still make the same
basic mistakes every time I play against them.
it's call coaching
you should charge your friend for it.
I stop doing it for my friends.
when they lose, it's because i sux, and when they win, it's because they are good at poker.....
i help a friend win over $700 dollar at micro stake
no thankyou
telling everybody he is good, that i was talking comment sense....
so i stop coaching.
he endup losing everything.
now he is big time online poker is rigged believer....lol
This is excellent advice.
I find having people sweat me (watch my play) helps me a lot.
I sweat other people as well over MSN.
Anyone want to sweat me at .25/.50NL 6 max?
My trading experience says not to get excited so soon and not to do crazy stuff though.
thanks