Poker Overview
Put on your poker face (friendly nod to Lady Gaga) and enjoy the web’s best free online poker games! Perfectly suited for new or long-time players, these games truly are the World Series of Poker! Come back daily and test your poker hand.
How to Play Poker
Poker of all types, including Texas Hold'em and video poker, are easy to play, but difficult to master. Don’t take our word for it – just ask one of the world’s more than 100 million players! Although it is a card game based on luck of the draw, poker also requires thought and strategy. Poker is a game with many different forms and variations, and each one has its own set of rules and nuances. That being said, here are some concepts that will help you become a winner at poker no matter what game you play!
Know your poker hand rankings!
The highest value hand in poker is typically a royal flush. You have a royal flush when your best five-card hand consists of an Ace, King, Queen Jack and a 10 card, all in a single suit. The next best hand is four of a kind (for example, 4 aces), followed by a full house, which is three of a kind plus a pair (for example, three Aces and two Kings). After that comes a flush, which is when your hand consists of five cards that are all the same suit. The next highest-ranking poker hand is a straight: when all five of your cards are in the same numerical order (ex. 10,J,Q,K,A), followed by three of a kind (ex. AAA), and finally, a pair. The lowest value is a “high card” where the strength of your hand is simply the highest card you have been dealt (ex. A)
Learn poker vocabulary!
From blinds to buttons, flops to folds, and deals to draws, there are about a dozen terms that’ll improve your odds of success on the poker table.
Know your poker playing options!
When it is your turn to act, or, make a decision in the game, you will typically have the following options:
Bet: Place a bet with your poker chips based on how strong you think your hand is.
Call: If another player has placed a bet, you may opt to match the bet they have made and continue with the game.
Raise: If another player has bet before you, you have the option to bet more than the amount of that player. If you choose to raise the stakes, it’s typically best to have a hand that you think is better than everyone else’s (unless you want to just “bluff” and pretend that you do in order to get your opponents to fold!).
Check: If no other poker player has bet yet and it is your turn, you can decline to bet as well, passing it along to the next person or poker round. This is called a “check”.
Fold: You have to know when to hold ‘em, and know when to fold ‘em, as they say. If someone has bet before you and your poker hand isn’t particularly strong, it’s probably best to just fold and wait until the next game.
Tips for Winning Poker
Even though poker may seem like a game of chance, there’s a reason why the best playersconsistently come out on top. No matter what cards you are dealt when playing poker online, youcan make strategic decisions about how you play and swing the odds in your favor.
Here are a few free online poker strategies to get you playing like a professional:
Be Pickier About Which Hands You Play.
As you’re beginning to play poker online, you will be tempted to go all-in on the actionand play as many hands as possible. The adrenaline from the possibility of winning it bigand being aggressive is hard to resist, but it’s a surefire way to quickly lose your chipswithout having a real shot at success. Instead, you should be deliberate about which handsyou play, understanding the ranges of hands and how your odds are after the flop.
Be Consistent.
One of the key ingredients of success in playing free poker online is being consistent.Experienced players who have been playing for years understand that even the best handwon’t always result in a win. But over an extended period, poker players who understandthe odds and follow a process for when they raise, call, or fold come out on top.
Don’t Fall for Tilt.
Tilt is one of the key terms you should learn when you play poker online, free or paid. It’sa classic situation when a player loses their cool, starts getting emotional, and makescrucial mistakes because of it. Keeping your cool and understanding that poker is a gameof composure can be the difference maker between losing early and sticking it out for thewin.
Be Aggressive at the Right Time.
Even though it’s a good idea for beginners to be cautious, you can’t win if you alwayscheck and fold when playing poker games online. Even when you play poker for free, it’sstill a good idea to be aggressive and protect your pot, so if you have a strong hand, don’tbe afraid to be bold and place bets or raise early to deter some of the players.
Keep an eye on how much you bet!
One of the most important attributes of every winning poker player is their tendency to bet larger amounts when their hand is stronger, and smaller amounts when their hand is weaker. In fact, the best players regularly fold (give up their hand without betting) when the cards they have been dealt are not particularly strong. The best players, indeed, fold most of their poker hands!
Why Play Poker Online?
Poker is an incredibly fun game once you get the hang of it. Here are a few reasons why youshould play online:
It’s Convenient.
When you play free online poker, no download is necessary, which means that you canstart playing on any device in a matter of seconds.
You’ll Always Have Opponents.
Another big benefit of playing online is that with the online community, you will alwayshave someone to play against, no matter the time of day.
Sharpen Your Skills.
If you want to get better at playing with your friends, free online poker games are theperfect way to hone your skills and master your craft.
