My good friend Ted contacted me a few months ago and wanted to learn how to play poker.  No problem, I said.  I gave him a few starting points then pointed him in the right direction and told him to come back if he had any questions.

Sure enough I got a few phone calls along the way, mostly about how to play online poker, but Ted figured it out and got the hang of things pretty quickly.  He was playing Freeroll, because I tell all new poker players to get as much experience as possible, before playing for real money.

Then last week he phones me and says, “I’m ready to win real money, I’ve had enough of pretend money and Freeroll, I now want to play for real money!”.  Ok I say, if you think you are ready, go for it then.

And today I get a call… he has lost over $500 in a week… so I say well thats not too bad… which didn’t go down too well.

The thing is that the transition to playing for real money is a huge psychological step that you have to be ready for.  You have to think very carefully before you bet, “What am I doing here?  What are my chances?”.  Its easy when its not real money and just numbers you are bold with your decisions.

It takes time and sure you are going to lose a bit when you are still learning poker, but give it a chance, give it some time and you will get the hang of it and start winning some money back.

Play at the low tables first to minimise your losses and work your way up.  We all got to learn poker somehow!