In this free poker article we discuss how to play with big pairs like AA, KK, QQ and JJ

With the best hand, AA it is very important to look for big raise or re-raise if someone raises before you. It is a mistake in strategy with AA to just call a raise because you are missing the opportunity to get more money into the pot with the best hand and more important thing is that you are giving players with weaker hands the opportunity to improve their hands on the flop.

Your goal is to force others to fold or to think you are bluffing with one big card or two big cards and call your big raise. It is important when playing with AA not to slow play with small raise so you won’t allow your opponents to improve on the flop and maybe on future streets and also you will thin out number of opponents.

Once the flop has passed it’s a good idea to go for a large raise not allowing your opponents the chance to call flushes, straights or drawing hands for minimal chips. Try and remember there is the chance that one of the opposing players has made a better “flop” and you may no longer have the best cards. The chances are you should still be the front runner and let the pot grow unless you’re positive someone else now holds the better cards.

When playing hands like KK, QQ and JJ you should raise before the flop. Someone would have maybe A and something lower but it is very rare to come up against a better hand before the flop when holding either of these hands, so raising will reduce the number of players who want to see a flop. Key thing is to limit the number of players who you are up against with either of these hands because the opponents can easily make a better hand than you hitting an Ace on flop to make bigger pair.

There are 2 scenarios which the “flop” creates- you will either turn overcards or you won’t. When there’s no overcards on the flop you should carry on raising. The 2nd scenario when overcards are on the table is a lot harder to play. I recommend to raise a three or four times a large blind and then consider your options after the opposing player responds to the raise. If they call be careful and bide your time as you don’t have the highest chance of taking the money in any more scenarios. If the pot keeps getting larger you must be ready to let the hand go.

Although it’s not an exact science playing with big pairs if you go for right raises before flops you have a better chance of taking the money. One thing to think about though is the possibility that the opposing players could have better cards than you; especially if they’re playing strongly, gambling and raising too.

I look forward to seeing you at the free poker tables soon!

Not giving away your hands is the key to getting the most out of your money or chips in free online poker.

Moving all in on the river or pre-flop is only the right move when it’s really your only option, for example, Short stacked. In poker you need to think to yourself what would I do if I was in the same situation I am putting them in? When do call an all in pre-flop or on the river?

I’m expecting that you would say when you believe you had better cards. If you’re going to get called on an all in on a pre flop or river then your cards should at least be an Ace / Queen pre flop and a good pair with a high kicker on the river.

Think before you act:
Why gamble your normal wager if you place a player on a flush draw and they haven’t hit on the river? Gamble on something he could potentially call on even after missing.

Rather than go all in with the top boys I would suggest if you’re that way inclined, to gamble just over the pot with your made hands.

The more you blag the higher chances you will get called- the majority of opponents will blag with over bets rather than all ins.

By letting your opponents see one or two of your poorer hands works leaps and bounds too. If fore say you managed to get your opponents to lay down with a middle of 6’s even though this was the top cards in the game- it will illustrate to everyone you are willing to gamble with less than flawless cards.

Hopefully my tips will help you get the best out of your hands when you are playing free online poker…. good luck and I really hope to see you at the poker tables very soon!!

I have been playing poker, both pay and free poker online, for nearly a decade, which to me is quite a long time. During those years I have come across many discussions on whether poker is really a game of skill or luck, hopefully this article will shed some light on the situation.

Being a skilled player is always going to get you a little further when playing poker than an inexperienced player. Skilled players understand the basics of poker, such as patterns, odds and they usually have a plan. However, no matter how skilled a player is, they are always need to account for the actions of other players and the way the cards play out on the table.

The conclusion I have come to, is that it takes both skill and luck to win at poker.

The assumption would be based on this conclusion that you have to be both pre flop aggressive, as well as post flop smart. Many times one might find themselves in a position where they made the proper call, yet they find themselves behind due in part to an opponents luck hitting a one or two outer.

This is something that wont be easy to get out of. This is more common in online poker as opposed to playing in a casino, due to the fact that more hands are dealt when playing poker online. Online poker is played at a quicker pace and making choices must me made at speed.

Many individuals feel that they take more bad beats online as opposed to live play. This mathematically can be attributed to the number of hands both seen, and played. As well, there is a tile factor involved when one feels that they are being pushed too hard, or perhaps have suffered a bad beat.

When playing online players can play more irrational and play hands that they normally wouldn’t play to try to get back money that they have lost.

An experienced player will more than likely notice the tendencies of opposing players, and exploit these factors to their gain. To the loosing player the loss seems coincidental and becomes another defeat in their mindset based on luck. The truth of the matter is this is not the case, and the loss is due to the flaws in their technique due to lack of experience.

This is a game of two equals, luck and skill, neither in my opinion more important than the other, however the successful poker player knows how to manage both aspects of the game, learns skill playing free poker online before moving into money games and uses skill, in effect, tweak luck and so sustain consistency in winning.

There are many types of players you will find in real world, paid and free online poker. I will write about the main ones, how to recognise them and adjust your poker game to play against them.

Rocks - players who play very few pots and like to fold.
These players only play very strong hands and if they don’t fold to a bet on the flop then you should give up the pot because most of the time they have a strong hand. However they are very good opponents to steal the blinds from

TAGs - tight before the flop and aggressive after the flop.
This is considered by many the most profitable style of play. I agree and these kind of players are best avoided but you wont find many of them on free online poker or low stakes games because it takes quite a lot of discipline and practice.

Maniacs - crazy players who play very aggressively.
These players will rarely check but bet very often and raise a lot too. Against these players you should check when you have a strong hand if the maniac has to act after you. This is because he will bet very often with trash hands that he wouldn’t call a bet with.

Calling Stations playing poker
This type of play is rarely profitable.
It has been proven by pros that it’s better to bet and raise then check and fold.
Against these players you should not try to bluff them because they will often call with poor hands. However you should bet when you have a good hand because they will call with trash hands pretty often. If they bet then you should very often fold because they rarely bet so they must have something strong.

So, now you know the main types of playing styles, its time to use them in poker and free online poker. Look carefully at your opponents and match them up to each style of play and then use these tips to your advantage to help you win.

The term “donk” is often heard on poker tables and free poker tables around the world. The technical definition of a donk is “a bad player who makes blatantly bad poker plays and a weak player”. Donk is a shortened term for donkey. Traditionally, donk is a term that has a negative connotation to describe sub par playing techniques. Believe it or not, some people are actually proud to be the donk at a table. Has the traditional definition of donk evolved and morphed into a different meaning?

Now that we have defined the traditional negative paradigm of donk, let’s explore a new emerging view of being a donk.

The term donk is often used on poker tables when someone with inferior cards wins a big pot. If someone calls a big preflop raise with small connectors or suited cards to catch a flush or a straight, is this poor play? Do playing inferior cards make someone a weak player, or does it make them an equal opportunity card player? Although statisticians confirm that playing superior cards in poker will yield greater profits, the donk often confirms that playing inferior cards can result in surprising profits.

The creed of donks is that every hand should be viewed as an opportunistic adventure. Donks often call large preflop raises with low cards hoping the board will result in low cards to produce a winning hand. After all, why should paint cards get all the respect? Donks consider themselves entrepreneurs in the world of poker by employing every hole card dealt to them with equal opportunity to be put into play. To put it simply, donks are dreamers who are convinced that their odds of winning are much greater if they play every single hand.

So what differentiates a donk player from a winning donk player, since donks will play every hand fast and loose? The difference is that a sly donk will play a hand in good position and know when to fold when the board materializes. If the flop is favourable and offers a glimmer of hope, a chase will ensue. If there is absolutely no hope in the flop then a clever donk will fold. A wise donk isn’t simply a poor player, but someone who finds opportunity in playing a wide variety of cards.

Whatever type of player you are playing against, its worth checking out free poker sites to see if you can improve your game and find a way to beat them.

The first rule of good free online poker playing is to have patience. For example, I’ve gone 20 hands or more on various sites and will fold due to terrible cards. In time some good cards will appear. You just have to wait.

A lot of people go all in with an Ace and whatever card they have. This is foolish. Of course 2 Aces are nice but I’d rather bet small and play on nine people’s money than all in and maybe you’ll get one taker. Wait until after the flop to bet. Make sure a possible straight or flush won’t beat you. It’s worth the wait.

Don’t bet on future cards you hope you’ll get. For example you have 4 cards to a straight and someone goes all in. Just fold. Odds are not in your favour to bet.

Playing online poker means that you cannot see if people are using their poker face, but you can still watch players and learn how they play their game. I see a lot of people bet $400 on opening bet and then go all in after flop. These people generally have nothing.

And then you have the Bully player. They have some extra money and bet high every hand. Let them go. Don’t get discouraged. Your hand will come.

If you are a gambler, make sure your down cards will make a straight, or you have a pair. Never bet 2/9, 2/8, K/3 for example. All you have here is a luck bet.

I have found that playing free online poker games to perfect my play is the way to start playing poker, there are many sites that you can play at and not pay a penny but still win real cash.

Patience wins over luck every time. Be patient in every free online poker game or poker tournament that you play and you will, as the expression goes, make your own luck.