Play Money poker online

[BaABnG]

Hello. I am brand new to FTR. I am also pretty new to online poker. Before I go and throw my money into the ring of online poker, I was wondering, will it be beneficial to play the play money tables first? Will I get better at playing poker, or are the people playing there going to do nothing but teach me bad habits?

I spent quite a few days reading the beginner guides and the FAQ's and many other articles regarding pot odds and hand strengths, etc, but I did not find anything that answered this question specifically.

Thanks for the great site.

Bill

[dsmrolla06]

no your not going to learn anything at play money. your best bet will just be to play the micro limits offered at pokerstars. The play at play money tables is horrendous and resembles nothing close to real poker.

[swiggidy]

If you've never played poker it could help you get used to the game. Try and find some SnGs because after 1/2 the table is gone it starts to resemble something that is almost close to poker. Play money cash tables are stupid.

[BaABnG]

Thanks for the help. I have played poker before, in the Sherrif's garage in my home town. But, this online poker is a little different. Not sure what I should do. I guess just wait until I have enough money to start a BR.

[TLR]

I started playing online playing play money Sngs on stars.
The higher play money buy in (25K and 50K) are not that different from the lower level Sngs (although the play money is easier to beat). Ring games are full of crap.

However, if you cant consistantly beat the play money games dont start playing for real money, you will lose.

Play money games are also a good way to get accustomed to the S/W. When I want to start playing at a new site I play 1-2 play money games there

[aokrongly]

...

[midas06]

most logical post you've made lately aok.

[Wyvver]

Two situations that happen alot on this board:

1. A newbie posts something like:
"Aww I cant beat 0.1/0.2 micro tables because the players there have no clue and call with any kind of hand, so I cant outplay them with my skill."

Answer of all the pro's is usually something like:
"You have to be able to beat every game, especially the low limit ones with people who make insane plays. If you dont know how to beat them you cant beat higher games."


2. Someone asks if playmoney games are good to start learning poker.
Answer:
"No playmoney is only good to learn the interface, it wont help you at all with your game."


Im thinking its kinda funny...you have to be able to beat the calling stations and maniacs in 0.1/0.2, but not the suckers in playmoney games? If a new player should start at the lowest limit, with the lowest competition, why not playmoney?

If you know how to beat the playmoney games, it's nearly the same in the lowest real money games. The same type of players you have to get the money from.

Yeah it's no real money...so what? If you arent competative enough that you want to win, even if its only playmoney then poker probably isnt for you. And in the long run you save money because you dont have to go through such a big learning phase at the beginning, where you have to redeposit several times.

[swiggidy]

Wyvver, you can ITM in playmoney SnGs by folding every hand. I think it teaches patience (waiting for a good hand) and definitely rewards agression because people will call your bets. You learn how to value bet, but that's about it.

[LimpinAintEZ]

my 1st quick thought was god no, don't use the play money tables...But if you look at the high stakes play money (i know how stupid that sounds) there are a lot of players there with large rolls - Since you only get 1000 to start, they must have learned something - FullTilt has good playmoney tables and the higher play money stakes seem to have good/decent players (maybe they are just kids who can't deposit real money) - you can't win a shitload of play chips by not learning anything....

Most of the people who tell you not to, like i was going to, just say that because we get frustrated with trying to play a game that SHOULD be like poker, but isn't even close - and most play money tables are 8 people to a flop and what not, which is ridiculous....the only place i see that kinda action is in live games

[djzcko]

I played the play money tables for about a year before I moved to real $ tables. I made $150,000,000 in play money in full ring NL! While you don't need to make $150M before you move on, you should be able to easily beat these games. Once you can do that, then you should also beat the real $ games. Worked for me...

[Wyvver]

How do you expect someone to win at micro limit games if they cant win in playmoney games? What's oh so different between micro and playmoney games, player wise?

You learn how to play vs. maniacs, you learn how to play tight (which IS a good thing to learn at the beginning), you learn how to play against calling stations.

But go ahead tell every new player to deposit 100$ right away and lose them...obviously its the smart way to learn poker...losing money when you can learn the basics and abusing the suckers for free...thats definatley +ev...mh

[swiggidy]

If you have any experience you should not play playmoney. If you have no experience you can get your feet wet. Even the "high-stakes" playmoney games are worse than a $1 SnG.

I made $150,000,000 in play money

Is this your car parked out front?

[LeFou]

How do you expect someone to win at micro limit games if they cant win in playmoney games? What's oh so different between micro and playmoney games, player wise?

I haven't done any play money in years, but :

There's a huge difference between microlimit ppl who will call off their stacks with weak draws and play-money ppl who like to go all-in preflop, half a dozen at a time, with any 2 cards.

The former teaches you how to spot a draw, how to exploit an edge, and -- eventually -- that these loose calls are bursting with profit for you! The latter teaches you that gosh, variance is really high when everyone gets 7 cards.

[BaABnG]

Well, after reading the enlightened opinions on the board, it seemed that I should describe myself a bit, so that it will answer any questions about experience, and what not.

I have played garage poker with some friends a few years ago. I teach math so there are no problems counting cards, etc. I have played Hold 'em recently at tables at a friend's house, so I know how the game works.

So, that being said, I read everything and decided to do the play money tables for a couple of SnG's and they have freeroll tourneys to win real money. I will be playing at Poker Stars under the name BaABnG. I understand that there are going to be countless individuals who go all in with any two cards, but the person who said that just teaches patience was right on the money, in my opinion. Eventually they will lose.

So, thanks for all the words, and I guess I will be done posting here until I am good enough to play for real money.

Bill

[Warpe]

gosh, variance is really high when everyone gets 7 cards.

I guess I will be done posting here until I am good enough to play for real money.

How will you know when that is? Seriously, the fact that you've taken the time to join FTR puts you light years ahead of most microstakes players anyway, because you're obviously serious about learning. Play money tables are good for familiarizing yourself with the online experience and getting the basics of the game down, but once you make the transition to real money you'll realize just how different it really is. It all comes down to bankroll and comfort levels. If you have the bankroll, make the transition as soon as you are comfortable.

[BaABnG]

Thanks, Warpe. I did not think about it that way. You are right. HOW WILL I know WHEN I AM good enough? I guess I will just play to familiarize myself, see how it goes, then work on a bankroll.

[LimpinAintEZ]

can you 8 table on play money tables?

[BaABnG]

I have played now in a SnG, 5 table. 45 People. I am not sure if this is acceptable, but I am posting my stats for the tourney here. These are the actual percentages of flops played, etc. If anyone wants, I can post the individual hands, that way I might be able to get some advice to my playing style to see if I am missing something. I know this tournament is worthless, but, this is what I did. (Oh, as far as results, I finished 4th out of 45.

During current Hold'em session you were dealt 97 hands and saw flop:
- 7 out of 14 times while in big blind (50%)
- 5 out of 16 times while in small blind (31%)
- 21 out of 67 times in other positions (31%)
- a total of 33 out of 97 (34%)
Pots won at showdown - 8 of 15 (53%)
Pots won without showdown - 18

Bill

[Warpe]

There's an element of luck in SNG play that can't be avoided, so you're not going to finish this high all the time, but that's a nice result.

I can't really comment on the stats except to say I don't see anything grossly out of whack. Flops seen looks reasonable (I think you were getting cards) and your pots won at showdown isn't stellar but it ain't bad. You might have taken a few hands too far.

You can post HHs but unless they're for real money don't expect a lot of response. If you like SNG play then stick $50 in Stars and play the lowest levels. Not a lot of risk when you're only paying a couple of bucks for the entry fee.

[givememyleg]

Play lots.

If you lose your money you know you're not good enough. If you win money you still might not be good enough. If you think, decide, try, and post your HHs in this forum, you will someday be good enough.

We will tell you when you're good enough, so you don't have to worry about that.

[BaABnG]

I know this is pseudo-play money, but you win tangible money. There are freerolls on Poker Stars in which the payout is $1,000 divided over the top 27. These are free to enter. Would it be advisible to play as tight as a nun's sphincter in the beginning of these?

[jyms]

I've never seen these on stars. but there are freeroll satellites. I placed in one a year ago then found out it was a satellite to a stud tourney. What a waste of five hours. do the homework. and fuck freerolls

[BaABnG]

Well, I did some research, and it is a NL Hold'em with entries into a limit hold'em. Why would they do that? idiots. OK, I guess I will just do the $50 at PS and play the ll SnG.

[Gomez]

I think SNGs for highest possibe buy ins can be a little educational, when I played play money SNG's on Stars, I got up to 690K, and was very attached to my play money! A SNG that everyone buys in for 25K points has only 1 guy going AI on the first hand with J6 off, the 200 point buy ins have like 7!

[BaABnG]

I also figured out another use for these tables. (I am waiting till the 15th before I start playing with real money.) I can practice calculating my pot odds and implied odds here, although the pots get a little overzealous, it is good practice.

[swiggidy]

I know this is pseudo-play money, but you win tangible money. There are freerolls on Poker Stars in which the payout is $1,000 divided over the top 27. These are free to enter. Would it be advisible to play as tight as a nun's sphincter in the beginning of these?

There is another recent freeroll thread. {EDIT: not this one that got autolinked}

Since it's free, it's best to gamble early and try to build a big stack. If you pay tight, the 75/150 blinds are going to hit you with your 1500 stack and everyone else at the table has 15k. No good.

There are 10,000 people last time I checked. Top 27 will not be easy or frequent.

[BaABnG]

So, what you mean is that if you have anything decent, just all in it preflop to build your stack, or should you most likely wait on seeing the flop?

[Anosmic]

There's lots to be learned from play money. In fact I'd say play the play money games until you know why it's not worth doing so any more.

If you're willing to play a slightly different game I'd suggest going over to Everest poker. There they have free SNGs that are Limit and the prize money is like $0.10.

You can take that money and play their $0.05 SNGs which are then real money and NL, if that's what you want.

The fact that it's Limit means that you can't get five people all-in first hand, pre-flop. It'll mean a more patient game, but it's so easy to beat those tables that I had a good success rate even though I don't know much about Limit poker.
I got myself a little roll of $0.75 and then switched to the NL SNGs and slowly doubled that.

By the time I started playing microstakes ring NL, I had picked up enough experience to easily survive those games.

That's just what I did, I do recommend it as a low-risk, but meaningful way of getting some experience.

[BaABnG]

THANKS! That is the advice I was looking for!

I was trying to figure out how to get real money tables without using any real money. I only get paid once a month, and it is not budgeted until next month for real money poker.

Bill

[BaABnG]

I got 522nd out of 10,000. That took three hours just to get that close. Cannot wait for payday budget to play for money.

[swiggidy]

So, what you mean is that if you have anything decent, just all in it preflop to build your stack, or should you most likely wait on seeing the flop?

I have not become a freeroll master. Look for the other slide.

If two people are all-in and you had 89s it may be worth a call, etc. You may want to read the MTT sticky about hot to play the first hour of rebuys and add-ons. They can get pretty crazy.

[bantam222]

Well, I did some research, and it is a NL Hold'em with entries into a limit hold'em. Why would they do that? idiots. OK, I guess I will just do the $50 at PS and play the ll SnG.

The deal with the star freerolls are multiple times a day they run different kinds of tournys (NL/limit hold'em, limit omaha, stud etc), these are 6k-10k+ people. The top 27 win an entry into the weekly tourny. This has a 1k real money payout and is held every Saturday. This tourny switches between holdem and the others, but it seems to be holdem NL most often.