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.

It doesn’t matter how you like to play your poker, whether it is online free poker or in a casino, there are lots of different ways you can play. You can play it aggressive, conservative, or a little of both. There is no right way or wrong way to play poker. It’s all about how you play the cards.

This first paragraph is for all the aggressive players out there who probably play on tilt 90% of the time. This is a good way to get chips fast but also a great way to lose chips fast. The more you are aggressive the more risk you have of losing a lot of your chip stacks. It’s good and bad, be careful you don’t go broke.

The conservative players among us tend to play their game tight and only go all in when they know they have a killer hand and are unlikely to take a beat. You will also find a conservative player rarely bluffs when playing.

In reality, if you want to be the best at your game, then you need to learn how to play both aggressive and conservative and more importantly, you need to know when to use each technique. Playing like this will ensure that other players cannot read your game play, giving you the advantage. Hopefully you will be playing against players who like to just stick to one way of playing their poker.

Poker is a game of skill and luck. I believe it is mostly skill and a 10% luck. If you play the cards well you can make a lot of money but if you play bad, then you can be as broke as ever. If you’re new start out playing on free poker sites and learn before you start risking real money.

On the same note, if you have only ever played one style of poker, then its worth experimenting by playing the other style to see how well you do.

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

When I first started playing poker, and even free poker, I was sure that it was a sure fire way to lose money. That is, until I played in my first poker tournament in a live casino.

To my amazement I won the tournament and it gave me a real boost to continue playing. Years on, I am still playing poker and even though I have lost quite a lot of games, I also win quite a lot too and am never really out of pocket.

I find that I am playing poker more and more, especially with the number of online poker sites now available. Yes, I have my favourites, who doesn’t? but I am always trying out new sites to find new players and develop my poker skills where I can.

I do believe that online gaming is much different to live table play which I think is better as you get to feel your enemy and be there literally. I have found that the rule book to playing poker is simply the basics and to play with venom at your own pace with whatever two cards your dealt and are comfortable with.

I think is the best possible way, although a little killer poker from time to time is necessary to enable you to experience the thrill and excitement of true poker.

Now I have to agree with others that online gaming is also a great thrill and always changing with new players and sharks alike trying to make a dollar or two.

I like to play tight mostly and watch the cards unfold on the flop, as you can imagine I do a lot of folding but since I lost a bit I now play a bit loose if I can and it makes a difference to my bankroll but depletes my bankroll management. The more I play the more I learn and I love it, have fun in the world of poker folks and If you’re new start out playing on free poker sites and learn as much as you can before you start risking real money.

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.