Poker - Free Online

Players from all countries can PLAY!

Yes, you'll be able to play poker without cost online. You'll have to download a small application on your computer or phone, but most sites use excellent software and you'll expect the games to head quickly and smoothly. The one drawback time-wise is also your individual speed. It is possible for you to to play faster and more comfortably when you already know how to play poker.

It doesn't matter whether you prefer to play sit-n-go tournaments, large tournaments, head's up or in 9 or 10-player ring games, there are free games for you! In fact you will see that that Texas Hold-em is far more popular than Crazy Pineapple, but most games are supported.

What To Expect

You can look forward to finding that the net free play (play money) games move in no time. AN ORDINARY live cash game in a casino may need 30 to 40 hands per hour dealt, dependent on the rate of the dealer and whether an automated shuffler is used. Online poker games usually see 60 hands or more per hour - that's a hand every minute!

You too can expect to look the next average winning hand, because there'll be more players in each pot. Because the stakes are free, the players are looser with their calls. They're going to opt for more long-shots, and it'll be very tough to offer protection to your good hands. If you're playing Texas Hold'em, expect to get your AK cracked regularly.

In fact, expect to get your Aces cracked regularly also, but when you play aggressively and use some semblance of strategy it is possible for you to to overcome the games when you get some experience and play a legitimate game.

Where the Games Are

You can find games on sites like iwon.com and games.com where there are hundreds of players spread across dozens of tables. Or, you'll visit a longtime site like PokerStars.net where there are 100,000 players going at it on 15,000 tables! Playing poker at no cost online may also be challenging and many fun, and there are many reputable places to play.

Twenty years ago there have been rudimentary free poker games through servers like Prodigy. A few of those drew a big following in conjunction with sites where that you must play casino games, bridge, chess and backgammon. Eventually, the most well liked grew into full-blown game sites, a few of which charged a monthly fee.

As the technology (software) advanced within the late 1990's, there has been a vital shift to real-money live sites that offered poker and casino games like blackjack and slot machines. Poker sites like Planet Poker boasted live games against players from around the world and the sites boomed.

Other new poker sites like Party Poker, Paradise, PokerStars and Trupoker joined the fray and offered cash games in addition to play-money games. The play-money games were a really perfect learning tool for players new to both the web and poker in general.

The constant influx of recent players created a frenzy of interest in online poker, after which a player named Chris Moneymaker won a seat into the primary event of the 2003 World Series of Poker after entering a $39 satellite tournament on PokerStars.

Moneymaker played great poker over several days and took down the primary place prize of $2,532,041. Pretty amazing for a rookie player.

Free Online Poker

Obviously, Chris Moneymaker's results don't seem to be typical and your results may vary, but whether you ever play for cash or not, there are many places to play without cost. And, while most real- money poker rooms are restricted for US players, those exact same online poker rooms often have a .net address where you'll be able to join FREE money games (play money).

PokerStars free play money site is a favourite with thousands of players because they constantly advertise the site, which brings in new players. Other favorites like Party Poker and Harrah's WSOP.com site offer numerous free fun.

The Big Difference

If you download a FREE poker room and begin playing, remember there's a difference between the games you're in and the games you will discover at your local casino. Remember, the chips don't have any value and the play may be very loose. You will not be capable to get players out of the hands once they have a draw, and most everybody is solely having fun. The standard of play is therefore much less than a live casino cash game.

Keep this fact in mind - although you'll be having a really perfect time, your success would possibly not translate well to cash games. Before you go traipsing back on your local card room, you'll want to really have some good grounding on your favorite games, especially if you're playing No-Limit Texas Hold'em where you may be parted out of your lovely bankroll in one hand.

Read More... [Source: About.com Casino Gambling: What's Hot Now]