Some things to remember when playing for real money

[bobf111]

Learn to leave the table
This is really just a general poker tip, but it still nabs even the poker pros at times. if you find that you are being outplayed, outclassed or just unlucky at the table, it's ok to leave. Don't think about getting your money back or getting revenge on the players that rivered you for the 3rd time now. If you are losing money at your table, you do not have good table image no matter what you might think. Not only are you not in a good mood, which puts you on tilt (admit it or not), but other players will be more likely to make plays against you. This makes your game harder in more ways than you want. With so many tables a just get up and go, it's that easy.

I can't stress this enough if the game gets short-handed (5 or less players) and you are not familiar with short-handed play. This is an easy way to lose a lot of cash if you don't know what you are doing. I see this happen all the time, when a table breaks up and I'm stuck with two solid players and two guys who don't realize they are about to get run over. Don't be road kill when all it takes is a single click.

Buy-in more than necessary at the poker table
If you've been doing your homework, you'll know that you should always sit in with at minimum 20 times the big blind at any poker table. In the realities of online poker, this should be more along the lines of at least 40 to 50 times the BB. Personally, I like to sit down with practically 100x the BB. You should think about doing this too. Why? First, don't ever be in the position of holding the nuts and not having enough money to raise the pot. I've seen this happen too many times, where a guy will have flopped a full house in a $1/$2 game, but only has $10 in his bankroll. He could have made a killing if it weren't for the fact he was playing with a small stack.

DON'T LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU!

If you are worried about losing your money, go to a lower level table, switch tables or take a break. Second reason to buy more than is necessary, for intimidation factor. Opinions may differ, but faced off against a big stack, my feelings are that a good amount of players (but not all) show a bit more respect and will play accordingly - which is to your benefit. Now, don't read this as buying in for $1,000 in a $1/$2 game, because then people will think you are just nuts, but $150 to 250.. now we're talking.

Move out of the $5 Single Table Tournaments (STT) ASAP
This isn't as much a trick as it is advice. The $5 sit and go tournaments are cheap. If you are good enough to win enough $5 tournaments that you can beat the rake, you are good enough to be playing at the $10 tournaments. There really is no difference between the two; and in my opinion, the $10 tournaments might even be easier because you don't get tables ful of nothing but calling stations. Try as you might and throw the book of poker at me, but there almost nothing humanly possible you can do at an entire table of maniacs or calling stations. The game makes more sense at $10 and even more sense at $20.

[stepoff]

Nice advice... Thankyou bob... As said in a earlier post i am looking to go to the cash side soon,, this is good advice....i will consider...

[OP66fozzy]

I have always respected your advice, but I am not fully convinced about the last point you make regarding $5 STT.

Surely bankroll management is also going to come in to play before you make the decision to move up to higher buyin tables ?

Also, the rake is 10% on both the $5 and $10 STT's, so being 'good enough' to beat the rake is not going to make any difference on either table.

[bobf111]

Hi fozzy,
The point I was trying to make is that on a $10 table, you will get more consistent players than $2 $3 or $5 tables. It is much easer to play that type of game rather than a bunch of players that play any hand just for the sake of being in a pot. Sorry if I didn't explain myself well enough. Lava and I have posted on bankroll management in the past. I forgot that I haven't been hare in a while, nice pickup thanks for pointing that out. What I should have said is I didn't find much of difference in skill level.

[ARSENALRULES]

Interesting advice if you are been outplayed then leaving is a good idea..however if other players has been very lucky then it may be worth riding the storm..depends on frame of mind..hard to leave when down and hope the tide turns.. I have played $100 dollar tourney equilvalent to $5 dollar buy-ins and have found the standard good.........you get a good game..the tilting one is good advice once you lose your concentration then you make bad plays..

[Carmine555]

Originally Posted by bobf111

Hi fozzy,
The point I was trying to make is that on a $10 table, you will get more consistent players than $2 $3 or $5 tables. It is much easer to play that type of game rather than a bunch of players that play any hand just for the sake of being in a pot. Sorry if I didn't explain myself well enough. Lava and I have posted on bankroll management in the past. I forgot that I haven't been hare in a while, nice pickup thanks for pointing that out. What I should have said is I didn't find much of difference in skill level.

Originally Posted by ARSENALRULES

Interesting advice if you are been outplayed then leaving is a good idea..however if other players has been very lucky then it may be worth riding the storm..depends on frame of mind..hard to leave when down and hope the tide turns.. I have played $100 dollar tourney equilvalent to $5 dollar buy-ins and have found the standard good.........you get a good game..the tilting one is good advice once you lose your concentration then you make bad plays..

First, I would like to say, it is good to see you back Bob. For those of you who may not know, Bobf111 began the original "Tip of the Day" in the Forum, and I credit a great deal of my success to his advice. I must agree with him about getting the same level of play at the lower buy-ins. I speak only of tournaments, as I do not play ring games. But you will see the same players at $1, $3, and $5 buy-ins, myself included. When I had my bankroll up a bit (from the $5 free), I joined some of the $10 and $20 buy-ins, and had very little success (I lost the lot). After making a deposit (which I have nearly tripled) I have played almost nothing but $5 tourneys, with great success, including a 1st place moments ago. I am now just waiting to build the bankroll so that I can get back into the larger buy-ins. I feel my level of play is good for that range, I just need the funds.

As ARSENAL says, beware of the TILT factor. It is easy to fall into it and not believe that you are tilting. Also, do not be afraid to take advantage of other players on tilt. I put a very hard hit on a player today for a substancial double-up, which nearly crippled him. He came back the following hand all-in, and I knew he was tilting. I called with J 10 suited (an easy call due to my chipstack), and he had trash for a hand, so bad I don't even remember. Needless to say, I put him out there.

[stevo_58]

Thanks you for the good advice guys. I just wondered, would you say there is much of a difference between the level/standard of players who enter the $5 sit n go's V's the multitable tourneys? I've been playing the multi's but not the $5 sit n go's.

Only been playing on real money side for about 3 weeks but it's great fun. One thing I have learnt is that unless you have a big bankroll only play the multi's that don't have the 'rebuy and add on' feature.

I've done OK with the $5 I won on a freeroll. Got up to $117 at one point but this last week it's been gradually lowering. Still have approx $60 so I just need to be smart with which games I enter.

[bobf111]

Originally Posted by stevo58

Thanks you for the good advice guys. I just wondered, would you say there is much of a difference between the level/standard of players who enter the $5 sit n go's V's the multitable tourneys? I've been playing the multi's but not the $5 sit n go's.

Only been playing on real money side for about 3 weeks but it's great fun. One thing I have learnt is that unless you have a big bankroll only play the multi's that don't have the 'rebuy and add on' feature.

I've done OK with the $5 I won on a freeroll. Got up to $117 at one point but this last week it's been gradually lowering. Still have approx $60 so I just need to be smart with which games I enter.

The biggest difference, is that a lot of players play the same way on a sit & go as they play a ring game. The multi tabled tourneys most players know they are in it for the long haul and play a tighter game.

[3XIT]

Originally Posted by bobf111

The biggest difference, is that a lot of players play the same way on a sit & go as they play a ring game. The multi tabled tourneys most players know they are in it for the long haul and play a tighter game.

Hi Bob,
I agree that most players play the same unless it's a multi table tourney, having only recently come back i notice this more than before.
It's good to have you back and i look forward to any and all info on poker that you share with us.
Point of fact, i played a tourney 10pm UK time a couple of nights ago, my first in about 9 months...
The players changed tables alot...so that was a strange feeling, kinda loses the flow because you get used to who is there..aha
There were players betting heavy before the cards were on the table $150/$250 the blinds were only $20.
However i remembered all the lessons you gave stating not to buy in to the play, to ride it out and take my time...and so i came
2nd..hehe
Anyways great to see you,
As Always 3XIT

[OP66fozzy]

Originally Posted by 3XIT

Hi Bob,
I agree that most players play the same unless it's a multi table tourney, having only recently come back i notice this more than before.
It's good to have you back and i look forward to any and all info on poker that you share with us.
Point of fact, i played a tourney 10pm UK time a couple of nights ago, my first in about 9 months...
The players changed tables alot...so that was a strange feeling, kinda loses the flow because you get used to who is there..aha
There were players betting heavy before the cards were on the table $150/$250 the blinds were only $20.
However i remembered all the lessons you gave stating not to buy in to the play, to ride it out and take my time...and so i came
2nd..hehe
Anyways great to see you,
As Always 3XIT

Wow, those are big bets. What was the buyin for the tourney and how much did you win for placing second if you don't mind me asking ? I've not even got $200 in my account, so its going to be a long time before I am playing for those stakes !!!!

[stevo_58]

Cool, thanks for that insight.

So it sounds like the sit n go's might be better, because there's no table changing and therefore you might be able to start to get a read on their style of play.

I guess you can in the multi's too but you have to play quite a few before you see enough people more than once or breifly, to start getting a read on thier style?..........if you can that is lol.

[patience08]

have to say, ppl that know me, know that i prefer to play on the ring tables, than the sit n go's, although yes there is a fair amount of different ppl coming and going to get a grip of their style of play, however i am starting to put a lot of notes on ppl that i play for a bit during that time, which def makes it easier I am enjoying also the 5 dollar tournies etc the play in there can be quite good, however the add on ones are a bit of bingo, the last time some guy re bought 5 times and all in'd with them all which did put me off playing in there again.

Overall though i think the money side is GREAT and cannot believe its taken me this long to try over there lol (although i am getting a bit paranoid when i enter a table ppl seem to leave lol) is there something someone wants to tell me lol

Interesting thread though Bob, made good reading ty

[DeanReeves66]

exactly what i would say bob great advice.. havent seen u about 4 ages m8 good 2 see u back

[stokoe]

Thanks guys for a newbie this is great advice

[coolcat6]

The 1st thing to know before donating money to this site is that it will never let you cash out. I have around $550 that it will not return. I have jumped through all the hoops & sent all the required info that was requested with no results !

[BlackLava]

Originally Posted by coolcat6

The 1st thing to know before donating money to this site is that it will never let you cash out. I have around $550 that it will not return. I have jumped through all the hoops & sent all the required info that was requested with no results !

I've replied to you on cashout thread, this is an issue from past poker network we've used, we are now in a much better place (just read the feedbacks on forum) and in no way your money will be lost for you.
You have a PM here too, sorry for the mess

[coolcat6]

When playing for real money, make sure you play on a site that will pay you. This site is not one of them !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[moveon]

Originally Posted by stevo_58

Thanks you for the good advice guys. I just wondered, would you say there is much of a difference between the level/standard of players who enter the $5 sit n go's V's the multitable tourneys? I've been playing the multi's but not the $5 sit n go's.

Only been playing on real money side for about 3 weeks but it's great fun. One thing I have learnt is that unless you have a big bankroll only play the multi's that don't have the 'rebuy and add on' feature.

I've done OK with the $5 I won on a freeroll. Got up to $117 at one point but this last week it's been gradually lowering. Still have approx $60 so I just need to be smart with which games I enter.

good luck with your wish to make more money on the tables

[stiffler078]

I really like this thread. If I ever put in real money to play online, I'm definately going to remember these tips.

[LisaMarie79]

Real money means you actually bet money at the tables? Is there a "membership" available on this site? which enables us to pay a monthly fee and play cash games using chips? I'm in Illinois and my Governor made it a felony to gamble on the internet. I can only play the "sweepstakes" poker sites.. I am terrible at wording things, I hope someone out there can understand me lol.