[jdunford]

I've never played online poker for money (just home games and private clubs). I have been playing free online poker for a couple of years (DDpoker, recently PokerStars), and I'm finding it more and more difficult to find decent play (i.e. I can generally multiply my "play money" by 10 or lose it a couple of times over in an hour against donks that just go all-in every hand; I'm sick of raising 10x the big blind with AA to get 8 callers)... so I've decided to start playing online for real money. I have about 1.5-2 hours before work in the mornings with nothing better to do, and am just looking for some low-stakes ring games for the most part (so benefits like rake-back might apply). I'm Canadian, so I'm not too worried about the legal implications that apply to US citizens.

I thought about putting a poll on this thread, but there are more online sites than I know of. The big ones, based on advertising budgets, are pokerstars, partypoker, fulltiltpoker, bodog, paradisepoker... but then I've heard of pacificpoker, PKR, alldaypoker, etc.

I'm looking recommendations: Which is the best and why? What benefit packages (VIP-type offers) should I consider? Will I be playing enough (maybe 4 hours per week) to bother? etc.

I might also be interested in trading Paypal for ____ transfers, so I'll entertain those sorts of offers, too.

[tomb1]

First, join PokerStars so you can play in the big Thursday CT tournament (and now Monday, too).

[imthatguy]

Do yourself a favor and stick to playing live. Online can be very tough and time consuming. While you can win big, you can lose big very, very quickly. If you're going to play, try Pokerstars or FT. They're both pretty decent and have a wide variety of games. Just don't expect everyone to fold to your 10xBB raise with Aces!

And play in the Thursday night game on P*!

[scottwire]

I don't know the state of sites that no longer offer poker to U.S. players, but sites with many Europeans always seemed to have better games.

Sites like Bodog and Paradise that have a sportsbook or casino attached to them usually have more gamblers and thus better games as well.

I would suggest going through bonus sites like PSO, Pokersavvy or Boogster to get good bonuses for signing up. There are definitely a few sites that are very easy to clear the requirements for (i.e. Bodog, PartyPoker, etc).

Rakeback probably won't be worth it for a few hours a week if you're playing small stakes games but there are so many rooms to choose from you could always sign up for a new site later on.

Good luck.

[jdunford]

Originally Posted by tomb1

First, join PokerStars so you can play in the big Thursday CT tournament (and now Monday, too).

Thanks for everyone's help so far. I'd forgotten about the CT tournaments... I'll definitely get in on that. I'm not sure how often I'll be able to commit a Mon or Thurs night, but we'll see.

[Big Mike]

Originally Posted by scottwire

I would suggest going through bonus sites like PSO, Pokersavvy or Boogster to get good bonuses for signing up. There are definitely a few sites that are very easy to clear the requirements for (i.e. Bodog, PartyPoker, etc).

Definitely go with one of those sites, I heartily recommend PSO! They will even give you free money to start off with!

Kudos on your decision to start playing for real. I firmly believe that once you figure out the very basics of the game, playing play money online makes you a worse poker player (with the possible exception of playmoney sng's) And if you're going to be playing anyway, might as well be making some money!!!

Also, I don't know what low limit means to you, but definitely start out at a limit well below what you play live. The internet players will generally be much better than live players of identical stakes (true for limit, don't play much NL).

[Spike]

I play at Poker.com i win there i am a affiliate there play leagues there and i have no complaints

[luckychick]

I suspect the PSO route is the best way to go as it covers most sites. I'm pretty happy with poker stars, and as others have mentioned, you can then play in the CT tournies which are a lot of fun. I DON'T have rakeback (available through PSO) and I regret it everytime I look at that stat in PT. Full Tilt is another option - they have a 100% deposit bonus (up to $600). The bad news is it takes aqhile to clear, but the good news is that they release in increments, so if you only half, say, half as much as they want, you still get half the bonus (most sites you would get nothing).

Originally Posted by jdunford

...and I'm finding it more and more difficult to find decent play (i.e. I can generally multiply my "play money" by 10 or lose it a couple of times over in an hour against donks that just go all-in every hand; I'm sick of raising 10x the big blind with AA to get 8 callers)... so I've decided to start playing online for real money...

Just wanted to say that if this is your primary reason for deciding to play for cash, you might want to reconsider your decision. If you have other motivations as well, then I encourage you to play, but if you're looking for more "respect" or "better play", well, errr....

BTW, I

[jdunford]

Well, here's how it went...

Took Big Mike's advice to go through PSO. Signed up with P*s (which I'd already played free with). Deposited $100. Hopefully can make the frequent player points for my bonus $50 and PokerOffice software.

Just to try it out, went to a $0.02/0.05 NL "fast" table. Watched for one orbit of the table. Waited for the BB. Made some notes on players (especially two who played just about every hand, regardless of pre-flop raising action).

First hand I played to a flop, I limped in with K8o from the button against 4 players. Flopped J8x. Got checked around to me, so I bet just under 1/2 the pot. Got 2 callers (the two loose guys I'd been watching). Turn was another 8, putting 2 clubs on the board. First player checks, second bets $0.25. I raise it to $1. Raiser calls. River is another club. Raiser bets $2. I think for a while, decide to call, and lost to 9c3c. Down to about $1.25. No problem. "nh". "ty". Added note that this player will chase flush draws against the odds.

Second hand I decide to play (an orbit later) is A4s from the button, even though someone had raised it to $0.20 (typical pre-flop raise from what I'd seen in the previous 3 orbits). I only played this marginal hand because I hadn't even called 10% of hands, and when I want action, people will think I'm uber-tight and I won't get it. Anyway, 4 players. Flop comes 944 (rainbow)! Checked to me. I recall thinking, "I can't be so unlucky as to lose with trips twice in a row, right?" I bet $0.50 (a little over half my chips). One caller (the pre-flop raiser). I hope he's on an overpair. Turn is a blank (no flush or straight possibilities). He checks; I push all-in. He thinks for a while, then calls. Turns over 99. Beats me with 9's full.

So played about 20 minutes. Saw flop twice. Lost $5. I assume this is typical?

[jdunford]

Originally Posted by luckychick

I suspect the PSO route is the best way to go as it covers most sites. I'm pretty happy with poker stars, and as others have mentioned, you can then play in the CT tournies which are a lot of fun. I DON'T have rakeback (available through PSO) and I regret it everytime I look at that stat in PT. Full Tilt is another option - they have a 100% deposit bonus (up to $600). The bad news is it takes aqhile to clear, but the good news is that they release in increments, so if you only half, say, half as much as they want, you still get half the bonus (most sites you would get nothing).



Just wanted to say that if this is your primary reason for deciding to play for cash, you might want to reconsider your decision. If you have other motivations as well, then I encourage you to play, but if you're looking for more "respect" or "better play", well, errr....

BTW, I

Well, I guess I'd like to make some "real money" versus "play money". And congrats on getting your "go nuts" graphic working!! (read somewhere you were having problems with it).