KingsCascade.com

Advice

Online Poker

Tools

Fun Stuff

Mess

The most famous 3-Ball pattern...

Mills Mess

Seing Double

Is it real, or is it Memorex? Shower

False Shower

Playing Online

Until a few years ago, the only way to play poker on a regular basis, was to live near a casino or legalized poker hall. Now, with the advent of online poker, anyone can play live poker (against real players) any time, any place. Playing online allows the average person the freedom to put in the many hours it takes to become a winning player. Anyone can learn to be a winning poker player, given the proper instruction and enough practice time at the table.

These days it seems like there are a dozen new poker rooms popping up on the internet every month. There are television commercials advertising online sites on every channel. Poker has never been more accessible. But, "Why play online poker?", "How do I get started?", "Is it safe?", "Can you really make money playing online?", "What is Rake-Back?"

Why play online poker?

Almost unlimited game and stakes selection - You can find any poker game, at any stakes level, anytime.
No waiting list for a table - I�ve been on the waiting list at a casino poker room for over an hour, more times than I can count.
Convenience and time - Online, you don�t have to spend time driving and parking. You can begin playing, at home, within minutes.
Micro-limits (and free play) - Online poker rooms can afford to spread lower stakes games because they don�t have the overhead that a B&M; card room does. That means you can play a lot of poker, without risking a lot of money.
Lower rake - Most online poker rooms charge only half the rake that casinos do (again, this is due to low overhead, and high volume). The lower rake allows you to win money at a skill level that you would only break even at a casino.
No tipping - In a B&M; game, it�s customary to tip the dealer each time you win a pot (not to mention the tips for drinks). Over time, this dramatically cuts into your long-term profit.
More hands per hour � Online games are dealt much faster (sometimes double) than in a casino, so a winning player can make money quicker online. In other words, you can reach the �long-term� quicker.
Multiple tables � Playing online, most sites allow you to play multiple tables at once. This is another way that a winning player can get more hands per hour, thus increasing his hourly win rate.
Bonuses � Most online sites offer deposit bonuses when you start out on their site. This is free money that can help boost a beginning player�s bankroll.
Rake-back - Through select affiliates, you can actually get a portion of your paid rake returned to you every month. This can save you thousands of dollars in rake. "See below for more details."

How do I get started?

Take a look at my Site Reviews and find a poker room that suits you. Just download the software for free, and begin playing at the free money tables. Then, once you become comfortable with the software and the flow of the game, you can decide to make a deposit, and start playing for real money.

To get money into your online poker account, you're going to need to set up an online banking account. If you're familiar with Pay Pal, it's similar to that. Except, these sites allow "gaming" purchases. I have used both Neteller and Firepay for several years now. Both are reputable, and your money is very secure with them. I recommend Neteller because each transaction is free (as long as you don't use the Insta-Cash feature). Firepay charges a small fee on each transaction.

Basically, you will attach your checking account to your Neteller account so you can make an EFT (Electronic Funds Transfer). Neteller will send a test deposit to your checking account (which will take a day or two). Then you confirm the deposit amount with them to ensure it's your account. Then you are able to transfer money from your checking account into the Neteller account.

Now that you've got money in your Neteller account, you can go to the "Cashier" section of your poker site, and make a deposit. The money will go instantly into your account, and you can begin playing for real money. When you're ready to withdraw your winnings, it'll come back through your Neteller account and into your checking account.

Is it safe?

As long as you stick with one of the major sites, you'll be fine. I would avoid any of the smaller, new sites. That's because there's no telling if they'll be successful, but mostly because they don't have very many players yet and it could be hard to find full tables.

I also get asked, "How do you know they're not rigging the deck or cheating?" The answer is the same reason Las Vegas casinos don't cheat. They don't need to. They already have the edge. They're guaranteed profit as long as they have players. They'd be stupid to risk losing the loyalty of their customers to make a few extra bucks. It's the same for poker rooms. They take a rake out of each pot, so they don't care who wins, as long as they continue to have customers.

Can you really make money playing online?

Yes. If you put in the time, and study, and stay disciplined, and take it seriously, you can be a long-term winner. I've cashed out tens of thousands of dollars from online poker over the past few years. So, yes, it's very possible to beat the game.

Probably the most frequent comment I get from people asking about online poker is, "But, you can't bluff online, can you?" Sure you can. But I think what they're really asking is if online poker is considered "real" poker, because you can't see the players at the table with you.

It's true that one aspect of the game is missing, specifically reading physical tells. Personally, I think this is an over-rated part of the game anyway. Playing online, you still have to calculate pot odds, estimate your chances of winning the hand, keep track of what type of players you're up against, monitor betting patterns of your opponents, and of course, bluff when the time is right. Online poker is as real as any live game you will play.

What is Rake-Back?

Maximize your online poker winnings with rakeback

If you are trying to make as much money as possible from playing online poker, there is no reason why you shouldn�t get a rakeback deal. Some places offer up to 35% rakeback and lots of other great deals.

Rakeback � how does it work?

As a poker room affiliate, they get paid for each player (that plays for real money) they refer to the rooms. The rakeback is the money we give back to the players. The rakeback you receive is calculated as monthly gross revenue (MGR) multiplied by your rakeback %. For example, your MGR might be $900 and you receive 30% rakeback. Your rakeback in this case would be $900 x 0.30 = $270.

Rake � how does it work?

Internet poker rooms take a small portion from each pot that reaches a specified amount. That amount is called the rake. The rake is generally 0-10% of the total pot. Normally, it ranges from $0.50 to a maximum of $3.

MGR � how does it work?

MGR (monthly gross revenue) is the total rake a player pays to a certain poker room in a month.

How do you keep track of my rake?

When you sing up to play at an online poker room through an affiliate, you will use a special signup code. The code (also known as tracker) will link you to Rakebrain.com and the poker room will report to us how much you have raked.

Will signup and reload bonuses influence my rakeback?

Normally, they will. The bonus is generally subtracted from the MGR. For example, if you have paid $700 in rake in a month, and cleared a $200 bonus, your MGR would be $500 ($700 - $200).

Can I get rakeback from a poker room where I�m already signed up?

Usually, you can�t. Why would a room pay someone to sign you up if you already are signed up to play there? However, some networks allow you to switch skins and get a rakeback deal at another room in the network.

Does it matter which type of poker I play?

No, you will get rakeback no matter what game you�re playing. However, some poker sites include tournament fees in the MGR while others don�t.