Posts Tagged ‘money management’

Tips for Free Poker Players

Wednesday, February 10th, 2010

A lot of people enjoy playing free poker just for fun. However, for me one of the best things about playing poker for free is that it’s a great opportunity to practice and improve without spending money. If you are looking to improve your poker skills by playing a free game of poker online then the following tips should help you make the most of your experience.

One of the biggest mistakes players make when practicing with a free poker game is taking advantage of the fun money bankroll. When you have an unlimited bankroll you may think you should play like a high roller and bet the max on every hand. In actuality, if you are practicing to play with your own money then you should play exactly as you will when your actual bankroll is on the line. Set limits for yourself, practice your money management skills and know when to stop and walk away. Choose a free game with similar limits to those you would play at if you were playing with your own money.

Additionally, since you are playing for free why not try out a variety of different poker games? You can try Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Caribbean Stud, 5 Card Draw or any other poker games you haven’t played before. When you play for free you have the unique opportunity to try things out and who knows? Maybe there’s a poker game out there for you that you never even knew existed!

Money Management for Casual Poker Players

Wednesday, December 30th, 2009

When it comes to managing your poker money, most of the advice you will find is designed for serious poker players. But what if you are a casual poker player? Even if you play poker only once a month with your buddies you still need to keep money management in mind.

The first rule to live by is to only play poker with poker money. You should set aside money that you will use to play poker and only play with that money. If you run out then don’t play again until you’ve saved up more poker money. I have a friend that usually came out on top when we played poker with him so one week he came to our poker game with the down payment for his new car. He thought he could earn a little extra cash before he paid for his car, but the odds weren’t in his favor and he wound up losing part of his down payment. He had to wait an extra two months to get his new car. Playing with cash set aside for other things may sound like a good idea, but trust me – it’s not.

You’ll also want to choose a poker game with limits that fit your personal bankroll. Don’t choose a game where you could lose your entire bankroll in one hand. You want to make your poker money last so you can enjoy yourself.