Play money tables are full of idiots who have no incentive not to play every
hand so 'practice' with them is almost impossible. You do get playing time
and chance to learn a feel for what you should do in relation to your hole
card strengths... and that is a big plus for someone just starting to learn
the game...
FWIW, about the only play money area where people will play somewhat
similar to a 'real' game is at the low dollar tables w/ small blinds. At the
partypoker.com site this would be the $25 buyin .25/.50 hold'em tables.
The ones playing for 'glory' and to build a big (fake) roll tend to stay on
the high dollar tables... Why pretend to play for $100 hand when you can
go for $100k a turn... lol... Anyway, if you avoid those types of big dick
contests you will tend to do better getting practice at what a 'real' game
is like.
On the real money side, the .50/1.00 tables (hold'em, not pot limit or no
limit) people still are playing much looser so you can get over-run by ijits
staying in and getting 'lucky' on the river... ie it's easy to beat 2-3 idiots
but 4 or more in a hand and it's like a turd that won't flush...
The higher you go the less bs you have to deal with... but higher the risk
and more skillful players. I stick with the $1/$2 tables cause roll is too small
for the 'swings' at $2/$4... Love those big scores but my EV is much higher
at the lower level.
Single and Multi-Table tourneys are WHOLE different game than the sit for
awhile then get up sidegames; if you play them the same you are not
going to win many tourneys...
Two excellent books are available by David Sklansky...
Hold'em Poker for
Advanced Players and
Tournament Poker for Advanced Players both
are heavy on number theory but not so much as will choke someone with
the concepts.
Last note... Online poker and face to face table poker are way different in
certain regards. Different set of tells to watch for and guard against...
Online wins hands down IMO though simply because there are SOOO many
more tools at your fingertips than in a real game...
