|
|
How to clear your poker bonus
Most online poker sites offer depositing players a variety of
cash bonus schemes. Commonly, players will clear their bonus when a
required number of 'frequent player points' or 'poker points' are
earned through game play at the site. The bonus schemes fall into
one of two categories.
- Incremental payout; where the bonus is paid in stages as
points are earned toward the full amount.
- Final payout; where the entire bonus is paid upon gaining
the full number of required points.
Additional offers for depositing players may include exclusive freeroll
tournaments, buy-in tournament tickets and merchandising gifts as
enticements.
Regular players should expect to clear the full bonus or a large
proportion of it providing they have average skills, realistic
targets and expectations.
If you do not have the time to clear a final payout bonus when
playing poker at a level you are comfortable at, you should opt for an
incremental bonus payout scheme.
Selection and planning
Choose a site that hosts the games in formats and field sizes you
enjoy. Check that the ring games are regularly attended at the
times when you will be playing.
Many poker sites offer a choice of bonus scheme; so at the
site’s bonus information page, decide on a bonus scheme that
suits both your bankroll and the time you have available to
play. Remember to read the terms and conditions of the offer.
Be realistic in your choice of bonus scheme; calculate the number
of points you will need to earn per hour (by playing single hands
or in tournament fees) and the amount of bankroll you will need
to sustain your play throughout the variances of a poker month.
Deposit, play with freedom and play to win.
With the right choice of bonus scheme you will be enjoying the
fruits of your labour in a short time, not fretting over each
hand or the tournament entry fee.
Continued below…
|
|
|
How much will I need to clear my bonus
There is no simple answer, good bankroll management is important.
Always deposit and play within your bankroll. For further
information read my
Bankroll management page.
I would recommend you deposit a workable amount.
If you deposit the site minimum of say $20 you will mostly be playing
against low limit players including those who have scrapped together
a dollar from freerolls. The balance of play will often be tilted
towards luck rather than skill and while you may enjoy a few easy wins,
the more freeroll inspired play also brings more bad beats and
frustration. When you move up the buy-in levels you will encounter
better players; the game is more challenging, and more stimulating.
Here are a couple of examples:-
In my early days of playing online poker, I deposited $100 at a room
that offered a $50 bonus upon clearing 500 poker points. By the time
I had released the $50 final bonus my initial deposit had more than
doubled.
The income did not stack up too well against the number of hours put
in, but that was not the point of doing it. What I gained was a good
percentage return on the games I played as well as the bonus. My real
profit was to enjoy the table time. You can do it too; you don’t have
to be a poker genius (I’m proof of that).
At another site I deposited $600 in the full knowledge that I did not
have the time to clear the entire 100% match up bonus. However, having the
headroom of $600 in the account meant I could play more profitable
cash tables and higher buy-in tournaments without concern and
would pick up the incremental bonus payouts as they occurred.
After depositing
Once you have made your deposit and have begun to clear your bonus,
keep a level head on your shoulders. If you have made the right
choice of bonus scheme selection you will not feel pressured to win
every game and then have to move up the buy-in levels just to stay in
touch with your bonus clearance schedule.
Your schedule should allow for bad luck going against you as well as
a dip in your playing form, so that a few bad results do not
compromise your long-term game plan.
We all want to win every game we begin and make double our money
inside a month, but in reality should be happy to sustain a level
or gently increasing bankroll. Then when the bonus is cleared you
get your extra reward.
For a number of players, the bonus represents a good chunk of
their poker profits and that is absolutely fine. If you have a
half decent game, sufficient time and have made a realistic
initial choice of bonus scheme, clearing all or part of
your bonus should not be a problem; you will be able to enjoy
your natural game.
Many will earn their bonus points by playing several cash tables
at the same time. This is fine for experienced poker players;
but even then, I recommend you do not commit too much of your
poker bankroll in games you cannot give full attention to.
You pay the money - you make the choice... but remember to
make the right choice.
Related pages:
Poker room reviews
Bankroll management
|
Back to top of page |
