Ways to improve your game without real money?

[xxx]

When you get done with the play chips, don't forget you can sell them for real $. Search google for the best rates, but it's usually around $50 for a million playchips.

That could even be an intermediate goal- earn enough playchips to start your new bankroll for 2008.

[Xanthro]

Don't use play money, use real money but set a specific goal. Deposit $10 and that has to be turned into $250 only playing .01/.02.

Grind it out. You'll both be punished for playing above your Bankroll, because it's torturous to play at that level, and you'll actually make some money so by next year you can move up.

Plus, as bad as the play is there, it's better than at freeroll.

Just remember, you can't allow yourself to move up until the goal is reached.

[phydaux]

I'll just touch on a few highlights.

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To improve you need good reading material relevant to the games you play. IMHO you need to play real money even if at very low stakes.

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The first thing I would do is review as much of your play history as you can to find out why you went busto.

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My biggest tip for you is to learn proper BR skills.

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Before I played at all- online or in a casino, I practiced for several months using Poker Academy software.

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One thing about your post that jumped out at me is that you lost money when you tried HORSE.

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[johnnydrama]

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\Deposit $10 and that has to be turned into $250 only playing .01/.02.

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Major BR management violation?? $10 is only 5 buy-ins of .01/.02.

[JereLock]

or 10... I play $1, run it up to 3, then switch tables if it's not very strong in my favor

either way, you need at least 20 buy ins

[Xanthro]

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\Deposit $10 and that has to be turned into $250 only playing .01/.02.

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Major BR management violation?? $10 is only 5 buy-ins of .01/.02.

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You can do it, you just can't take close edges. You have to pass them up.

The point isn't to make money, it's somewhat a punishment for not watching your BR. Now, you're FORCED to pay as much attention to BR as you are to the game.

20 Buy ins and you can play poker without BR in the back of your mind. 10 Buy ins, you can't.

[RustedCorpse]

I actually did the play money thing for like a month during some financial crisis, I wouldn't recommend it.

One of two things happens
a)The losses don't scare you
b)you start to get inappropriately LAG'ish and that's hard to rein in.

I agree with the posters who say play even .01/.02 something where it's a material loss.

[smbruin22]

i agree that free money games are worse than NOT playing at all. will make you a losing player, whereas if you don't play you're sort of break-even...... free-rolls are a little better...

poker academy is somewhat realistic although i haven't used it for awhile.... but most of the computer profiles are trying to win..

[johnnydrama]

Thanks all. Concensus is play money is not worth the time unless using it to learn and new game.

Good advice by all and I thank you.

[batair]

I'm going to have to disagree somewhat with the idea that play money can't help with your game.

It all depends on your play, if you go in not trying or playing crazy lag type play then it wont help.But if you play a disciplined tag type of game i think it can help with the general feel of the game, hand reading and bet sizing.Also it helps if you find rooms with low avg flop and the smallest pots.You can find tighter and tougher play money games then some micro real money games it all depends of table selection.

When i first started playing online poker i played play money for about 2 months and if it wasn't for that i don't think i could of started out as a winning player off my first deposit so it helped me.