How to Beat Online Poker

Posted: March 13th, 2008 | Author: Erick Mastack | Filed under: online poker | Tags: online poker, online poker sites |

Online Poker

Many old-time poker players don’t consider online poker to be “real” poker. They think of it as a video game. To them, “poker” means sitting at a green-felt table looking your opponent in the eye.

In reality, online poker is simply a newer, different form of poker—and there’s no question that it is the real deal. Like many other games, poker has graduated with the times into the computer era. At online poker sites, players from all over the world compete with one another in live, real-time games. The only reason online poker works is because it takes place in “real time.” You are actually playing against real people “in the moment.” You may not be able to see your opponents, but the action is real.

The beauty of online poker is multifaceted. Newcomers can learn the basics of poker in free games before advancing to low-stakes tournaments or games. Online card rooms are open around the clock so you can get a lot of experience in a short time. And they provide you the opportunity to gain valuable tournament experience. The World Poker Tour and online card rooms expanded the poker industry by bringing thousands of new players into the game on a daily basis.
You Can Learn How to Play Poker at Online Poker Rooms

Everyone coming out of high school these days is computer literate. Most kids have been playing video games since they were six years old, whereas in my youth there were no computers and no video games. When we played poker years ago, there were no poker books and no online poker rooms. I learned by playing in a live poker game, coming home broke, and scratching my head while asking, “What did I do wrong tonight?” Like everyone else, I had to figure it out for myself.

Today, the WPT and online poker offer a great way to learn how to play poker before you venture into a casino. You can learn how the betting works, the procedures of the game, and how to play new games you haven’t played before, such as No Limit Hold ‘Em or Omaha high-low split or razz. Playing online gives you a feel for the game.

Think of online poker sites as training grounds where you can learn how to play poker without any monetary exposure. That’s right, folks, you can play poker for free online; you don’t have to put up money to play. In a casino, you won’t hear the floor man say, “Hey, come on in here and have a seat. We’ll hire dealers and take up floor space with free tables so that you can get better at the game.” You can also test various poker strategies online. If you usually are a tight player, you might experiment online by playing more aggressively than you usually do. Or you might practice bluffing and so on. (Let me add that attempting to bluff is pretty well useless when you’re playing for free. Trust me, you will be called.)

As the host of PartyPoker, one of the world’s largest online poker sites, I invite you to come online and play some poker. You’ll be amazed at how enjoyable it is! There are three online poker rooms that host WPT tournaments. PartyPoker sponsors the PartyPoker Million. This unique event, the largest on the WPT, is held aboard a luxury cruise ship. UltimateBet is the sponsor of the Aruba Poker Classic in exotic Aruba. PokerStars sponsors the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure held at the Atlantis resort in the Bahamas. In addition to these sites, the WPT will be hosting an international gaming site in the near future where players outside the United States can practice and play poker online.
You Can Get Years of Experience in a Short Time Playing Online

Another advantage of playing poker online is that it is a viable way for you to get experience quickly. You can play any time of the day or night, and you can play for any length of time you want to. If you feel like playing for 20 minutes while you’re eating a midnight snack, you can do that; or if you choose to play a tournament that lasts six hours, you can.

For poker players who don’t live near a casino, online poker is a savior. Even if you’re fortunate enough to have a poker room in your city, playing online can be more convenient than driving to the casino, putting your name on the list, and waiting for your turn to play. As we say on PartyPoker, “If you can read your e-mail, you can play online poker.”
You Can Win Your Way to a Million Online

The WPT’s televised tournaments and online poker have really captured the nation’s interest in poker. Prior to the WPT, the perception of poker by most was something that took place in the back of a smoke-filled pool room. Today, poker championships for millions of dollars are taking place in the finest casino properties in the world on a regular basis. Because of that, poker is now viewed as a competition/sport rather than gambling per se. Millions of people have embraced poker and now recognize it as a game of skill rather than pure luck.

Many WPT tournament players earn their buy-ins by playing lower-priced satellites in online casinos. Truly it is beneficial to the poker industry, which is thriving again, for players to try to earn their seats in WPT tournaments by playing online. We’ve certainly seen the success that online players have had in the great championship events. In the Season 2 WPT Championship tournament at the BeDagio, two players who qualified online made it to the final table. Matt Matros finished in third place and took home $700,000, while Richard Grijalva placed fourth and earned $450,000. Between the two of them, their seats cost only $200! Russian poker ace Kirill Gerasimov won a seat via a satellite in the Season 1 WPT Championship event and wound up taking second place and winning $506,625.

And then there’s the famous Chris Moneymaker story. Moneymaker qualified for a seat in the 2003 World Series of Poker in an online satellite that cost him $39—and parlayed it into $2.5 million when he won the title. Moneymaker deserves a lot of recognition for bringing poker to the attention of the public—he is the “Average Joe” who believed in his dream and made it happen. Every small-stakes player in the world looks up to him because he did it. Chris gave hope and incentive to millions of people: “If he can do it, I can do it!” I have a plaque on the wall of my office that says, “Those who achieve SUCCESS are those who take a DREAM and make it come true.” Moneymaker certainly did that.

Online poker provides these kinds of opportunities for new players as well as seasoned veterans. At PartyPoker, you can parlay a single-table tournament win into a luxurious cruise for two and play to win $1 million in a WPT tournament. For the price of two movie tickets and a box of popcorn, you literally can win a million bucks. Does life get much sweeter than that?

Now let’s take a look at some tips that will help you get the most benefit from playing poker online. Translated, that means win as much as you possibly can.

Excerp from Shuffle Up and Deal

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