Playing Poker for free in demo games or practice games is an excellent way to get to grips with the rules of the game. You can learn more by doing than you would be reading about the game or watching videos, and it’s always helpful to practice before you start playing for real money. The rules of play money Poker are exactly the same, and at first glance, there might not appear to be many differences between them. However, the two ways of playing are very different, and this can cause some issues for beginner players.
That doesn’t mean that play money Poker is a bad way to learn the rules of the game, however. It’s still a great idea to get some practice in playing free-play before you with real money. But you should understand the limitations of this practice and know that there are some significant differences when you start playing for real money.
Harder Matches
One of the main differences between play money Poker and real money games is that the level of competition is much higher. Free play Poker tables are usually frequented by players who are just starting to learn the game. The ones that aren’t total beginners usually aren’t trying as hard as they would be if they were playing for real money since there’s no downside to losing. As a result, the standard of play at free tables is usually much lower, and new players can get a bit of a shock when playing with real money for the first time.
In a game played just for fun, many of the players around the table will play without a strategy, and a common move is to simply go all-in on any hand that looks half decent. Many players will also play every hand rather than folding, as they’re trying to have fun rather than win money. In contrast, strategy and wits are a much bigger factor when playing for real money, and players are more likely to play cautiously, folding bad hands. This also means that games with real money tend to be played at a slower pace, with more time being taken over the decisions.
The Rake
The rake is the other major difference between playing at an online casino with real money and playing for free. All real money Poker sites and Poker rooms include the rake, which is where a percentage of the pot goes towards the site or organizer. This is where they make their money and allows Poker sites to operate. It also means that two equally skilled players will lose money over time, as they’ll be paying the rake fee.
In free-to-play Poker games, there’s no rake, so two equally skilled players will come out even when playing each other over a long period of time. In real money games, players need to be better than average to avoid losing money over time. This is one reason why online Poker is so competitive, and it means that playing for real money can be stressful for new players.
If you want to have fun while playing Poker for real money, the best way to go about it is to look to have fun rather than trying to make money. By continually practicing and playing real money games, your skills will improve over time, but until you get to a higher enough level, you’re almost always going to lose money.
The best thing you can do as a new player is to play a few rounds of play money Poker just to learn the rules. Then, once you’re confident you understand how the game works, dive into some real money tournaments. Just be sure to limit how much you bet and stay at low bet tables when you’re first getting started. This is a great way to introduce yourself to the competition of real money Poker without risking too much money, and you’ll soon be able to join the bigger tables once your confidence improves. You can also look out for freeroll Poker tournaments which are offered by lots of major online Poker sites.
