Real and Play Money Poker: the Differences

A majority of the people who play Poker online actually compete with play money or play chips. While, this can be a fun activity, it is important the one is able to discern the distinguishing characteristics between play money and real money Poker.

A lot of people believe that playing "fake" money Poker is going to help them become better players, and ease the transition to real money games. However, that is not the case at all.

It is true that play money Poker has some benefits, mainly that of helping an individual get accustomed to the rules and regulations, and if a player wins consistently, it will give him confidence and encourage him to play on.

However, that in fact can be part of the problem. The reason is that when one gets weak hands in play money Poker, they will pay to see the flop, no matter what. Rarely will you see someone fold, because they will not hesitate to bet play money.

In real money Poker, of course, the situation is quite different. Particularly in No Limit tournaments, people will play much more tightly pre flop. Because players are wagering real money, they will be more circumspect and cautious in paying to see the flop, particularly if their hand is very weak. In most instances they will rather fold and wait for a bigger hand.

In fake money Poker, there is no pressure for one to hold on to his stack; in cash games and tournament play, there is, and that makes all the difference in the world. While play money Poker will help familiarize yourself with the game, it can also encourage loose play, which is definitely not the way to play in real money Poker.

The bottom line is that real money Poker requires a totally different approach to the game, and you should never mistake the "fun" games for the real one. If you want to know how to play in cash games,

it is better that you learn the game properly. There are a lot of strategy guides for Poker cash games on the Net, and those are better resources and places to learn from rather than fake money Poker.

A lot of people still believe that years of competing in play money Poker will help them become better pro players. Nothing can be further from the truth, and this knowledge will help you beat these players easily.