Real Money Poker

Last night, I decided it was time to make my first deposit and start playing some real money poker. I've always been skeptical that online poker would be a fair game, and still would not wager any amount of real money of consequence. Plus I'm really scared that Jawbitch is gonna beat my ass, unless of course, I win and share some with her.

I found these "Beginner's Tables" on Party Poker. It's a real game, but with small limits, that you're allowed to play on for the first forty-five days after making a deposit. So, I ante ten dollars of my massive two hundred dollar bankroll, and sit down in a fifty-cent/dollar limit game. After ten minutes, I'm up ten dollars. Then Jawbitch and then kids walked in, so I left.
After I put them to bed, I decide to try one of the eleven dollar tournaments. I've played tons of them for play money, and this was precisely the same, except nobody goes all-in first hand. I ended up being the chipleader most of the game, the I suffered several bad beats and ended up going out on the bubble, that's forth place (third, second and first get paid).

After wasting my time and money, I went back to the limit tables, anted ten more, and started playing fearlessly. I was raking pots I didn't deserve, then catching cards when I got called. I tightened up my play, and finished up about sixty bucks. Not bad for my first evening in real money. During the course of that play, something really incredible happened, which I'll share with you, despite rules warning against it:

----- Original Message -----
From: info@partypoker.com
To: robsbox@optonline.net
Sent: Tuesday, October 04, 2005 11:49 PM
Subject: Hand History from PartyPoker.com

Hello G_man123,

These hand histories are provided to you solely for your personal use and as an aid for your training and development. You are not permitted to share them with anyone. We reserve the right to cease providing them or apply further restrictions at any time.

You have recently requested your transcript of the game number 2827188520.

***** Hand History for Game 2827188520 *****
0.50/1 Texas Hold'em Game Table (Limit) - Tue Oct 04 23:45:58 EDT 2005
Table Beginners 1041215 (Real Money) -- Seat 8 is the button
Total number of players : 7
Seat 1: alexj88 ( $9.52)
Seat 3: double_L_22 ( $21)
Seat 4: wizz444 ( $23.25)
Seat 6: victor844 ( $40.25)
Seat 7: high4444roll ( $8)
Seat 8: heathendave ( $50.13)
Seat 9: G_man123 ( $36.37)
G_man123 posts small blind (0.25)
alexj88 posts big blind (0.50)

** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to G_man123 [ Qs, Ac ]
G_man123: lol
heathendave: shoulda called
double_L_22 calls (0.50)
wizz444 folds.
victor844 folds.
heathendave calls (0.50)
G_man123 calls (0.25)
alexj88 checks.
wizz444: i did

** Dealing Flop ** : [ Qc, 9h, Tc ]
G_man123 bets (0.50)
alexj88 calls (0.50)
wizz444: you r a fluch
double_L_22 calls (0.50)
heathendave folds.

** Dealing Turn ** : [ Kc ]
G_man123 bets (1)
heathendave: oh
alexj88 calls (1)
double_L_22 raises (2) to 2
G_man123 raises (2) to 3
heathendave: sry dude
alexj88 folds.
double_L_22 raises (2) to 4
G_man123 calls (1)

** Dealing River ** : [ Jc ]
G_man123: omfg
wizz444: hmmmm
G_man123 bets (1)
double_L_22 calls (1)

** Summary **
Main Pot: $13.75 Rake: $0.75
Board: [ Qc 9h Tc Kc Jc ]

alexj88 balance $7.52, lost $2 (folded)

double_L_22 balance $15, lost $6 [ 7s Js ] [ a straight, nine to king -- Kc,Qc,Js,Tc,9h ]

wizz444 balance $23.25, didn't bet (folded)

victor844 balance $40.25, didn't bet (folded)

high4444roll balance $8, sits out

heathendave balance $49.63, lost $0.50 (folded)

G_man123 balance $44.12, bet $6, collected $13.75, net +$7.75 [ Qs Ac ]
[ Royal Flush -- Ac,Kc,Qc,Jc,Tc ]