Play money poker is when you play poker using no real money, with chips that are unexchangeable for cash. If you join a play money table, you're not risking your own money, so it's a much more relaxed and less scary experience for beginners. The reality is that if you are a new player of poker, then you will end up losing money when you play at cash tables. It is a great idea to start playing play money games at toponlinekasinon.com since they help in learning rules and understanding the game better because there is less pressure. But even though it is easier, does it adequately gear you up for real money games?
The simple answer is yes, you will gain more experience in poker when playing for free. But while it can be a great poker foundation of knowledge, it doesn't really get you ready for money games. New players can start with play money, but if you want to hone your skills, you have to experiment at real money tables. All that being said, though, there is much you can learn playing with play money online poker, especially if you remember the following tips.
Learn the Fundamentals
The number one reason you should be playing play money poker is that you're learning the game. You should spend most of the games learning, and little time trying to win or earn virtual chips. Because the chips do not matter, you have a lot more freedom to learn from errors and find your game. The basics that you should be trying to master are position learning and how it dictates strategy and pot odds calculation. You will also discover that even with best play and strategy, you can still lose. Knowing this will help you remain relaxed playing for real money.
Keeping Things Tight
When you play poker with play money, there is always this inclination to play aggressively and play all hands because you don't care whether you win or lose. This is a habit to avoid. When you play this way when playing for real money, you'll be punished. You want your experience to be as real as possible at real money poker, so try to play tight and not get too caught up. Playing tight is crucial because by the time you reach the real money tables, you want to have a good sense of when to fold and when to play. You will have a much higher chance of reaching showdowns with better hands than your opponents if you play in this manner in the long term.
Measured Aggression
While playing tight is paramount in poker, employing measured aggression in appropriate situations can be a huge weapon. Learning when to raise will give you a good chance to make the most of your winnings, and you'll need to exercise acquiring the habit of building pots yourself when you have a great hand. Compared to play money tables, the real money tables are much more passive, so this is a good habit to get into. You should avoid playing good hands slowly, raising when possible, and ensuring that your opponents call.
Conclusion
- Play money games are an ideal starting point for new players learning the rules, fundamentals, and rhythm of poker.
- They are a zero-risk environment in which novices can become familiar with fundamental ideas such as hand rankings, position at the table, pot odds, and overall betting theory.
- These fundamentals are crucial and can make the transition to real money games significantly easier.
- But play money poker does have a downside.
- The lack of financial risk leads to unrealistic playing styles, such as very loose or wild play, that would not be sustainable at real money tables.
This can cement poor habits that are difficult to shake. Proper preparation at play money games for real money poker requires taking play money games seriously - playing tight, building disciplined aggression, and learning to cope with emotions when running into variance.
Finally, play money poker is a valuable learning tool, but it is no substitute for the real thing. The only way to really prepare for real money poker is to gradually get into it with the right state of mind, applying the lessons learned and adapting to the psychological and strategic adjustments that result from real stakes.
