"One does not learn how to play real poker until it is played for real money..."

Plenty of people play mahjong, backgammon and gin rummy with nothing at stake. Why is poker special? In fact, lots of people play wild card dealer's choice poker with real money -- and those games are a joke. So this argument does not follow.

Poker Academy runs a private play money server for people who register their pro software. Those people take the game seriously, because they don't want to donk it away at real money. www.poker-academy.com

"Any one who thinks they can become a competent, winning player learning on play money tables is an unadulterated idiot."

Well, I did. I've never lost my initial deposit, either -- and I've spent way more on poker books than on Neteller. That last factor is probably what made the difference.

If somebody can't beat the nanostakes, then he'd better go to play money -- or quit poker. I'm not actually arguing the virtues of play money, but it sure beats being the table donator.

Plus, I don't think the play money at Stars is worse than P@cific. In fact, many tables are better. You can't put P@cific players on hands, either.