How To Improve Poker Skills With Free Online Games

When I learned to play poker I did it the hard way. I put out my hard-earned money and promptly lost it to more experienced players. Thanks to the internet, there is an easier way today for newcomers to improve their poker skills without depleting their bank account.

Many of the online poker sites offer free games for practice. Although they do teach some poker skills, they still leave a lot to be desired for practicing purposes. In the free games players are much too loose. They play every hand, they never fold, they raise on nothing, and the pots are much larger than any you would ever win in a real game.

The free games are good for teaching you the rules of the game, and giving you a general sense of how the cards can fall. Also they can be good practice in calculating pot odds. If you are not yet familiar with why that is important in poker, I have an article on my website which goes into more detail on how to calculate poker odds.

There are some ways can get some realistic practice on these websites without losing your shirt. Some of these websites offer free tournaments. In a tournament the player is out once he loses his stake and unlike the other free games, he can't just get more chips and keep playing. For this reason, players tend to play these tournaments more like they would play a real money game.

If you really want to improve your game, my suggestion is read plenty of books on poker theory, then try applying what you learn in the free games, tournaments. If you decide to go to a casino and try it for real don't risk money you can't afford to lose. Be prepared for the game you play for real to be quite different than the practice games you played for free.

Ron Coleman is retired and spends his free time as a cartoonist, writer and is an avid poker player. You can see some of his work on his website: http://www.coleman-cartoons.com

---

Texas Holdem Tournament Strategy - Sit and Go Poker Tournaments

Welcome to the fourth in my Texas Holdem Strategy Series,... Read More

Why Gamble on Sports?

Its really not that big of a stretch of the... Read More

A Teenagers Vegas Vacation

This, a true story about a Vegas vacation involving casino... Read More

Betting Options For Football

It is in one's best interest to know all your... Read More

College Football Betting - Totals

Betting totals in college football is very different than betting... Read More

Video Poker Variations

Unlike many other more "social" casino games, video poker is... Read More

Roulette System: Confession of the Roulette Dealer on Dealers Signature

Roulette System: Confession of the Roulette Dealer on Dealer's signatureThis... Read More

Online Poker Chips Away At Sexual Stereotypes

Women are being increasingly attracted to the excitement of online... Read More

A Game For All Seasons

An overall review of online casino software has led me... Read More

Sports Betting Portfolio Management

The subject of financial investment is such a wide and... Read More

2005 World Series of Poker -- Final Tournament Report

Now that the 2005 World Series of Poker has finished,... Read More

How to Win Texas Holdem

Texas Hold'em...minutes to learn, life time to master. One of... Read More

Gambling Stories 101

A win at a gambling table can be fun narrating.... Read More

How to Master Low Limit Texas Holdem, Part 2 - The Online Poker Game

I continue my articles about learning to master online poker... Read More

Online Gambling

Online gambling is hot. In fact there are websites popping... Read More

Poker on TV

Poker on TV has been the catalyst that allows millions... Read More

Compulsive Gamblers Struggle To Stop Gambling Even Though They Know They Have A Problem Gambling

Every compulsive gambler has uttered the words "Please help me... Read More

Poker Tournaments for Beginners

As the game of Poker is scaling new heights, casinos... Read More

Texas Holdem Poker - Today

The Texas Holdem poker phenomenon has taken the country by... Read More

YOUR Advantage With Online Poker Table Notes

The importance of taking notes on your opponents can't be... Read More

Pyramid Solitaire: A Strategy Guide For Beginners

Pyramid Solitaire is a fun solitaire game, with a very... Read More

Earn Money Playing Slots...or not

Yay, what a life would that be - sitting behind... Read More

Casino Craps - Easy to Learn and Easy to Win

Craps is the fastest - and certainly the loudest -... Read More

Slot Machines - The Basics

Slot machines are by far the easiest - and one... Read More

Please Help My Husband, Wife, Partner, Spouse, or Other Family Member to Stop Gambling

It doesn't matter whether you are the husband, wife, partner,... Read More

My Las Vegas Review

Recently I took ten days off and went to Las... Read More

Compulsive Gambler Shares His Recovery Story About Gamblers Anonymous Now That He Stopped

A compulsive gambler who participated in Gamblers Anonymous program shared... Read More

Las Vegas Gambling Basics

The gambling scene, not only of North America but also... Read More

How To Improve Poker Skills With Free Online Games

When I learned to play poker I did it the... Read More

Poker Popularity for Beginners

The game of poker is cherished since a long time.... Read More

Think Big and Give Your Poker Profits a Boost

Is your lack of confidence hurting your poker profits in... Read More

Slot Machines - Does Location Make a Difference?

Books have been written on this subject and the debates... Read More

The Secrets of the Outside Numbers

Pssst...! Wanna know a secret?How about the secrets of the... Read More