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

In The News:


pen paper and inkwell


cat break through


Asian Gambling Basics

Gambling became popular in China in the last phase of... Read More

Earn Money Playing Slots...or not

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

Handicapping the NFL Pre-season

It never ceases to amaze me just how many sports... Read More

Spread Betting Basics

Spread betting is a complicated venture; the statement is nothing... Read More

A Trip To Vegas

A trip that will always be remembered is the one... Read More

Becoming a Consistent Winner at Online Low-Limit Texas Hold ?Em

Start with Small Stakes and Play Tight, Tight, and More... Read More

Roulette - How to Bet

Betting is very simple in roulette if you follow these... Read More

Heres Texas Hold em for Poker Lovers

Texas hold'em is the most popular of the community card... Read More

Gambling Myths: What You Absolutely Need to Know

Gambling is considered a game of luck and chance. As... Read More

2005 World Series of Poker -- Complete Report

Over 29,000 poker players came to Las Vegas from 40... Read More

Online Casino - What Is It?

Entertaining industry conquerors more and more space of our lives.... Read More

Just The Best Online Gambling, Casinos, Poker, Sports Book

BlackJack, Slots, Roulette, Video Poker, Bonus Slots, Stud Poker, Texas... Read More

Understanding Different Types of Online Slot Machines

We'd be wasting your time if we attempted to categorize... Read More

Online Bingo - Internet Craze

Traditional Bingo has been a popular pastime for many years... Read More

Horse Racing Betting, A Beginners Guide (Part 2)

In part one we went over how to pick contending... Read More

Poker Tournament Freerolls Payout in Seven Figures

Poker tournaments freerolls are free poker tournaments that are hosted... Read More

Roulette: The Game of Remarkable Comebacks

In casino gambling, sometimes even the most knowledgable players turn... Read More

Online Gambling Basics

Poker, black jack or any other casino game with a... Read More

The History Of Blackjack

The origin of Blackjack is somewhat unclear. Some people believe... Read More

The Secret of Making Odds Only Bets

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

The Secrets of the Hard Ways

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

Roulette System: 4 Most Important Factors To Beat Roulette at Online/Offline Casino

In this article, you are going to learn about the... Read More

Hitting the Jackpot with Progressive Slot Machines

Going For the Million plus PaybackProgressive slot machines offer jackpots... Read More

Poker Aces ? how to play them

Poker Aces refers to two aces dealt pre-flop. It is... Read More

The Secrets of Cold Tables

The CrapshooterThe Secrets of Cold TablesPssst...! Wanna know a secret?How... Read More

Texas Holdem Poker - Today

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

Basic Jacks or Better Video Poker Strategy

Video Poker is a game of skill - and using... Read More

Why Do People Gamble?

Gambling is the act of wagering money on the outcome... Read More

The Silver Club Casino

The Book is run by Leroy's Sports Book and is... Read More

Odds Comparison ? Increasing Your Winnings

After being in sports betting for about 23 years you... Read More

Bingo ? It?s Birth and Beginning

The true origin of bingo dates back as far as... Read More

How to Succeed in the Poker Freerolls Part 2

How to Succeed in the Poker Freerolls Part 1 looked... Read More

Casino Gambling Tips for Online Gambling

Casino gambling tips for the Internet are good to know... Read More