Online Poker for Beginners - Tips for Playing with Real Money

When you start playing poker online it's always a good idea to begin with free games. But suppose you feel like you're past that now. You've honed your skills, won several large virtual pots, and want to start playing with real money. Well, here are a few tips to smooth your transition from virtual cash to the real thing.

1. Don't play with money you can't afford to lose! This might sound like a weird tip to start with - "don't play" - but it's really important. Yes, you may win; but what if you don't? Will you be losing money you were going to use to pay the rent? Some people do make nice supplements to their salaries with online poker; some even make a living with it. But they're not beginners. If you want an income supplement, or even a replacement for your current job, take it slow. Wait until you're winning consistently, and make sure you enjoy playing poker that regularly, before you ease into online poker and out of your day job.

2. Make sure you're playing at a reputable site. Here are a few ways to do that:
- Join an online poker forum and read the members' comments about sites. Ask questions if you need to.
- If you have friends that play, ask them for recommendations.
- When you've found some possibilities, check out the sites' customer service by calling them (on the telephone; there should be a number posted somewhere on the site) and asking a simple question. That will give you a good idea of how long it takes them to handle customer service issues and how well they do it. As a member of the site you may have to call this number once in a while. Would you want to join a site that's hard to reach or doesn't treat its members as if they're valued? Remember - these people are going to be handling your money.

3. If the site you decide to join offers a bonus to new players, use it. It'll give you that much more money to play with - and keep you in the game longer.

4. Start small - with the $.10 - $1 games. A $5 or $10 game may not sound like a big deal, but if you start losing, it won't take long for you to run out of cash.

5. Decide what you're willing to lose and stay with it. Don't "keep your options open" or decide that with "just one more hand" you can turn all your losses around. It's just as likely that you'll only go deeper in the hole - especially if you've been playing for a long time and are tired.

6. Whenever you deposit or withdraw money from your online poker account write it down. In the heat of play you can lose track of what you actually have. Make notes, either on paper or on the computer, so that at the end of your online poker session you'll know how much money is really in your account - and how much you won or lost.

7. Online poker can be a world of its own; it may not seem real sometimes. Without a pile of actual chips in front of you it's easy to forget that you're playing with real money. If at any time you feel like you're losing your grip on reality, stop playing. If the problem's serious or goes on for a while, withdraw all the money from your online poker account and put it back in your bank account so you can see what's really there. Then take a break from playing for a while. Try again when you feel ready.

8. Online poker sites may have a great deal of security in place; it may seem like a lot of trouble for you to deposit and withdraw money. This isn't a bad thing. In fact, it's a sign that they take you and your money seriously. And that's what you want.

Playing online poker with real instead of "play" money can be nerve-wracking, especially for beginners. But it doesn't have to be. Choose wisely when you're deciding where to play, then watch your money carefully until you get used to what you're doing. Eventually it'll be second nature, and you'll be able to return to enjoying your game. And once you start winning - real money, that is - you'll never want to go back to the free games.