Poker can be quite an intimidating game to get into if you’re a new player. While the rules are relatively straightforward, it’s very competitive, and you’ll risk losing real money each time you play. One way to get around this is by playing the game with play money. Play money poker lets you play with pretend chips in place of real cash. Instead of buying chips before the game begins, you simply activate your chips and play. There’s no risk, and you can’t lose any real money playing this way,
Play money poker has become popular in countries and states that don’t yet have legal real money poker. It’s also used as a way for beginners to practice the game before they increase the stakes and start playing for cash. However, it’s worth pointing out that although it can help, play money poker is still very different from real money games.
Differences Between Play Money and Real Money Poker
There are a lot of differences between play money poker and real online poker games, which means that it’s not a perfect way to practice for the real thing. Besides the obvious lack of playing for cash, some of the main differences include the following:
Players Take More Risks
Because they’re not risking actual money, many play money players are more inclined to take risks while playing. You’re far more likely to see someone raise high or call a big raise in play money than you are in real money poker. In a real money game, raising might be an effective way to encourage someone to fold, but it’s less likely to work here.
Bluffing Is Less Effective
In poker, bluffing is attempting to deceive your opponents by making them think your hand is stronger or weaker than it really is. Deception is an important strategy for success, and learning to bluff and spot bluffs is key. However, bluffing tends to be less effective because players are more likely to take risks in play money games.
More Hands Are Played
Again, play money poker players are less concerned with wasting their chips, so they’re more likely to play a higher number of hands. Known in poker as playing loose, playing lots of hands, even if they’re weak, is generally a poor strategy. However, it matters less in play money poker, and you can still have success because your opponents are likely playing weak hands too.
How to Get the Most Out of Play Money Poker
So while there are key differences in play money poker, it doesn’t mean that playing is pointless. You can still learn a lot, even if you’re not risking real money. You just have to ensure that you’re playing correctly and aiming to learn as much as possible while playing. Here are some general tips for getting the most out of play money poker.
Learn to be Patient
Patience is one of the most important characteristics of top poker players. While it might be tempting to play every hand and call every raise, you’ll have far more success in the long run if you’re patient and wait for the right moment.
Look for Patterns
Looking for patterns in opponent behavior is a great way to spot tells and learn more about their strategy. Although play money opponents tend to be more likely to play aggressively, you can still notice and take advantage of patterns in their behavior.
Develop Your Pre-Flop Game
If you want to be ready for real money games, you have to tighten up and develop a strong pre-flop strategy. As a beginner, you want to only ever play strong hands before the flop, and getting into this habit is important.