Internet Novice

[Holm Fries]

I am new (six months in) to live ring games at my local establishment and am considering playing on the internet. I have a few questions for all you knowledgeable folk. By way of background, I have done a lot of reading and most importantly practiced my game to the point where I am a mariginally profitable player. I have been averaging slightly less than one BB per hour over my last several sessions. The problem is that I can't get to my local establishment as much as I would like.

First of all, are there any laws governing poker over the internet? I know that my state in particular is tough regarding things like internet sports books. Are there states in which it is illegal to play online? Secondly, are there any tips to hit the ground running? I tend to be more on the tight side than is optimally profitable and was wondering how this would transfer to what I assume is more loose internet play. One of the things that I am most interested is analytical tracking tools so that I can look back at how I play different hands. Are there sites which are better / worse at this? Finally, I was wondering if there is a preferred process for getting money to and from the site? Are there any pitfalls to be aware of?

Any input is appreciated.

Thank.

[OnlinePokerCoach]

Try EmpirePoker first. It is the biggest site (a sister site to PartyPoker), and offers an EPoints system (a frequent player points system) in addition. There are the most games to choose from there and some of the softest games online.

Your tight play may need to be loosened up for the super low limits. However, tighter play online begins at comparably lower limits than it does in live play. Some of the live "middle limit" strategies become useful at 3/6 or 5/10 online, for example. Perhaps 5/10 (or sometimes 3/6) is the dividing line online between low and middle limits, but it really depends on the game.

I like using NETeller myself. The transactions costs are next to nothing: $1.00 for a mailed check withdrawal, for example.

The tracking tools of the sites themselves is pretty useless.

[Mike Haven]

I wondered why on earth you would have recommended Empire, until I read your profile.

Clever one, OPC.

Other spammers - take note.

[Puffin]

If your looking for a pretty tight game with decent players try paradise. If you looking for a loose game try Partypoker. Pokertracker is the software you will want to track your stats. You can download the demo and store up to 1000 hands in it. It costs 50 dollars for the full version.

[HavanaBanana]

I like pokerstars as their support is great and software likewise.
When you play poker online you pay a fee called rake, look here to see where you pay the least:

[ QUOTE ]
Limit Site Rake
1-2 PokerStars 25c at each 5$ max 1
1-2 Paradise 25c at each 5$ max 1
1-2 Ultimatebet 25c at each 5$ max 1
1-2 Choicepoker 25c at each 5$ max 1
1-2 Planetpoker 25c at each 5$ max 1
1-2 ACR 25c at each 5$ max 1
1-2 TRUE 1$ at 12
1-2 Ladbrokes 25c at each 5$ max 1.50
1-2 The Gaming Club 25c at each 5$ max 1.50
1-2 Party 50c at 5$ 75c at 12$ and 1$ at 20$

Limit Site Rake
2-4 PokerStars 1$ at 20,40 and 70$
2-4 Paradise 1$ per 20$ max 3$
2-4 TRUE 1$ per 20$ max 3$
2-4 Choicepoker 1$ per 20$ max 3$
2-4 Ladbrokes 1$ per 20$ max 3$
2-4 The Gaming Club 1$ per 20$ max 3$
2-4 Party 1$ at 20, then 50c more per 10$ max 3$
2-4 Planetpoker 25c each 5 to 1$ then 1$ at 40$ and 60$ max 3$
2-4 ACR 50c each 10$ max 3$
2-4 Ultimatebet 25c at each 5$ max 3$

Limit Site Rake
3-6 PokerStars 1$ at 20,40 and 70$
3-6 Paradise 1$ per 20$ max 3$
3-6 TRUE 1$ per 20$ max 3$
3-6 Choicepoker 1$ per 20$ max 3$
3-6 Planetpoker 1$ per 20$ max 3$
3-6 Ladbrokes 1$ per 20$ max 3$
3-6 The Gaming Club 1$ per 20$ max 3$
3-6 Party 1$ at 20, then 50c more per 10$ max 3$
3-6 ACR 50c each 10$ max 3$
3-6 Ultimatebet 50c at each 10$ max 3$

Limit Site Rake
5-10 PokerStars 1$ at 20,40 and 70$
5-10 Choicepoker 1$ per 20$ max 3$
5-10 Paradise 1$ per 20$ max 3$
5-10 TRUE 1$ per 20$ max 3$
5-10 Ladbrokes 1$ per 20$ max 3$
5-10 The Gaming Club 1$ per 20$ max 3$
5-10 Planetpoker 1$ per 20$ max 3$
5-10 Ultimatebet 1$ per 20$ max 3$
5-10 ACR 1$ per 20$ max 3$
5-10 Party 1$ at 20, then 50c more per 10$ max 3$

Limit Site Rake
10-20 PokerStars 1$ at 20,40 and 70$
10-20 Planetpoker 1$ per 20$ max 3$
10-20 Paradise 1$ per 20$ max 3$
10-20 ACR 1$ per 20$ max 3$
10-20 TRUE 1$ per 20$ max 3$
10-20 Ladbrokes 1$ per 20$ max 3$
10-20 The Gaming Club 1$ per 20$ max 3$
10-20 Ultimatebet 1$ per 20$ max 3$
10-20 Choicepoker 1$ per 20$ max 3$
10-20 Party 1$ at 20, then 50c more per 10$ max 3$

Limit Site Rake
15-30 Ultimatebet 1$ per 40$ max 3$
15-30 The Gaming Club 1$ at 40,70 and 100$
15-30 Paradise 1$ at 40,70 and 100$
15-30 Planetpoker 1$ at 40,70 and 100$
15-30 Choicepoker 1$ at 40,70 and 100$
15-30 ACR 1$ at 40,70 and 100$
15-30 Ladbrokes 1$ at 40,70 and 100$
15-30 Party 1$ at 40, then 50c more per 15$ max 3$
15-30 PokerStars 1$ at 20,40 and 70$
15-30 TRUE 1$ per 20$ max 3$



[/ QUOTE ]

[ QUOTE ]
limit Blinds Site # of players Rake # of play cap #of play cap
NL/PL 10c-25c PlanetPoker 2-10 5c per $ max 25c
NL/PL 10c-25c Ultimatebet 6+ 5c per $ max 1$ 4-5 50c 2-3 25c
NL/PL 10c-25c Pokerstars 5c per $ max 3$ 4-5 2$ 2-3 1$
NL/PL 10c-20c ACR 5c per $ max 3$ 4-5 2$ 2-3 1$
NL/PL 10c-25c Paradise No such game
NL/PL 10c-25c Party No such game
NL/PL 10c-25c Ladbrokes No such game
NL/PL 10c-25c TRUE No such game
NL/PL 10c-25c GamingClub No such game

limit Blinds Site # of players Rake # of play cap #of play cap
NL/PL 25c-50c PlanetPoker 2-10 25c per 5$ max$1
NL/PL 1$-1$ TRUE 2-10 1$ @12$ 2$@40$ 3$@$60
NL/PL 25c-50c Ultimatebet 6+ 10c per 2$ max 2$ 4-5 1$ 2-3 50c
NL/PL ALL Paradise 6+ 25c per 5$ max$3 4-5 $2 2-3 1$
NL/PL ALL Ladbrokes 6+ 25c per 5$ max$3 4-5 $2 2-3 1$
NL/PL ALL GamingClub 6+ 25c per 5$ max$3 4-5 $2 2-3 1$
NL/PL ALL Party 6+ 10c @2$ 5c per $ max 3$ 4-5 $2 2-3 1$
NL/PL ALL PokerStars 6+ 5c per $ max 3$ 4-5 $2 2-3 1$
NL/PL ALL ACR 6+ 5c per $ max 3$ 4-5 $2 2-3 1$

NL/PL 1$-2$ TRUE 2-10 1$ per 20$ max 3$
NL/PL 50c-1$up Planetpoker 7+ 25c per 5$up to 50$ then 50c at 50$ and 60$ max 3
NL/PL 50c-1$up Planetpoker 4-6 25c per 5$ max 2$
NL/PL 50c-1$up Planetpoker 2-3 25c per 5$ max 1$
NL/PL 50c-1$ Ultimatebet 6+ 25c per 5$ max 3$ 4-5 2$ 2-3 50c
NL/PL 1$-2$ Ultimatebet 6+ 50c per 10$max3$ 4-5 2$ 2-3 50c
NL/PL 2$-4$ Ultimatebet 6+ 50c per 10$max3$ 4-5 2$ 2-3 50c



[/ QUOTE ]

[Holm Fries]

Thanks all. I appreciate the words of advise.

Any comments as to the legality or lackthereof, regarding internet gambling on a state-by-state basis? Am I an idiot to even worry about this?