Getting Your Start With Online Poker & How To Sustain a Living PokerLaws.Org

Author: Dave Cristo (Aussie poker professional)

When commencing their online poker careers, poker beginners need to ensure that a single concept remains their main focus: to gain the greatest amount of experience while spending the least amount of cash. I literally embraced the online game with little experience, other than that gained through regular Friday night poker games with friends.

Since then, I have progressed in the game, although it is true to say that I had to start at the bottom and work my way to the top.

When starting out, there are a few key considerations. Most importantly, do not forget that at the beginning of your career you are playing for pleasure and experience. Fortunately, online poker is a great way to gain experience quickly compared with traditional poker because multi-tabling is possible.

This doesn’t mean you should fire up 8 tables on your monitor the first time you play online poker, however once you can comfortably beat a certain stake playing at a single table, the opportunity is there to play more tables at the same time to win more money.

Temper Your Expectations and Ego!

Although you may already be familiar with the game, you should not expect to win a great deal of money straight away, as you will be competing against other players who are more experienced than you. As a result of this, you should begin by playing the lowest limit games available.

A further essential thing to realize is that games that are free to play using play money chips do not count. If you use free games to perfect your poker skills, you may jeopardize the money you later earn.

This is because when playing at the play money tables you do not take the game as seriously and neither are the other players. If you lose 1000 play chips, you can easily regain the same amount with a simple click of a button. When playing free games, you will never come away from the game with less than you started out with. This means that you can be slack in your game play.

Don’t Be Afraid to Start SMALL (yes, micro-stakes even!)

Games which take place at a micro stakes table are significantly more realistic and demanding of your efforts because there is real money involved. The ultimate way to develop your poker skills is to play the lowest limit games available.

Numerous online poker sites offer astonishingly low limit poker games which you would not find at traditional poker rooms and believe me when I say that there is simply no greater way to gain experience with a modest bankroll.

Many poker sites offer 2/5 cent no limit hold’em games. For poker beginners, it can be a great thrill to sit down at one of these tables with $5 (100 bb stack) and challenge yourself to double it. Although there appears to be little risk involved, you are still effectively gambling $5. You should play these tables conservatively until you feel confident that you can win without fail.

Take The Plunge Already…

My advice is as follows. Register with one of the reputed online poker sites and take advantage of the poker bonuses offered to first time depositors. Around $50 to $100 will enable a few months of game play on one of these sites, allowing for some losses. You should play the 1/2 or 2/5 cent tables whenever possible to begin with.

If you refrain from playing loose and give it your best shot each time, you will make a profit most playing sessions, however it is crucial to stick to playing “ABC poker.” The creative plays you see from high stakes professionals on TV just won’t work at the micro stakes, as players at these stakes are less willing to fold when they have any kind of hand.

Poker has developed into an international game, played by millions of individuals the world over. Poker can be played in the comfort of your home over the Internet. The high prevalence of poker and the availability of its access have resulted in an increased amount of competition online. It will take poker beginners many years to become skilled in the game. However, the money you can walk away with means that it is worth the time and effort.

About the Author