Online Poker for Fun and Profit  

Learning the Game

If hopping into your car and driving to your local casino for a few friendly hands of poker is not an option, heading to your computer is a very satisfactory alternative nowadays for millions of poker junkies all over the world.

If you have never played a hand of poker in your life, this is the perfect way to learn. You can find many online Beginner Guides to give you the basics and you can jump right in without worrying about embarrassing yourself in front of strangers if you make a mistake. The most difficult part of the entire process is learning how to bet, when to bluff, and last but not least - “know when to hold ‘em and know when to fold ‘em” – a valuable tidbit given to us by Kenny Rogers in his immortal song, “The Gambler”.

Selecting Sites

Novices to pros are all discovering this competitive virtual arena, and loving it! A simple search on Google for “play online poker” will result in viable online options no matter where you live, no matter what your experience level, no matter what your preferred game might be.

If you're new to this and perhaps don't have friends or neighbors who have online poker experience and could make recommendations for you, don't worry. Here's a great tip: if you search on Google you are pretty safe going with any of the sites that come up on the first page.

You can also do a search on “online poker blogs”. This will give you some useful information posted by current players who are more than liberal in their critiques of the sites they use and the results they see. Many of these blogs also offer tips on how to play and bet.

Soak up all the knowledge you can. There's plenty out there just for the asking.

Types of Memberships

For the purpose of this article let's focus on the sites where you can play for free or at least get a free trial membership. Most sites will allow at least a free membership of a week or more. Some require a credit card number and you'll be charged a fee if you don't cancel on time. Others will let you join and play for free forever, but you might be limited to certain games at certain times with limited prize levels.

Please note: some of these sites do require a paid membership in order to play at all.

Membership fees for some sites average between $10 and $20 a month. If you are a beginner, however, I'd suggest sticking with anything you can do for free. Once you feel confident about your capabilities then I'd say get yourself a paid membership simply because these typically allow you to play in more tournaments that pay more money. Of course, if after a few months of having a paid membership you find that you aren't even winning enough to cover your overhead, cancel and revert back to the free play.

How Much Can You Make?

If your goal is to actually make some considerable money, it's quite possible but very unlikely. In other words: don't quit the day job. You will be using “play money” or points, not money drawn from your personal online account. You will usually get a certain amount to begin with and then you will continue to earn points (each equals a dollar) throughout each game. If you happen to lose it all your account will be replenished before you play another game.

What you win is actually prize money as opposed to being at a brick and mortar establishment where you win the table winnings. Most sites have prizes averaging between $10 to $500 for the winner in each game, or tournament.

Depending on the site, there are usually multiple games going on almost all day and night. (I know this all too well because my husband can find a poker game going on any time no matter what. I made the mistake last year of installing a wireless network in our home and now when dinner is ready, he comes to the table with his laptop so his current game won't be interrupted.

Of course, the problem is not that he plays, but he wins! So I can't complain. He is addicted to the game, and I am addicted to the checks that keep coming in the mail.)

Your average winnings will of course depend on how many games you play. It is truly a numbers game in every sense of the word. If you plan on playing only occasionally then you could plan on perhaps winnings of about $1,000 for the year.

Now, if you are anything like my husband, this is not the case, nor is it your goal. You want to play as often as possible. After a few weeks you actually stop going out to lunch and brown bag it so you can play at your desk. You find yourself almost speeding home after work just to make a 7:00 PM tournament. And good grief…the wife went to bed with a headache? Why not enter the 11:00 PM one as well.

Once you learn the ropes you will start to see money coming in. First there will be a few $10 checks. Then a few $100 checks. Maybe not often, but once or twice a month. Then it does become more often. You now have a spreadsheet to keep track of your winnings. You can't wait to see the mail each day to see if there's a check. You start planning extravagant purchases with future winnings. “Yup, that 60” plasma TV over there came from my poker winnings.”

Could this be true? YES!

Tools of the Trade

Ready to start? Here are a few quick tips on some items that you'll find useful if not absolutely necessary:

• Get yourself a cable internet connection if at all possible. Even DSL can hiccup at the worst possible minute. A dial up connection just won't cut it.

• A large monitor gives you a much better viewing area.

• If you are using a laptop, a wireless mouse gives you more fluidity in your moves.

Pros and Cons of Online Poker

PROS:

• Quick and easy way to learn the game

• You can play virtually anytime, anywhere at your convenience

• Low cost

• Play in total anonymity

• You can control your environment

• You have a much better view of what your opponents have because it's all on one small screen in front of you.

• Accomplished players can actually enter and play in multiple tournaments at the same time.

• You play with play money … the perfect way to learn without going broke

CONS:

• You can lose your internet connection at the worst possible time even with cable.

• If you are using a free site, you may be very limited to the number of games you can play and the prize winnings.

• You can be moved to another table without notice.

• It can become an addiction.

• Chances are you won't get rich although you might make enough to buy a few things you couldn't have otherwise afforded.

• Your opponents play with play money … and will make some downright stupid moves, possibly costing you the game.

Summary

Poker has become a close rival to sports when it comes to spectator and participant leisure activities. Online poker enthusiasts burn out as many computer monitors as their teenagers playing video games. Is this a passing fad? I doubt it. When video games first came out they were said to be nothing more than a passing fad. That was twenty years ago. What is in store for the poker junkies? I can envision online games using webcams instead of screen names. I see Cyber cafes that specialize in only online poker play and are decorated much like a brick and mortar casino complete with flowered carpeting, green felt table tops, and waitresses to serve you drinks and snacks. We are only in the beginning of the online poker frenzy, and it can only get better.

My friends, this is no fad. This is a way of life. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go sign in to my next tournament. Good luck!

Thank you to Marie Duffoo for this “Online Poker Strategy” article.