I have been playing for free money for a while, but I am still scared to make a deposit and play for real money. I am scared to death that I will lose it all. Will I do as good with real money as I do with play money or does it change once I start playing with my own money?

Don't be scared to make a deposit just put a small deposit like $10, or $15, and it wont harm you if you lose it.

And yes, when you play for real money it does change alot, people play more cautious and take it more serious (depending on the blinds)

Personally I recommend playing with real money as it's more challenging and more fun in my eyes it's better,

Let us know how you get on...



:poker:

I have been playing for free money for a while, but I am still scared to make a deposit and play for real money. I am scared to death that I will lose it all. Will I do as good with real money as I do with play money or does it change once I start playing with my own money?

If you are going to be playing with money that you're scared to lose, you will lose it more often then not because you will be allowing your $$ to make the decisions instead of the best play at the time. You should never play with money that you cannot afford to lose. If you can afford $50 though, I know of a site that if you deposit $50, you get $60 free so it kind of counters the $50 cost and gives some breathing room.

I agree with mason..I'd suggest play in some freerolls or find a site that gives you money to play. That is a great way to build your bankroll.

www.RoyalVegasPoker.com - I know they used to give $10 free to play with in real money games so you could give them a try and see how you do if you want to stay at low limits.

Real money games are a lot different but I think they are a lot more fun if that's what your after :)

Like mason and smd said, just make sure you play with money you can afford to lose so you aren't being too conservative in hands.

All of the above comments have been on point and well stated. I'm going to add my own $0.02.

As noted, you can't play with "scared money" because it'll affect you in the wrong way.

If you're looking at a pot and thinking "that's my rent," then you're more likely to do something stupid. If you're facing down a bet, and thinking, "if I lose this, I can't make my car payment", you're NOT focusing on what you should be: playing Poker.

Emotion, or more importantly CONTROLLING your emotions, is the KEY to being a good player.

If you let your emotions creep in, even just a little bit, you're more likely to go on tilt, and NOT make sound, logical decisions based upon your observations and your skills.

Now... with that said, there's something else you may consider to get over your "scared money" problem: Low Buy-in, Sit and Go, tournament style poker.

If you sit down at a $5 "sit and go" table tournament, you have less to sweat over. Just consider your $5 the fee you had to pay for the entertainment you're going to receive from playing poker, and then forget about it. If you do this, you're back to playing for "free."

I've had many a night when I've sat down at a $20 sit and go table tourney, and told myself, "If I went out tonight, instead of sitting here playing poker, my $20 buy-in wouldn't cover my food, drinks, cover charges, or parking. I'm actually SAVING money by playing poker here." I'd then focus on the task at hand: having fun and playing my game.

Once you learn to completely divest yourself from the emotions attached to the money, you'll find you can play just about any kind and any level of game.

MORE ADVICE.

1) Start small. Play lowest limits until you're comfortable with this concept.

2) Build your bankroll carefully. I used to use a "50-50" rule when I'd play. After deducting my "buy in" from my winnings, I'd treat myself with 50% of whatever was left. The balance went into my bankroll. If I lost, I was only down a buyin or whatever my "go home" number was.

3) Don't EVER play above your head. If you're concerned the game is too much money or too far over your skill level, don't play that game. It's simple. There's nothing wrong with grinding it out at lower level poker. It helps you learn and hone your skills. Once you get a bigger bank roll and more confidence, move up to the next highest game. If you aren't comfortable with that level, go back down.

When I started out, I use to grind at a 1/2 limit game until I built my bankroll up to about $500. Then, I'd move up to 2/4 until I hit about $2,000. Eventually, I was at a 5/10 table, with a $8,000 bankroll. Not bad considering I started out with $100 and a poker book.

4) Have fun. Playing poker is something you should enjoy. If you're not having fun, then you're in the wrong place. At the end of the year, hopefully you've got a pretty nice size bankroll. Take 1/2 of it, and go on vacation. Treat yourself to something nice. Then, go back down a level, and grind it out for a while. You'll find your game improving, and your level of game moving up in steps.

Good luck!

Always keep only 10% on table..Never play too big table...nice and famous swing keeps too big table gamers head down

Nice info Dug. Now... my advice. First of all you will find a lot of sites and take a lot of nodeposit bonuses. For exemple :

75$-100$ free at PartyPoker (no-deposit)
40$-50$ free at TitanPoker (no-deposit)
20$ free at PokerOcean (no-deposit)
10$ free at NoblePoker (no-deposit)
PokerTime, DreamPoker, Royal vegas Poker...
50$ free at Poker.com (no-deposit) - i don't know if this is still available.

Then....read some articles, watch some movies, read some strategies...and try to play sngs and mtts... are easier then ring table and if u loose u loose less and learn more. If u have questions about no-deposit bonuses just ask me here or pm me. GL

if u are scared to play for real money u better play poker only against your pc
u can play with fun money or get some sponsorship but if u dont play your money u wont play the same
i had 100$ sponsorship and i lost all
i considered like fun money
after i made my deposit i played safer and i had more chances

Just start out with 10$ and play very low blinds. You will quickly build up your confidence and skill this way.

There's nothing wrong with building up your initial bankroll by playing freerolls. If you do that, it will take a while to accumulate a decent amount, but when you move to cash games and buyin tournaments, you'll always be playing with your winnings. Even if you lose your entire bankroll, you won't have lost anything out of your pocket. And you can just go back to grinding the freerolls again.

I am according to you Arjonius, the freerolls have the advantage to be able to gain money without having that to remove of the pocket. The greater deposits of money are in casinos online.

You can also play some rakebacks online. You can earn more and not quite spend as much.

There's nothing wrong with building up your initial bankroll by playing freerolls. If you do that, it will take a while to accumulate a decent amount, but when you move to cash games and buyin tournaments, you'll always be playing with your winnings. Even if you lose your entire bankroll, you won't have lost anything out of your pocket. And you can just go back to grinding the freerolls again.

As most people have said here already the way to play your best poker is to forget about the money situation. If you are starting with less than $10 then the best place to play at is pokerstars as the limits are as small as $0.01/$0.02. Use these limits to build your bank roll and the play isn't that dissimilar to play money. Then once you have built up to $50 or so the best way to build a bank roll is to clear bonuses. There is a good bonus website at www.pokerbonuszone.com that can start you on your way.

Always remember to not play outside your skill level or bank roll.

Okay I once had this problem when I very first started playing poker which is common because you're new to the game. I am assuming you are fairly new. Honestly you're going to play with real money eventually, unless you are just playing for fun which you aren't because then you wouldn't have this delima. The thing that you need to worry about is how you handle losing real money because it's going to happen. I suggest only playing in tournaments because they're longer you are equal with all the other players and losing money doesn't hurt as bad as cash games(well to me it doesn't). So go and enter a tournament and you're going to notice that you will play alot tighter. If you lose just rethink your strategy/game and play again later sometime. Good Luck!

A great tip for new poker playersis to start online. this gets rid of any of the stress from being in a brick and mortar casino. U can play at home in comfort. Another tip is to set urself a limit and keep within this limit. lets say $50 for your first night. Also don't play above ur bankroll, stick to low limits and move up accordingly.

Hope this helps :)

I was scared to start to play for real money 2. I found a partypoker site that offers $50 free to sign up. I did it and I got my $50 free the next day. I played with it for a couple weeks ended up losing it but had gained a lot of knowledge. I suggest be a bonus whore and getting some first time depositors bonuses.

yourself at a higher level. If you take a shot and lose, you shouldn't have to worry about rebuilding your bankroll from scratch. A good recommendation is to stockpile enough money so that you can comfortably afford between eight and 10 buy-ins before you have to retreat to a smaller game.

When I first started on line I never dreamed I would put my own money in , I played with free money for awhile , but found that they are all silly , never really playing good cards , so I then went to freerolls and made a little so I put my own $20.00 in and turned that into a lot, I know play in games where I have payed out bounty's on me , have even donated money to have freerolls for the practice , so you see playin for real money is more fun and easyer to learn from the best too.

I always go for the low stakes games, so I don't loose that much, I'm building my bank roll in the cash games, as soon as I'm $1 dollar up I stop, slowly building up.

i use to be scared to play for real money. but now i have gotten a lil more into it. i just play into it . i just play a lot more tighter is all

I think alot of people have this problem thats why you see that an aggressive person on a money table, takes alot of money.People are scared to lose some of there hard earned money.I think of it this way, if you go to a casino you also risk money, so dont be scared to deposit a small amount.And definitly dont be scared to play a bit aggressive, keep your own playing style while playing money.

i was a little apprehensive to deposit and play for real money. But i did it and i have not looked back. Sure you lose but you also win and there is less donkey's when they are playing for real money and something to lose. Try it you will like it

Yes the only way to become a good player is to play,dont be scared to deposit.Also dont forget to withdraw when you have alot of money, dont think that you mastered the game like i did.I won 1400 euro in a tourney and lost it a couple of days later.Ok it was a bad beat but still its gone.But well i think thats a part of the learning process to.Thinking back i could have gone on a nice vacation for that money.:(

Seems like everyone agrees :)

Playing for real money really can be a different game than the freerolls and play money games, the style of players is different and you might master freerolls, but come up against a totally different opposition once you start real money games.

I think even starting at micro limits at the minimum deposit will get you more prepared for the real money games.

I was scared to play for real money too. But I decided deposit some money to the poker room where was good deposit bonuses...And for you I`m advising the same...if you want to deposit money, choose room where are good bonuses..

Anyway good luck to you!

I was scared when I made my first deposit. It wasn't playing for money that scared me, it was the internet money transfer. I was worried that it was some kind of scam. After making several money transfers into and out of my account I no longer have that fear. Always use a bonus code on your first deposit and get a good match. You can play with double your money and if you lose it all it was only half your money.

Full Tilt (http://www.fulltiltpoker.com?key=MDAwMDNENjgwMDAwQThENTAw MDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDA-) give you an automatic bonus.

I have been playing for free money for a while, but I am still scared to make a deposit and play for real money. I am scared to death that I will lose it all. Will I do as good with real money as I do with play money or does it change once I start playing with my own money?

It is very possible to play real money games without making deposits. I simply can't bring myself to playing the free money tables. I get far too bored, and people have nothing to gain or lose by donking the tables. When I first started I spent my time at the freerolls. Playing various freerolls to slowly get a little cash in my bankroll without a deposit. I then took that money either to some SnG tables or to some tiny cash tables. Once you build a bankroll you can then move your money between sites, still playing real money, but without an actually bank deposit. Food for thoughts.

Focus on: Free tournaments with real money prizes.

Shelly :cool:

Real money is fine as long as u get addicted or play for more then u can spend.

Real money is fine as long as u get addicted or play for more then u can spend.

Dont u mean as long as u dont get addected?

I'm sure she does.

There is a huge difference in having fun playing with real money and getting addicted.

I think that is a bit of a small assumption to make.
People can play with real money very easily without getting addicted.

Just like everyone that drinks alcohol doesn't spend their life saving on alcohol....

Alcohol has a physical dependence, gambling doesn't.

I think your assumption is off course and don't think it is related for someone playing with real money, real money could be 1c/2c a hand and still just for fun :)

if play tight u will not lose your money quickly but is up to u to decide that... good luck anyway:)

Well, you when make first deposit I think it should be a small one and study something before starting player for real money. Or try play some freerolls, there are a lot of good ones and you can started a good bankroll.

u can make from freerolls money but in free u people call with 27 for example. its not a good way to learn to play poker.
but its a start.

If you are afraid to do the first deposit, endeavour to win what or freerolls. I when to was afraid, but i played freerolls and win 10$. And then already began to play :cool:

Nice olegan
So did u manage to bring those 10 to a bigger bankroll or did you lose it?
And what did you play with it, ring tables or tourneys

i think if u are scared to play ur own money.. DONT PLAY IT... play free money or freerolls or something but try to get some fun couse thats the point on this game :)

if u really scarred to play with your money u better stop thinking about wining .
almost all sites ask u to make a first deposit before withdraw money.
and after u deposit u have to play some hands before u cant withdraw.
so u better deposit 10$ after u learned to play on freerools (but u ll never learn toi play poker in free games ) and start to make more in low buy-in tournaments.

Many if not all top-notch players will tell you that if you want to be good at poker, you need to have a certain disregard for money. That doesn't mean thinking it's not important no matter what the amount. It does mean when you sit down and put $X on the table, you need to be able to treat that amount as chips, not money.

i never play free money,at the beginning i played freerolls to win dollars and then play sit and go and cash tables,the bankroll is very important.

For myself it's the same ..never deposit ..just play freeroll & win $$ & play sit& go ... i' m very happy because i dont play with my money..so i never be afraid to play real money...
ps:because my English language)not sure it's good ;)

the tactic with free roll tournaments is a good idea but there is some bonuses without deposit just try to find it

It's something of a generalization, but I find there are two kinds of players who are afraid to play for their own money. One group only plays freerolls; i.e. they won't risk their freeroll winnings. The other group will play buyins and ring games using the money they've won in freerolls, but won't fund themselves out of their own pockets.

I can understand the second group, but the first one puzzles me. People in that first group are dooming themselves to play entry-level poker forever, or at least until they change their attitude. They may build up their bankrolls to hundreds of dollars, but it'll take hundreds of hours to do so. And the ironic thing is that anyone who's good enough to win consistently playing freerolls is also good enough to win more money per hour - even after factoring in the losing sessions - playing buyins.

Hah , I got same problem. But when I won my first freeroll , and it was my first 8$ in poker , I started to play on Play Money to get some experience and strategy. So now I often play Sit'N'Go , and often I have not big , but money boost. Try to do same , I hope this will help you too.

I have some bigger problem. I always manage to get my winnings at freerolls up to a cerntain bankroll, but then i have a moment of weakness and i always spend it on the roulette. I should stop playing it but its not easy.
They should never bring that casino games up anyway :D

I had same problem , untill my friend didn't boosted my 8$ up to 374$ in black jack on my eyes , and after that... HE JUST SPEND THEM ALL IN GODDAMN ROULETTE BY ONE TURN!!!!! And after that I had my own... 8$.. Now I hate all casino games , expect BJ and poker :D

I had same problem , untill my friend didn't boosted my 8$ up to 374$ in black jack on my eyes , and after that... HE JUST SPEND THEM ALL IN GODDAMN ROULETTE BY ONE TURN!!!!! And after that I had my own... 8$.. Now I hate all casino games , expect BJ and poker :D

HAHA yeah. I hate them to, but i cant stay away from them. I need some restricion for the casino games i think. :D
Thats not good so much money lost at one bet. Crazy eh. I dont play much BJ, i never did it for money online, and i dont think i will. Not wanna lose my money there to :p

Dont know why , but If I play on money - I play only online... I think this is because I cant look at my opponents eyes when I play head-to-head , and when I do it , I am something like telling all my cards to opponent , so I every time lose. Even with guys who playing poker about two weeks

Dont know why , but If I play on money - I play only online... I think this is because I cant look at my opponents eyes when I play head-to-head , and when I do it , I am something like telling all my cards to opponent , so I every time lose. Even with guys who playing poker about two weeks


Ic, thats not to good. So even if you got good cards you still lose? Maybe should try some sunglasses :coolshades: or your friends now how u play and make profit out of it. Try something else, change your style of playing for a moment.

Sunglasses are ok , but I cant look even trough them... I think it is some kind of fobia.. Actually I nevermind about this , because I almost always telling "Lets play online? I cant play head-to-head , sorry." , and very often I play online

Sunglasses are ok , but I cant look even trough them... I think it is some kind of fobia.. Actually I nevermind about this , because I almost always telling "Lets play online? I cant play head-to-head , sorry." , and very often I play online

Lol ok, hope you get over the phobia in a while. But online playing is just fine. You can do what you want without caring about the other players. Unless they are some friends of you.