Playing poker games for free offers a great opportunity to get involved with one of the most popular games in the world, especially as poker is usually a player versus player game that can be daunting for beginners – and understandably so.
In this guide, we will take a closer look at why free poker is becoming such a great option, where to play it, how to play it, and how to get the most out of your online experience – all the casinos mentioned in this guide are safe and licensed.
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For many, poker remains the pinnacle of casino skill games, and it is always depicted as perhaps the most glamourous, too. Certainly, recent figures show that the global online gambling amounted to $61.5 billion in 2021, with poker flying high as one of the most popular casino games of all time that you can win real money.
There are plenty of reasons why poker has such incredible popularity among gamblers around the world. Gamblers like to gain any edge that they possibly can to tip the odds in their favor, as evidenced by the huge amount of statistical analysis done by serious sports bettors before wagering their money.
But, to reach that stage and become a poker legend, there is a real learning curve to navigate before you gain the confidence to back yourself, and that learning curve can prove disheartening for many. Thankfully, though, that curve can be considerably less steep than you may realise thanks to the advent of free online poker, which gives players the experience and chance to learn strategies without the risk of losing money.
Poker is popular for the same reasons: While there is an unavoidable degree of chance involved, that can be mitigated by strategy, skill, cunning and experience.
Of course, all of the above has to be earned before it can be used, and learning around a real money poker table can be an expensive pursuit.
That is why online free poker is becoming so popular. Not only does it provide new players a stomping ground where they can gain the tools they need for real money poker, but it also allows them to learn the vast terminology that they will need to know as well.
It isn’t just new players who can benefit too. Experienced poker lovers can use free online poker chips to practice with before trying to win real money, developing their skills and testing out new strategies, making it a valuable asset to players of all levels – you can even do it when on-the-go via a poker app.
Advantages of Playing Free Online Poker Games
The main advantage of using free play poker is that there is no financial risk. A poker table, after all, is a dog-eat-dog environment where ruthlessness is celebrated.
Free online poker allows you to learn all you need to know without costing you a penny, but that is far from the only benefit.
As previously mentioned, poker is a game that comes with an extensive lexicon. In fact, sit down at a poker table for the first time without doing any preparation and between the bad beats, big blinds, buttons and backdoors, there is every chance you will struggle to understand every other word.
That puts you at an obvious disadvantage – therefore, using some of these awesome free game modes are a great way to give you a chance to familiarize yourself with all the terminology before you start putting your earnings at stake in trying to win real money.
Learning and perfecting strategies is another big advantage, as well as fine tuning the instincts that develop in all poker lovers over time, even those greats who play WSOP.
However, perhaps the biggest advantage of them all when it comes to free game play is that it builds confidence, which is perhaps the most important weapon in a player’s arsenal when attempting to become a poker legend!
Free Poker vs Real Money Variants
One big mistake that many new poker players make is believing that it is a game that can be mastered through reading and research alone.
That is simply not true. While knowledge is obviously important, the application of it is dependent upon experience and instinct, which are both developed over time and practice.
When you sit at a poker table, no one will be helping you and the sheer pace alone of the game is something that overwhelms newcomers – and that means your bankroll is going to dwindle very quickly.
So, let’s take a look at the pros and cons of these awesome free game modes over the real money versions.
Playing free poker with fake money
Pros:
- Freedom to make mistakes without it costing you money
- Losing your chips doesn’t put you out of the game – you can just start again
- Allows you to learn, create and fine tune strategies
- Much less intimidating
- Zero real-life risk
Cons:
- You can’t win real money
- Pace can be slowed too much by total novices
- No real money can make it much less exciting
- Simulates, rather than replicates, real money poker so not a fully comprehensive substitute
Playing real money poker variants
Pros:
- Winning brings real money rewards
- You can develop your competitive edge much more quickly
- Fully authentic experience
- Likely to improve when playing competitively against other skilled players
Cons:
- Risk of taking heavy financial losses
- Very intimidating environment, especially for newer players
- Mistakes comes with real consequences
How to Play Poker Games for Free
Many may think that the idea of playing poker for free is too good to be true, but it’s a lot easier to get started with it than it seems. Just follow these steps and you’ll be playing with free poker chips, or on a free poker app, in no time – and who knows, you may even go on to become a poker legend and play WSOP.
1. Select your platform
You certainly won’t be short of options when it comes to places where you can play poker online. In fact, there is so much choice it can sometimes be a little overwhelming. However, not all casinos offer free game play, so make sure you are picking a platform that provides it before signing-up. Below we have used an example of BetOnline which is a great choice for online poker players.
2. Register
Once you have found your preferred platform for poker games with fake money, it should be very simple to sign up. It is just a case of providing your details and agreeing to their terms and conditions. You will be well-advised, though, to hunt around for the best welcome offers too as they can provide a lot of extra value to the customer. Not all cater that well to the poker lovers, with sports and slots sometimes prioritized, so be sure you are picking the offer that tailors best to your gambling needs.
3. Pick your game
Find your way to the live poker section of the website or poker app, and you will be presented with a wide range of awesome free game modes. This part of the website also often provides guides, helpful hints and tips to help players with their free poker chips. It is always recommended to check the game rules before you play too, but from there it is just a case of jumping in and playing.
Tips for Playing Free Online Poker
Even though it won’t be costing you anything and there is no financial risk, if you’re going to be playing free online poker games with fake money you’re still going to need some pointers. Here are out top tips:
Try both versions
While the advantages to playing the free version of online poker are clear, the fact is that some may simply just prefer the real deal. For many, the cut and thrust, risk/reward balance of the normal version is what makes it stand out. You may be one of those people, so make sure you try both, even if you’re just dabbling.
Patience is vital
Many poker experts say the key to success in the game is knowing which hands not to play, and it’s tough to disagree with them. It can be tempting to play every hand, but that’s not a good strategy – just ask those who play WSOP.
Commit to the learning curve
As we have mentioned, poker is a vast game and it takes a lot of learning. If you commit to that process, the better off you will be long term. You’re not going to understand the game after just a few hands, so don’t try to skip to the end.
No such thing as a bad mistake
They say in life you don’t win or lose, you only win or learn. That is definitely the case in poker so don’t be afraid to make mistakes.
Learn to study opponents
Poker is not just about the cards on the table, it’s about the players sat around it too. Free game play is different to the real deal in that you can’t see their face and look for tells, but you can study their poker strategy and try to absorb what they know into your own game.
Test your strategies
Poker is a strategy game but a lot of players like to play safe due to the potentially high stakes involved. Free poker is an ideal environment to develop and test out new strategies though so you can really pad out your playbook. Learn more about positions in poker via our free guide.
A final tip is to access a free poker odds calculator to help work out when the percentages are in your favor:
The Most Popular Poker Games for Free
One of the most difficult things for new poker players to grasp is the number of different varieties out there, whether it be free video poker games or just tuning up your Texas Hold’em poker skills in aspiring to be a poker legend.
However, three very popular and leading free online poker games have now emerged.
Texas Hold’em Poker: If you have seen the 2006 James Bond movie Casino Royale then you have seen 007 himself play Texas Hold’em poker. It is the most popular poker game in the world. Each player is dealt two cards which are not visible to opponents called ‘hole cards’. Five other cards (‘community’ cards) are then dealt in the middle of the table which can then be combined with the hole cards to form a winning five-card hand.
Omaha Poker: Very similar to when you play Texas Hold’em, except four hole cards are dealt. The player can choose two of them to combine with three of the five community cards to submit their best hand.
7 Card Stud Poker: Before Texas Hold’em poker was the king, 7 Card Stud ruled the poker roost. Players are dealt three cards, two of which are face down and invisible to opponents. Four rounds of betting then take place while further cards are dealt – one at a time – until a final showdown.
Game Description Key Features Texas Hold’em Most popular poker game in the world, as played by James Bond in Casino Royale. Each player is dealt two ‘hole cards’ and must make the best hand they can alongside five ‘community’ cards. Omaha An expansion of Texas Hold’em with extra card combinations. Four ‘hole cards’ and five ‘community’ cards must be played in a combination of two hole and three community to form a winning hand. 7 Card Stud Betting done in rounds as poker cars and hands evolve slowly. Players are dealt three cards but only one is visible to opponents. A series of betting rounds then take place during which players will receive a further four cards – three of which will be visible. At the end, all cards are shown and the best five-card hands submitted. Playing Free Online Poker on Mobile
In 2020, 70% of online betting revenue was derived from mobile devices. That shows the importance of mobile iGaming, and free play poker has been quick to embrace the trend, too.
All online casinos are now optimized for mobile as standard, meaning you won’t find any issues when attempting to play with free poker chips on your device. In fact, it should be essentially an identical experience to playing on your desktop.
Some casinos also offer a poker app that can be easily downloadable too, so make sure you check out those options once you have selected your chosen platform – it also helps to monitor your data usage when playing poker games for free.
In fact, not only is playing free poker on mobile or a poker app possible, there are actually a number of benefits to the player.
- Quicker load times due to dedicated app or user interface
- Ability to game on the go
- Intuitive platform that is easy to navigate
How To Start Playing Free Online Poker For Real Money
Once you have gained sufficient confidence in free game play mode, you may want to try and win real money. For those who do, here are some essential tips in playing those poker cards correctly.
Pick a platform
As we have explained, choosing the right platform is vital, as not only do you ideally want one with free online poker games as well as the real deal but with a good welcome offer as well. You could also look at the best online video poker sites according to Reddit users, too. But generally you are looking for where you can play poker online free, have offers that provide good value for your gambling preferences, and boast busy virtual tables.
Choose your banking option
For any online gambler, the question of banking options is an important one. Online casinos do their best to provide as many options as possible, but you will need to keep your eye on the terms and conditions for any potential fees involved. Cryptocurrencies are becoming very popular, and if that is something that you are considering then it may be a good idea to check out the best cryptocurrency poker sites and the best Bitcoin online poker sites.
Set your budget
Gambling is supposed to be fun and it is important to keep it that way. Therefore, set your budget and make sure you stick to it. Poker is definitely an exhilarating experience for many and that makes it easy to get carried away, so be strict with your budgets if you are not playing the free version – always remember to gamble responsibly when playing poker.
Choose your game
We say ‘online free video poker’ but in many ways that is an overly-simplified term. There are numerous different varieties to play and they all have subtle, yet important, differences, so try them all and find the one you enjoy the most.
Use your skills
For poker lovers at all levels, free play poker is used best as a training ground before attempting to play WSOP! Make certain, then, that whatever you learn you are taking forward into trying to win real money, and always bear in mind that in the real deal you will be facing other players who will be deliberately trying to put you off your own game.
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