The fact is, poker is not a game of luck. It does play a small part, but professional poker players would never maintain a solid career if luck was the dominating factor. When a proper poker strategy is applied, skill takes over about 70% of the game, leaving luck to only about 30%.

However, it’s not recommended to play poker in a live arena. There are more experienced players in live poker rooms. Instead, head to an online poker room, where thousands of inexperienced players take to the virtual felt each and every day. These are the easiest players to beat, giving you the best opportunity to make money with online poker. Ubet Poker is a great choice for a site.

Make a Fortune with Online Poker
To claim your deserved fortune, you need to start by reading some proven poker strategies. You can purchase one or more of the acclaimed poker strategy books written by legends of the game, such as Doyle Brunson’s “Super System”, Mike Caro’s “Book of Poker Tells” or Barry Greenstein’s “Ace on the River”.

You can also find a wide berth of strategic poker information on the Internet. Start with the basics, like starting hands and player position, then move up to in-depth strategies like reading your opponents, semi-bluffing and how to play monster hands to drag the most chips into the pot.

When you’re ready, sign-up with a reputable online poker room, make a deposit and test your knew-found knowledge. Start at low stakes in Fixed Limit Texas Holdem. Once you have consistent success here, work your way slowly up the ladder to more advanced levels.

One of the most important aspects of making money from online poker is finding the right opponents. As the stakes climb, it’s going to be harder to find loose opposition, but if you find the right online poker room, it’s much easier to find the fish.

Several online poker rooms are known for the intensely loose competition within. Poker rooms on the Merge Gaming Network are a good example. These include Carbon Poker, Reefer Poker, Poker Nordica and others. Bodog Poker is also known to contain a massive pool of fish.

In order to find the fishiest tables, once logged into the poker lobby, choose a game and then you will see a list of tables and stats. Within the stats is a section titles is “VF%”, or something similar, which stands for ‘Viewed Flop Percentage’. The higher this number is, the fishier the game will be. Note that you are look for full tables, or at least short-handed tables of 5 or 6 players. Never enter a heads-up table (2 players max). If you can find a table with 7 or more players, max 9 or 10, and a high viewed flop percentage (50%+), it’s a loose, fishy game.

Another great way to make a fortune with online poker is to participate in as many freerolls as possible. Look for freeroll poker tournaments with real cash prizes. Freerolls are tournaments with no cash entry free. Most of the good ones will cost you some poker points, earned by playing cash games, so you’ll be collecting these as you go anyway.

Use your points to enter freerolls and play strategically. Most freeroll players play a very loose game since they’ve risked nothing to join. By playing a tight, strategic poker game, you can easily cash in a freeroll tournament.

First Deposit Bonus

Websites that offer initial deposit bonuses allow for a percentage of additional money that matches your additional deposit. These bonuses often carry large percentages with small maximum bonus rewards, however. For example:

You have $10,000 to invest in online poker and are considering a website with an initial deposit bonus.
This website offers a 400% match bonus up to $2,000.

At first glance, it appears that the 400% match bonus is an incredible offer. However, with a maximum bonus amount of $2,000, your bonus will be no more than $2,000, not the $40,000 that you would normally expect to receive.

Multiple Deposit Bonuses

Websites that offer initial deposit bonuses allow for the same bonuses provided in the above initial deposit, but spread out over a larger number of deposits. These types of deposits typically come with smaller match percentages as well as lower maximum bonus amounts. However, the percentages can sometimes add up to larger amount of money than initial bonus amounts. For example:

You have $10,000 to invest in online poker and are considering a website with a multiple deposit bonus.
Your website offers a 100% match bonus on the first deposit, 50% match bonus on the second and a 25% match bonus on the third (all with a maximum of $1,000).
If you were to make three deposits of $1,000, $2,000 and $6,000 for this website, you would receive $1,000 on the first deposit, $1,000 on the second deposit and $1,500 on the third deposit.
Your third deposit bonus would be reduced to $1,000 because of the deposit limit.
Your total bonus for the second website would be $3,000
Obviously this website is a very lucrative offer.

Promotions and Tournaments

When looking at bonuses offered for multiple websites, you may find that some websites offer promotional offers (Thursday Deposit Bonuses, Texas Hold ‘Em bonuses, etc.) that could make the website far more lucrative than ones that do not offer such bonuses. If you are looking at two different websites and one lacks promotional offers, it is usually better to choose the one that offers promotions. This is far more of a consideration if one website’s bonus stops after your initial deposit.

In addition, websites that hold more regular tournaments are usually more lucrative than others that do not. Even with great bonuses, websites that do not hold regular tournaments are seldom worth your time or money. If you play well at a tournament, you can usually far outweigh the amount of money you can typically make when not playing in a tournament. In this case, tournaments can often be more valuable than bonuses.

Native PokerStars Mac Software

Since 2007, PokerStars has offered their unique poker application to Mac users. The software runs natively, meaning it’s an application that you actually download to your computer and run as its own program, as opposed to playing in your browser. The software runs smoothly as in not prone to disconnects or other hiccups that could interrupt your play. Mac users rate the PokerStars application quite possibly. Most all of the features were ported over from the PC version, with a few minor exceptions. The layout manager and preferred seat features are not currently available in the Mac version.

System requirements are quite modest. A PowerPC G4 processor or better is required, as well as 512MB of RAM, 60 MB or free disk space, and a monitor with least 1024×768 resolution. A 56k dial-up internet connection is the bare minimum for playing PokerStars online. For the smoothest possible play, and Intel Mac with a gigabyte of RAM, 100 MB of free disk space, and broadband internet connection are recommended.

Getting Started With PokerStars On A Mac

Playing PokerStars on a Mac is easy, and even novice computer users will have no problem diving right in. To begin, simply download the Macintosh poker application from PokerStars.com. If you wish to receive additional benefits, such as extra sign up bonuses or extra player points, do a little research and find a marketing code for PokerStars. There are a variety of these available, and some are more valuable than others. Next, install the software by double-clicking on the downloaded file. Launch the software, and the application will connect to PokerStars’ servers. You’ll be prompted to create a personal account; be sure to include a valid email address. You’ll quickly receive a validation code in your email. Next, select the “Account” menu option in the PokerStars application, and choose “Validate Email Address.” Enter the code you received, and start playing PokerStars!

Player Base And Competition

PokerStars is absolutely huge, often exceeding 100,000 players during peak hours. Though it is the largest online poker room, competition is below average. Game selection is excellent, and you can be sure to find many soft and gullible players who will easily relinquish their money. In the higher limit games, play becomes a bit more stiff, and you’ll want to keep track of which players you should be avoiding. PokerStars makes it easy and fun to play online poker on a Mac!

Biggest Winners

Phil Ivey cashed in at the end of 2008 with a bankroll of $7,540,000 to take the seat of Full Tilt biggest winner. Mostly dominating the Texas Hold Em tables, Phil Ivey was also known to frequent almost every style of poker available at Full Tilt and posted winnings in every category. The remainder of the top ten list is as follows:

Phil Galfond totaled $6,970,000
Thomas Dwan totaled $5,360,000
Urindanger totaled $3,680,000
Trex313 totaled $3,450,000
David Benyamine totaled $2,930,000
Howisitfeellike totaled $2,660,000
CHUFTY totaled $2,360,000
La Key U totaled $2,140,000
Patrik Antonius totaled $1,900,000

Biggest Losers

No biggest winner list would be complete without a look at the biggest losers of Full Tilt Poker during the 2008 year. May this be a lesson to all potential online poker players; it is always wise to quite while you’re ahead. Perhaps most intriguing about the following list is the rumor that the top five accounts belong to the same person. This person is alleged to be billionaire Guy Laliberte. While these accounts lost about $17 million in 2008, the year before was even more disastrous with a total loss of $24,800,000. Careful to select the easiest poker competition when you’re at the tables.

Lady marmalade totaled $6,600,000
Patatino totaled $4,320,000
Elmariachimacho totaled $4,160,000
Bleachbum totaled $1,090,000
SteveSung totaled $1,010,000
PostFlopAction totaled $999,000
Noataima totaled $990,000
John Juanda totaled $988,000
Msampoerna totaled $945,000
Ahtata totaled $926,000

Adding it All Up

While it may be discouraging to look at such substantial losses at Full Tilt Poker, keep in mind the actual numbers. He biggest winners of 2008 added up to a total bankroll of $31,414,000 while the biggest losers total came in at $22,028,000. Thus, the difference in winners vs. losers came in at $9,386,000 in favor of the winners. Obviously, Full Tilt Poker is a very lucrative website at which to play with a differential of over $9 million in the biggest winners over losers, one of the highest differences on the Internet. With the rumor that the first five accounts on the biggest loser list belonging to the same person, it would be fair to assume that one particular “loose player” led the pack and influenced the numbers.

Next time you are playing at online poker, remember the names on this list. You may want to pass up a table with Trex313 or CHUFTY, but sit back and relax if you find yourself across from lady marmalade. Statistically speaking, you stand to win some money.

Set Your Schedule

It may be tempting to take advantage of an open schedule but it is important to immediately set a strict but reasonable schedule. There is absolutely no reason to work regular 9 to 5 hours. Feel free to take advantage of the freedom of playing online poker for a living. However, you do need to make a schedule and adhere to it to ensure that you are making a reasonable living.

First, pick the days that you would like to work and the hours you will play on those days. You may decide to play for 6 hours a day on Sunday through Thursday. Make sure that you set your schedule according to your favorite site’s tournament schedule. Although some poker professionals do very well at normal table games, most poker players earn their paycheck by doing well at tournaments. Set your schedule, consistently stick to it and do not surrender to the endless freedom of online poker. You may be surprised when your first paycheck reflects your frequent breaks and days off.

Decide Your Limits

Obviously, you always want to come to a poker table with an idea of how much money you have to lose and never lose more than that amount. However, it is just as important to set a profit limit. Decide how much you would like to win during a “shift” and walk away when you have won that amount. You might get lucky and reach your limit in only an hour. If that happens, walk away and enjoy the rest of your day. It might be tempting to keep going. However, the knowledge that you have met your daily goal and will not lose any more money is much less stressful for most online poker players.

On the same note, if you have a bad day (all poker players have them) walk away and aim to do better tomorrow. Never dip into your bankroll to try to meet your total for that day. Poker is a game of majority. The idea is that, over time, you will win more money than you lose. Some days you will lose your entire sum dedicated to that day. Other days, you will win a tournament and have the money you need for the entire year. Don’t be discouraged by a bad day. Walking away can stop a bad day from turning into a bad week or year.

Don’t forget to always play at the easiest poker sites.

Your Home Office

Most online poker players have a room (or even small space) dedicated solely to playing online poker. Eliminate any distractions and only keep the things you need to focus on the game in your home office. Treat your home office like a business. You may like to watch a movie or listen to music while online. However, if you have roommates or family, make sure they know when you are working and that you are not disturbed. If you treat your home work environment as you would a normal work environment, you will be in a better position to be successful.

Poker Accessories

This section is where you will find poker chip sets, poker tables and Pokerstars apparel. If you need to order some new cards, they offer bridge sized heavy-duty card sets to keep you in the game. One of the flag ship products offered in this section of the VIP store is the full size poker table. This table has a felt cover and is large enough to accommodate up to 10 players at one time. The table top features the images of the top poker professionals on the site and the Pokerstars name. Priced at 65,000 Frequent Player Points (FPP), it is a great way to add some personality to your home poker games. Other items available at the Pokerstars VIP store include:

Deluxe 500 Chip Set – 60,000 Frequent Player Points
Sundog Polarized Sunglasses – 5,000 Frequent Player Points
Pokerstars Backpack – 2,500 Frequent Player Points
Dealer Button and Timer – 1,300 Frequent Player Points
Gold Colored Card Protector – 950 Frequent Player Points

Electronics

Here you will find all of the popular gaming consoles, televisions, laptops, mp3 players and blu-ray players. If you have the points to spend, you can purchase the full High Definition Samsung 40 inch television for 120,000 points or the Apple Macbook Air for 150,000 points. There is a wide variety of different electronics products from which you can choose so you’re not stuck waiting until you accumulate a substantial amount of points. If you would like an iPod Shuffle, they are moderately priced at 7,000 Frequent Player Points. Some other electronics available in the store include:

Xbox 360 Elite – 35,000 Frequent Player Points
Playstation 3 Slim – 28,000 Frequent Player Points
Nintendo Wii System – 30,000 Frequent Player Points
Canon 450D Digital Camera – 63,000 Frequent Player Points
Sony MiniDV Camcorder – 27,500 Frequent Player Points

Books

In this section of the Pokerstars VIP Store you can find all the instructional books that you need to improve your game. There are books available in English, Italian, French and German as well as a section for books that come autographed by the author. You can find such books as “Ace on the River” by Barry Greenstein and “Psychology of Poker” by Alan Schoonmaker. Some of the other books available in the exclusive Pokerstars VIP store include:

Odds and Probabilities – 1,900 Frequent Player Points
Holdem Wisdom for all Players – 1,850 Frequent Player Points
Tournament Poker – 1,800 Frequent Player Points
The Theory of Poker – 1,900 Frequent Player Points

Iron Man Medals

By earning Full Tilt Points, you also qualify to earn Iron Man Medals. This is one of the best and easiest ways to generate cash bonuses while playing at Full Tilt Poker. You achieve a status with Full Tilt Poker during your first month of play. If you maintain this status (or move up a level) you are awarded with medals at the end of each month. By continuing to play well and earn more medals over consecutive months, you have the opportunity to earn even more medals. The best part is that you can keep your regular Full Tilt Points to buy whatever you like. How do the medals turn into cash?

You can visit the Iron Man store while at Full Tilt Poker and cash in your medals for a variety of cash bonuses that are immediately added to your bankroll, no strings attached. The following are the cash bonuses and the corresponding medal prices for each:

$26 Cash Bonus = 140 Iron Man Medals
$75 Cash Bonus = 400 Iron Man Medals
$100 Cash Bonus = 600 Iron Man Medals
$300 Cash Bonus = 1600 Iron Man Medals
$600 Cash Bonus = 3000 Iron Man Medals

Full Tilt Point Tournaments

As part of a new promotional offer, Full Tilt Poker allows players to turn in 5,000 Full Tilt Point to enter a guaranteed $250,000 prize pool tournament. This means that players that come in in the top slots win a portion of the prize money. Even if you do not have the 5,000 points to enter the big tournament, Full Tilt Poker offers satellite qualifying tournaments for a mere 50 Full Tilt Points. By playing well at the tournaments, you can easily turn your Full Tilt Points into cash. As the points cover the buy-in, losing does not diminish your bank roll, only your point roll. So, if you’re strapped for cash but still want to play in a tournament, check your Full Tilt Points on the cashier page. You may be able to play for real money without risking any of your own.

Training

One of the often overlooked ways to turn your Full Tilt Point into cash is by buying training materials or exclusive training section access by using your points. By studying up on poker, you can increase your potential to win money while playing poker over time. If you find yourself at a loss for what move to make during games, using 7300 Full Tilt points to buy Phil Gordon’s “Little Green Book” might be a good move. You can also use 3000 Full Tilt Points to purchase a 24 hour pass to Full Tilt Poker’s training section of their site. While there, you can watch up to 50 videos of professionals explaining strategy and giving online poker tips. As you are learning the game, investing in training is likely your first good decision.