Tired of being a couch potato – try
free online poker instead! It's a great way to pass your time and is much more interesting and interactive than TV. Nowadays there are a large number of sites that offer free poker games online. It's as good as the real thing and the best part is – you don't need to pay a dime!
What is poker?
For those who are unfamiliar with poker or new to the game, poker is a type of card game where each player is dealt a set of cards that are placed face down, shielding their values from other players. Each player places their wagers into a central pot. Players have one round where they can replace (or switch) up to three cards in their hand in hopes of achieving a better hand. The winning player is the one who has the best poker hand (combination of cards) by the end of the game. The player is rewarded by collecting all of the wagers in the pot.
Types of poker
Just as in any other game, in poker too, there are variations. There are primarily three types of poker games which have emerged due to popularity.
- Draw poker: All the players are provided a complete set of cards, all of which are hidden or face down. The players try to improve their sets by replacing their cards. The most common of the draw poker is the five card draw.
- Stud poker: In this variation, the players are provided a mix of face up and face down cards. These are provided in multiple betting rounds. The most common types of stud poker are seven card stud and five card stud.
- Community card poker: In this, each player will be provided an incomplete set of hidden cards. These are made complete by a shared set of face up cards. The most common of the community card poker variants are the Texas hold'em and Omaha hold'em.
Free Online poker: the many advantages it offers
Online poker has gained so much popularity over the years that it fetches approximately 200 million USD every month! So why is it that traditional brick and mortar poker rooms have given way to their online counterparts? There are several reasons for this. First and foremost is the cost involved. Poker rooms have high overhead costs – for example, the addition of a single poker table can cost upwards of a few thousand dollars. They also don't turn a large profit to help recoup from their expenses. Another factor is that amateur poker players might feel awkward while playing with more experienced players in a poker room. While playing online, there's no question of such awkwardness. Since each player's real identity is always hidden via a 'nickname' and pseudo-identity, there's no way people will find out who the real person is (it can be completely anonymous).
Free poker sites also offer a great way for beginners to practice the game. If you ever feel your ready for the real thing, some poker rooms allow you to play for very low stakes… as low as 1 cent! If you happen to falter in the game, there is special software that will prompt you to take a particular action, almost like a personal poker assistant. This aide can serve as a personal tutor to sharpen your poker playing skills.
More security than you could imagine!
Online poker websites offer a level of security not possible in an ordinary poker room. Player behavior can be judged from the pattern of dealings. Also, IP addresses are noted and monitored to keep a close watch on any possible malicious attempts. One of the most common types of fraud is called collusion where groups of poker players join up to negatively affect the game. This can cause significant damage to
free online poker sites.
Poker Bonus
Players usually don't recieve a
Poker Bonus when playing for free as no real money is actually being wagered. Any bonuses given are just for fun. For real Poker Bonuses you'll have to play the real-deal! Something to keep in mind.