Think Poker is Boring? How to Make it Fun and Rewarding

Kay TurnerAug 20, 2019

Whether you want to play cards purely for the fun of it or would like to put your hard-earned cash on the line, this brief guide is for new poker players looking to level up their skills. Since it’s the most popular form of poker and offers the most learning opportunities, we’re going to be reviewing some tips for playing like a pro enthusiast in No-Limit Texas Hold’em.

No rule says geeks can’t be poker players or become slick and sly ones at that. Some of the best poker players are most in touch with their inner geek. Before you start playing poker with real money, make sure to take advantage of as many opportunities as possible to play games with funny money.

Funny Money

One of the most popular ways to do this today is via Red Dead Redemption 2. There’s colorful banter in the background, opportunities to see how a real game is played and even chances to have fun cheating at poker in this fantasy world. Of course, you won’t want to get caught cheating at poker unless a Western, pistol-drawing dual sounds like you’re idea of a good time (which it probably does).

Another option is to play a hand in Grand Theft Auto V’s (GTA 5’s) new Diamond Casino & Resort. It’s also filled with adventure and a plotline sure to keep many gamers engaged in their mastery of Texas Hold’em. You do have to pay real currency to get virtual chips, but the cost is minimal, and the virtual rewards are to die for. In a short amount of time, you could earn your own in-game penthouse, featuring an infinity pool, high-rise views, spacious spa and more.

While it’s a great advantage to play a popular game like Texas Hold’em with loads of tutorials and free play opportunities, its popularity also comes at a cost. Recreational players are flooding the internet that could care less about winning or exercising good strategy. They’re merely playing to randomly bluff and could care less about loosing since very little is at stake.

For this reason, anyone interested in learning to appreciate the game and develop real-world skills should try out poker with some real stakes involved. Even if you’re playing with funny money, official tournaments increase the stakes for many players who make it to the final tables—even if those stakes aren’t financial in nature.

Strategy

Poker is a game of probability and, most importantly, patience. Take a look at some hand charts online, showing what hand is most likely to beat what. This will help you memorize where you might stand concerning your chances of winning the pot with your strong two-pair, versus how that same hand will perform on the river.

It is not, by any stretch of the imagination, advisable to become a professional poker player. It’s best left as a hobby and something you do to stay mentally sharp. If you do decide to try your hand at being a pro poker player, make sure you have a minimum of six months’ worth of living expenses tucked away that you won’t be dipping into for poker playing.

In addition, don’t enter a poker game or tournament with less than 200 to 300 times the amount of your average buy-in.

As you move on from competing against less-skilled recreational players to more serious poker players, you’ll notice that everyone around you will be taking a much more balanced approach toward how they play (also called a “balanced style”). This means they will be varying their bets and actions, maintaining a solid poker face paired with a more unpredictable playing pattern.

Deposits and Withdrawals

Once you’ve decided to put real dough on the line, consider the benefits and drawbacks to particular platforms. Do they have a worthwhile loyalty program? Will you receive a welcome bonus solely for signing up on a specific platform?

Depending on the currency you’d like to be able to deposit and withdrawal, you’ll want to consider choosing an online casino platform that accepts Bitcoin. Examine how withdrawals and deposits work. How fast are they processed? Are all deposits and withdrawals free? Hopefully, the answers are “swift” and “absolutely free.”

Other Benefits to Consider

While your focus may rest upon maximizing potential earnings or honing your skills, you want to ensure the overall experience is stress-free, fun and entertaining. For this reason, you’ll also want to look into how the customer service, graphics and security of your chosen online casino is. Check online casino reviews at OCBB and look out for the kinds of user-friendly and rewarding experiences all sorts of players seek out. Unless you have loads of disposable income, you really shouldn’t be putting any amount of money on the line that you can’t afford to lose. Make sure any online casinos you play in offer opportunities to play for free, along with low stakes games and micropayment options.

Even though you want to perfect your poker game, you may also want to branch out into other types of games in the future. Therefore, it’s also wise to pick a gaming platform that offers a large number and wide array of games to choose from.