transitioning from live NLHE to online w/ lots of questions

[joebatters]

I am a live NLHE player from northern California who is seriously thinking of giving up the B&M rooms and giving the online game a chance for a variety of reasons. Hopefully I am posting this in the right forum. I have been a pretty successful 1-2 through 5-10 NLHE player but have kind of hit the peak of what I can make with the games in my area. I am admittingly a little naive about the online game but have been watching the 1-2 and 2-4 NLHE games on FTP and Stars and there still looks to be plenty of action and money to be made. Here are my questions:

1) how easy is it to deposit 5k into account? can i just send a cahiers check in?

2)what site would be better to start multitabling on, FTP or Stars? can I get rakeback on both?

3) I know since things cracked down the online games have not been as good but is the action still good at the 1-2 and 2-4 NLHE games?

4) How hard is it to get your money out from FTP and stars?

anypther advice and suggestions would be great. thx

joebatters

[Reef]

1) probably not that easy to get 5k in at once.. email the sites to ask what deposit methods they have available

2) fulltilt has traditional RB, stars has player points (once you reach a high playing level it is basically equivalent or greater)

3) MSNL is still very very beatable

4) just request a check (should take less than 1 week for >$1K

[joebatters]

reef, thanks for the feedback. a few more questions:

1) what do i recieve for stars players points?

2) is rakeback essential to being successful a profitable player?

3) what site do you think has the easiest 1-2 and 2-4 nl games?

thx
joeb

[pokeriseasy]

Rakeback certainly isn't essential but it's definitely a help. Personally I'm able to live off my rakeback (2k+ a month) which allows me to not really touch my roll, which is great.

I played both Stars and FT for a long time and now I just play on Stars because I felt the games were softer as well as the option of rakeback.

My suggestion is when you start playing go with full ring at first because it will be a smoother transition. Then once you get used to the increase of speed in the online games compared to the live game then give 6max a try if you feel inclined to.

[joebatters]

just so I am sure you are saying you can get rakeback from stars? I have liked the looks of the games on stars but thought I would be losing out on the rakeback.

[phu_dawg]

On Stars, there is no rakeback. Rackback is available on FTP and other sites. I signed my roommate up for RB through FTP, and he is one of those animal players and he makes $900 a week in RB! Get it. It only helps. (Message me, I'd love to refer you)

Stars player points are great and each point earned is a consistent value. Here are some of the things I was able to pick up with my points from last year:

1 Custom set of clay chips
1 Digital SLR camera
1 50" Toshiba Plasma TV
1 Toshiba HD DVD player
1 Digital point and shoot camera
1 Numerous hoodies, shirts, etc
1 All the poker books
Tons of other little nick knacks.

I am from the Bay Area myself and was hesitant to go online at first, prefering the live cash games where I spent 30 hours a week. After 2 years playing online, I find it very little reason to go to the card rooms around the Bay Area. I only play live when I make trips to LA or Vegas, now. The convenience can't be beat.

I play exclusively on Stars. For some reason, I just can't win on FTP. But my roommate swears things are the other way around. You'll get varying opinions on which site is tougher. Just pick a site and stick to it.

[Reef]

[ QUOTE ]
reef, thanks for the feedback. a few more questions:

1) what do i recieve for stars players points?

2) is rakeback essential to being successful a profitable player?

3) what site do you think has the easiest 1-2 and 2-4 nl games?

thx
joeb

[/ QUOTE ]

at low levels of play, it's whatever is in their player store (best stuff is electronics: ipod stuff, tv's, etc)

rakeback REALLY helps.. but most pros do not rely on it to survive.

The smallest non pokertracker sites are easiest.. Then party and tilt and then stars