We know the title’s got some of you scratching your heads.  After all, you’ve probably been playing poker with your grandpa since you were eight.  When we say “free poker,” we’re not talking about a wobbly card table and a faded deck.  We’re talking about free poker in some of the biggest and most elaborate poker rooms on the internet.  Where else can you play at three in the morning?  Where else can you meet up with other players from Canada, Germany, and Japan?  Where else can you play free poker with real pros?  Only on the internet.

So how do you get in on this free poker action?  It’s quite simple actually; the same way you’d play the cash games.  Find a poker room that really appeals to you (if you want to save yourself some time, see our reviews for the best of the best), download the software, and sign up for a player’s account.  The whole process takes less than five minutes and once you’re approved you can sidle up to a crowded Hold ‘em table almost instantly.  Poker rooms know their players.  They know that newbies are not eager to lose their money while still learning the game.  That’s why almost all the major poker rooms offer free poker practice tables where new players can duke it out for poker points (not cash.)

Once you’ve tested your skill at the free online poker tables, you might be curious enough to try the real thing; the cash games that is.  With millions of players crowding the tables 24-hours a day, it’s easy to see the draw.  The good news is that if you play your cards right (figuratively in this case), you can get ahead before you even play your first hand.  Because the competition between the poker rooms is so stiff, many have started offering generous promotions to entice new players.  How generous?  How about a 200% match on your first deposit?  Yes, that generous.  Some casinos offer instant matching bonuses of up to a whopping $700.  That’s a lot of free poker. 

If you’re ready to take the leap to cash game poker, then check out our bonuses page for valuable codes.  We’re sure the free cash is going to be useful once you’ve hit the no limit tables.

Poker Rules
A quick stroll through the lobby of your favorite online casino or poker room will show that there are many different variations on the classic poker game.  Fortunately, the same basic poker rules apply to most if not all of those poker games.  While knowing these basic poker rules won’t automatically have you playing like a pro, they’ll get you through your first hands, and when you’re ready for more you can check out our strategies page for the best way to play poker online and win.

Most people have at least some familiarity with poker games, whether it’s playing them with your family at holidays, playing them with friends in college, or just watching some big star play a tense hand in the movies.  Thus most people are also familiar with the cards and the objective of the game.  Still, for the sake of true beginners we’ll start from the very basics of the poker game.

As far as poker rules go, it all begins with the 52-card deck.  The deck is divided into four suits, two red and two black (Diamonds, Hearts, Clubs, and Spades).  The suits do not add value to the cards except in suited combinations.  Each suit is comprised of the same 13 cards; numbered cards with values of 2-10 followed by the face cards of Jack, Queen, King, with the Ace finishing out as the high card.  In every poker game both online and off players are dealt a set number of cards.  These cards may be dealt directly to them or to the center of the table; the latter are called “community” cards and can be used by everyone.  The object is to use these cards to build the best hand.  Usually the best poker hand is a high one, but some poker games focus on building low hands.  To play poker competitively these are things you MUST determine in advance as each game requires its own strategy.  There are a number of possible combinations a player can make, and they are ranked from lowest to highest in this order:

• High Card.  Usually a single Ace or King.


• Pair.  Two cards of the same value.


• Two Pairs.  Two sets of two cards of the same value.


• Three of a Kind.  Three cards of the same value.


• Straight.  A set number of cards (usually five) in consecutive order.  Ex: 4,5,6,7,8.


• Flush.  A set number of cards (usually five) of the same suit.


• Full House.  Three cards of the same value plus a pair.


• Four of a Kind.  Four cards of the same value.


• Straight Flush.  A set number of cards in consecutive order AND of the same suit.


• Royal Flush.  A 10, Jack, Queen, King and Ace of the same suit.

The odds of getting any of these hands is no different in online poker than it is live, but remember that every player has the same odds of getting a good hand and thus if you are going to play poker at a busy table it is likely that at least one of your opponents will get a better hand than you.  Of course a busy table also means a bigger pot, and the constant action is one of the biggest advantages of playing poker online, so if you want to play online poker then you have to be prepared to incorporate more than the basic poker rules into your strategy.  Check out Expert Players’ strategy and tips pages for info that can take you farther.

Poker Strategies
An important thing to remember when choosing a poker strategy is that each poker variation is different and thus calls for different considerations.  And it’s not just the game itself that factors in.  The number and skill level of players, the style of the game (tournament vs. ring game), and the size of the limits can all dictate different poker strategies.  If you’re relatively new to the game, then Expert Players’ best advice is to start with one variation and build from there.  Develop a fail-proof poker strategy for one kind of game (preferably a popular one like Texas Hold ‘em) and you’ll have no trouble keeping your bankroll healthy enough to support you when you’re ready to start expanding to other variations.

Apart from specific poker strategies, there are also different playing styles.  The three most commonly referenced are tight, loose, and aggressive.  A tight player is one that bets conservatively, holding their chips for monster hands or high outs.  They focus their entire strategy on their cards.  Unfortunately a tight poker strategy doesn’t work well in most fast-paced games like Sit ‘n Go tournaments.  A loose player on the other hand is one that bets on everything.  Sometimes they hope to bluff their opponents out of the blinds; sometimes they’re just too excited to sit down and play the game rationally.  A loose player puts all their strength in their chips and ultimately has no real poker strategy.  You NEVER want to present yourself as a loose player, though it’s important to remember that frustration can turn even the best and tightest players into loose ones if they’re not careful.  Finally, an aggressive player is one that uses their bets and cards together.  A good aggressive player knows when and how to bluff and semi-bluff and protects their cards with their chips.  A bad aggressive player can look a lot like a loose player as they try to bully their opponents with their bets.  Playing over-aggressively can cause you to walk yourself into a trap.  Still, the aggressive playing style tends to be the most popular one.

Another factor in poker strategy that is often overlooked is bankroll management.  It may not have much to do with the cards when you’re sitting at the table, but it has EVERYTHING to do with how long you’ll be at that table.  A lot of new players get caught up in the rush and play until their bankroll is gone.  Set your limits early and know your limits.  You’re going to lose more than you win in the beginning, so try to keep your losses to a minimum by only playing for an hour or two at a time.  A lot of players feel compelled to chase their losses or start buying into the “luck” myth when they’re doing well; don’t let either of these scenarios keep you at the table until your stack’s been destroyed.  Set limits and you’ll keep your bankroll.

Poker Tips
Poker is huge; there’s no denying it.  Whether you’re talking about poker night in your basement, the poker games running hot 24/7 online, or the World Series of Poker, the underlying message is the same: We love poker!  That said, the influx of millions of eager online players has resulted in an influx of poker books, poker systems, poker seminars, and other poker-related scams of dubious origin and value.  Here at Expert Players, we’ll give you everything you’ve wanted to know about poker and more, and we’ll give it to you for FREE.  Just check out our poker tips; each and every one is practical advice you can take straight to the table.

Beware of Tilt.  Every site associated with poker is eager to tell you about its many upsides.  Poker tips all over the web advise you on how to get rich quick.  What many of these poker-tips fail to mention is the dark side of the game.  Remember that everything that goes up must come down, and that likewise there’s a low side to the odds that even the best strategy can’t escape.  Even the most level-headed players have a hard time dealing with a bad beat.  The reaction of most players is to go on “tilt.”  Tilt is when the dark clouds of anger, frustration, or exhaustion roll over your brain and block your ability to play smart.  If you just can’t seem to get a good hand and you’re throwing chips after chips, chances are you’re already on tilt.  The best thing to do in this situation is stand.  An even better option is to see tilt coming and stand before it’s played havoc on your stack.

Choose the Right Poker Room.  There are hundreds of poker rooms online right now.  Some are excellent, some are mediocre, and some are outright junk.  While we encourage our readers to seek out the best deals, be sure to choose the casino that represents the total package.  After all, what good is a massive sign-up bonus if you have to play for a year to get it?  Never settle on a sub-par casino.

Choose the Right Tables.  If you’re new to the game, then one of the best poker tips we can give you is to seek out players on the same level.  We know those no limit, big blind tables are attractive, but quite frankly the sharks sitting at them are going to eat you up.  By all means you should learn how to play with the best of them, but if you don’t build your skills and your bankroll first you won’t be playing with them for long.

Know Your Opponents.  Once you’ve selected a table you’re comfortable with it’s time to get to work.  Some people will tell you you can’t read other players in online poker.  These people are probably doing a lot of losing at the poker tables.  Many of the same tells—like betting size and style, speed of movements, and chatter—exist online.  New players are never hard to read, making your early homework easy.  Pay attention to their mannerisms, their betting patterns, their playing style…  Before long you’ll be able to recognize the same patterns in even the best players.