Every second of the day there are thousands of players playing online poker all around the world. Some poker rooms can accommodate over one hundred thousand players at a time. In global terms can be estimated at several million weekly players who pass through one or another poker room. The world of poker and online poker shifts millions of dollars day in day out and this is rarely taxable as the poker industry is not regulated.

But what motivates all these people to stand in front of their computer to play poker? Yes it’s mainly the expectation of making money. But if it is no more than a gamble why does this attract so many people like this?

Well, simply that at any given time any player can win a lot because at times certain poker hands can beat anyone. This means even the worst player in the world can have their moment of glory and gain (though they WILL lose more long term).

That’s because poker is not a game of pure chance. If it was then no way could it support the growing number of players who live to play poker. For if the win or lose depended on luck alone then the long-term fate would be balanced against profit.

On average only 10% of most poker players actually earn decent money on a regular basis. This proves that poker is all about technique and skill, not luck. So, what happens to the other 90% of the players who don’t win?

The 90% of players who don’t win very often are the ones who mainly play for fun. They will be lucky enough to get a good hand now and again and this will give them the boost to keep returning to the tables.

The 10% and prospective members of the elite 10% though, they spend time studying the game, play with strategy, analyze each situation and try to learn from mistakes in order to get on the right side of profitability. Never was the phrase “you make your own luck” so true as in online poker. For them it is a war.

Whatever type of poker is being played, whether its pay poker, or free poker, good players can and do lose in the short term and have at times horrible losing streaks. Bad players can sometimes win a load. But over time there is no doubt that good players triumph and make profits while the bad players will lose more than they win but keep coming back because they’re either aiming to get better or simply hoping for that one “big hit”.

If poker is new to you and you don’t want to dive in and lose all of your own hard earned cash in one go, then playing on free poker sites is a perfect way to start. This way you can gain experience and learn the game without losing own money, but still winning real cash.

Then begins a whole new, and in some cases, life changing experience where you can play fun free poker yet still win real cash on advert supported sites or go after big cash and possibly win your way to a fortune on the type of sites who advertise on TV.

Not everybody makes a living out of playing poker, many wouldn’t want to due to the lack of guaranteed income. But if that’s not you then you can still play and enjoy, indeed, most people play for fun and entertainment to pass a couple hours of the day before or after work or social time.

Most people can pick up the basics of poker in an hour or two, but to master the art of poker takes time and skill.

Playing Free Poker and Winning Real Money is Easy
Find the right free poker site online and you’ll never have to use your own money to join and get playing. There are free poker sites that are supported by advertising that funds the prizes meaning you never risk a penny but can still win them. Of course the wins tend to be small as well but it’s a lot of fun and great practice for moving up to the next level with the money you’ve won covering the join up deposit.

Even without this the next level can now be reached for free from the get go – How?
When online poker first started you used to have to put up some cash and then the site would match what you put in. But now some of the majors are ditching even this and offering flat out free starting money on the basis that they know enough people will play with them to make it work and them a profit.

You can’t get a better offer anywhere else I know of. Play, socialise and interact with People from all over the globe for free!

Television coverage has also helped to contribute to the amazing growth of Poker popularity by showing Players who have basically won millions of dollars for almost or no entry fee or money paid. Poker god Chris Ferguson for example, is well known for having turned an initial bankroll of $1 into $20,000! So it can be done, start low and slow on free poker sites and from there, learn and practice and one day, who knows…

This guide is to help decipher some of the more complex terms and hopefully introduce you to some new ones in hopes that they will help not only improve your game but can make poker more enjoyable.

We are all used to the common terms, such as flop, turn, river, raise, etc. but some of those terms also have their own lingo attached. Such as…

4th street – also commonly called the Turn

5th street – also more commonly called the River

But that is not the limit of the terms you can keep in mind while you’re contemplating your next moves. Keep these in mind when you are watching the bets come around to you.

Plays tight – term meaning that the player doesn’t play a lot of hands

Plays loose – term meaning that the player plays a lot of hands

Plays “ATC”- this means that the player will play anything he has, (any two cards).

On tilt- the player has probably lost a hand earlier in the game and is now playing erratically.

Above details the pre flop terms, so lets look at board activity terms.

Over pair – When you have a better pair in your hand than the board.

Top pair – means that you have paired the highest card on the board with one in your hand. Next down is middle pair and bottom pair respectively.

If you manage to survive the flop but have 4th and 5th St. left to endure. Then you have three more terms to keep in mind as you go.

Outs – number of possible cards that can give you the win on a hand.

Drawing dead- Term meaning that you there is no possible way to win the hand. Some players if they are drawing dead may bluff or go on tilt at the last second to try and steal the pot.

Having the “nuts”- Having the nuts means you have the best possible hand available from the cards on the board and in your hand.

Some tricks on betting

Poker and playing free poker is all about betting, checking and raising, but even the three basic options can be pretty interesting.

Even terms like check and raise can lead to some pretty interesting scenarios and put players in a frenzy.

One example is to check-raise. That term means to check when the bet comes to you but then raise if a bet comes up. This tactic can hide the strength of your hand and can lure a player into losing a lot chips if he is not careful on how he plays it.

Value bet – Is a bet that is not a large bet but is considered small enough to call. Some players may call a value bet in hopes of gauging a player’s game play or to see their hand.

Semi-bluff bet – Is similar to a bluff bet but is enough of a bet to make a player think very carefully about what their next move is.

[b]Pot odds -[b] This term I would say is the most useful term to keep in mind. Pot odds is the ratio of your chips in the pot versus the whole pot. For example if you have $1500 in a $6000 pot your pot odds would be 4:1. Keep this in mind if you are in a tight hand and not sure if you should risk more or not.

Pot committed – Term meaning that a player has a majority of their chips in the pot. This is a very useful term as it can decide to back off on a hand or force them all in if you have the nuts.

Whether you are playing free poker games or pay poker, if you hear any of these terms in your game, then hopefully they will give you an edge to know what is happening and you can use this to your advantage to win more chips.

Hole cards – these are the two cards you are dealt.
Community cards – these are the cards dealt face up on the board in three different times.
Pre-flop – this is the betting done before the flop.
The flop – this is referring to the first three community cards dealt up.
The turn – the 4th community card dealt on the board.
The river – this refers to the final (fifth) community card dealt face up.
The button – this refers to the player with the dealer button in front of them.
The small blind – this refers to the person to the left of the button.
The big blind – this refers to the person two seats to the left of the button.

Hand definitions
Big Slick – this refers to ace-king suited (some people believe any ace king is big slick).
A set – this refers to three of a kind with a pocket pair and one on the board.
Trips – this refers to three of a kind with two on the board (community cards) and one in your hand.
Quads – this refers to four of a kind.
Wheel – a five high straight, eg A, 2, 3, 4, 5.
Broadway – this refers to an ace high straight (ten, jack, queen, and king, ace.).
Flush – 5 cards of the same suit, eg 2, 5, 6, 8, 10 all in Hearts.
Straight flush – this refers to five cards in a row of the same suit.
Royal flush – this refers to the ten, jack, queen, king, ace of the same suit.
Snowmen – Pocket eights can also be called snowmen.
Donk/Donkey – this is what players will call another player who isn’t very good at poker. It’s a term that isn’t very suitable to use).

You will often be in chat forums when playing on poker free tables, so it’s well worth learning the language of poker.

I play it better than any other kind of poker, and, needless to say I’d rather play it than anything else. I don’t think you can find a game more filled with excitement, or one that involves a greater element of luck, and yet demanding that you do some damn smart figuring it you want to succeed as a hold’em player.

In hold’em no hand is a mortal cinch to win until that last card falls. In fact, what started as the hand may end up being the worst because of many combination possible in this intriguing game.

For some years now hold’em has been a top fame among the high-stake gamblers of the country; I know, because I’ve played with all of them– in the East, West, North, and South. It is also known by other names, including Hold Me and Hold Me, Darling.

Today, I think Texas Hold’em is on the way to becoming the most popular poker game in America, even at that once-a-week family get-together around the table, because it’s a game that can be just as much fun with a nickel ante and a quarter limit as when high table stakes are riding on the outcome.

It’s a simple game to play, but a complex one to master. In the first place, a different set of values is involved on the hands that can be made, compared to the same hands in other poker games: The turn of one card can make a monstrous hand into an underdog.

If you are new to hold’em and want to learn how to play, then get started playing free poker online where it’s totally free to play and you do not have to submit any of your own cash.

Hopefully after this article you will feel the same way about Hold’em that I do, and I look forward to seeing you at the poker tables at NoPayPOKER.com very soon!

Playing poker has four available options; bet or call, raise, fold, and finally check.

Trying to play both safe and wise, one must attempt to guess the outcome of each person’s cards in order for them to have a chance obtaining the greatest return, or give up on the deck and fold for that particular round.

To me playing online Texas Holdem is all about psyching out the other players so if you stick to the game and pay attention to your cards you should do just fine.

When playing online poker you will find that there is loads of trash chatting going on, especially if you are playing with friends. Ignore it and don’t let it affect your play.

One thing I always do before joining any online poker table is watch the table and the players. How they bet, raise call or fold this helps you find out who is the tight player waiting for pockets and who is the bluffer.

Being able to read your opponents tricks of the game is vital to your game. If you sit at a table and talk talk talk and talk more you will be distracted and most likely a target to the quiet player who is racking up the chips.

When playing online poker you will notice particular players who show their emotions more and get angry or talk more. They give themselves away easily by doing this, so keep an eye out for them and challenge them if you see the opportunity arise.

I always try every few rounds to change my playing approach it’s helpful to out psych other players of their own poker strategy.

What I’m trying to say is that you should at times give yourself away for example like bluffing a few hands but only at a small standpoint, not because you’re doing it too just bluff.

This is an excellent playing approach because it makes it that much more difficult for your opponents to read not only your cards but even to guess what your intentions are when it’s on the line.

As a poker player it’s really vital to not form a particular playing pattern because good players will figure you out and kill you off.

So practice hard at identifying playing patterns of other players and making sure that you don’t telegraph your own. Easier said than done I know, so for practice be sure to play a lot of online free poker games and tournaments before you start risking your hard earned money.

If you are new to poker then there are some basic skills you can start with to get some wins behind you. Read my poker terms glossary to find out what the terms used below mean.

First, playing quality cards only is a good starting rule.
Pocket pairs, Aces with high kickers, and suited connectors are a good start.

As you become more comfortable, then you can expand the hands you play to suit different circumstances and opposing players

Next, learning how to bet is essential.
Generally limping into a hand, this is where there is no raise when you bet, is a good start.

This can help you in a couple ways. It does not allow other players a “tell” (meaning you give away an indication of what your hand might be) and it also allows you to play, and not put too much of your chip stack in play.

Now, there are times you need to call a raise, or make one yourself.
If you have a killer hand like a pocket pair, learn how to raise and call. Don’t limp in!.

This will greatly reduce your chances of a winning hand. The more cards out, the greater the chances of straights, flushes, or even higher winning hands become.

Now when you make a raise, the general rule is too bet the pot amount, this is the total amount on the table when the betting comes to you.

Of course this all changes based on the number of players at a table, and the chip stack in front of you. If you have a very good hand, and a pot bet would put more then 50% of your total stack in play, then it is better to go All-In. This will also help in keeping weaker hands from calling.

It is important for new players to pay attention at the table too.
Watch players, look at hands being played. The nice thing about tournament poker is it won’t cost you much of your chip stack to just watch and observe the first couple times around the table. You will find you can learn more when your out of a hand, then when your actually playing.

A great tip for leaning how to be a great poker player is by reading. Many great players are happy to offer their tips and advice on their poker play, so its worth reading as many articles as you can to keep your knowledge polished. Its also worth playing on free poker sites which will help you study other players techniques at no cost to yourself.

So, if you are not the best bluffer, what can you do to help your game?

Well, for a start, look at changing the way you play. The main reason for being so bad at bluffing is lack of courage, also known as being a coward. You can turn this around though and for this reason we will call this the ‘Coward Method’.

How it works – An Example Game

For starters, when playing in a free poker tournament, wait for the right hand before starting.

Remember though unless you have that winner hand A,A or A,K etc it is best not to get involved in the big raises and the All In bets early on.

Most of the time the player that does this is probably a new player or an amateur player. There may well be times where a couple of them may have a great hand. Either way the Coward Method will keep you in the game past these mad moments

Now comes the time to bet.
You have a decent hand, half the table have either called the Big Blind or Folded. You decide to call as well. Luckily nobody decides to raise to a stupid amount and the Dealer does the Flop.

Yes, two pairs. Scan the cards and estimate the chances of being beat with the cards as they stand. For example if you have the highest pair and for good measure a second as well you can check whether you are at risk of straight or a Flush.

It’s looking good so you decide to Check. Yes that’s right Check. Your plan now is to convince the others you have a bad hand. If somebody bets pretend to think about it and then Call. This will cause the players to think that you are in doubt of your hand and they will up the betting.

The Turn and still nothing significant to leave you worried. You check again, the same thing happens, small bet, Call and then the River, no reason to be worried, you still have the Highest Pairing and a second pairing.

This time the Opponent does a Higher Bet, this time, you think about it for even longer and then double the amount the Bet.

This approach normally causes either a match bet or an All In. This depends on the player. I have noticed some Players after putting down a large number of Chips during one hand get annoyed at this point and throw everything in.

Success the plan worked and now you have a tidy amount of chips. Sit back and Fold a lot of hands from this point on waiting for that right hand again.

Of course this doesn’t always work, despite how confident you can be you can’t always have the best hand and luck still has a say in the result of a game.

Also it can be a risk Checking when you have a winning hand, by the time of the Turn and River you may have blown it. By not betting you could be keeping in a player who would normally have folded. However I personally have had far more success playing this way.

Normally as the Blinds increase you have to get stuck in a bit more. Those early successes count for nothing in the end if you don’t attempt some of the bigger pots. However you should still be conservative about it and choose carefully the hands to play.

Only the other day I played my first tournament in a year or two and came 2nd out of 102. I only lost due to the other player bluffing me. He had gone all in a few times and I finally decided to call him. Typical on this occasion he had a great hand. If I had played to my strengths and waited he may have gone All In against one of my good hands.

It is well worth trying out playing free online poker tournaments to practice these tips on the Coward Method of bluffing so you can get to grips with it. If you get more confident then try out some pay poker high stake games.

The first thing they taught me was how to bet and make my way into larger and larger pots. I was starting off slow; just checking when I could so that I could save my money for when I had a really big hand. But they taught me that it was ok to bet small with mediocre hands to try to turn those into big hands and therefore bigger pots.

The next thing I had to learn was bluffing. Poker is all about bluffing and is a big part of the the game. A person could have pocket jacks and you could have a 4 and a 9 off suit but you can bluff them into folding with the right plays of the money. And even easier if the right cards come up on the flop.

Bluffing in a casino where you can see the other players is very different to playing poker online. At a poker table in a casino, it is about watching the players faces, whereas online its about trying to get a player to play your hand.

The final step they wanted me to learn was how to read people. I learned how to read people by watching the guys on television and their facial expressions. I can tell when someone is bluffing and when someone has the hand of a lifetime. Not applicable online of course but very good for live games.

Earlier today I had pocket Aces going all-in against an 8 and 10 offsuit. The other guy gets lucky and catches a full house on the turn. It didn’t discourage me. Just made me a little wiser.

So apart from the broad free poker tips above what should you do? Watch poker pros play a lot is what and do one of the better online poker training courses, then mix it all up with free poker games online, paid games and if you can, some live face to face action. You’ll become a well rounded player and should earn some good money.

Most recently I have decided to change up my style of play to increase and improve my earnings. I have coined a new term for my new strategy and style of play called “aggressive hugger”. It is the purpose of this article to explain the “aggressive hugger” strategy.

I believe that the key to winning majority of the time is to play conservative, also known as a tight player. I believe this is the best way to play in most situations because there are a lot of players that don’t understand the game very well or aren’t very good players that you can easily win money from if you only play good cards.

When I talk about playing conservative I mean only calling a raise pre-flop with the top 10-15 starting hands. A better time to play a hand with the top 15-20 hands would be if there was no raise pre-flop at the time, otherwise you should mostly be playing the top 10-15 starting hands.

Winning consistently you shouldn’t really chase straight draws very often especially for medium to large bets. When you are playing low stakes or free online poker tournament games you shouldn’t be trying to steal the blinds even if you are the button, also known as the dealer position.

I say this because if you are in a low stake game, the majority of the time a player will call pretty much any type of hand, whether it be decent or sometimes pretty bad. When you are playing for lows stakes or on free poker sites then winning a lot of times isn’t as important to the players as if they were playing for high stakes.

Poker is all about position. The position in poker is the place you are playing from. So, there is the dealer position, the big blind position and the first position after dealt cards. What position your in will tell u how you should play the hands your dealt sometimes and who will be first to act pre-flop and after the flop, position is when it will be your turn. Conservative players pay careful attention to position when playing poker. It is a critical element in their style of play.

Following the traditional, conservative strategies mentioned above explains the “hugger” part of my newly coined phrase. In the poker world, a “hugger” is referred to someone who plays very tight conservative poker. In order to bring in second word “aggressive”, I will explain how that is incorporated into my new found strategy.

Aggressive play is usually all about large pre-flop raises with great cards, followed by aggressive continued betting. In addition, an aggressive player usually will not show weakness when betting his/her hand despite the cards on the board. An aggressive player usually believes and portrays that he/she has the best hand.

So the combined elements of a conservative or “hugger” and the aggressive style of play are combined to form the “hugger/ aggressive’ strategy. Observing a conservative style by playing premium hands in an aggressive manner is my new adopted strategy. While holding premium hole cards, I will then play them in an aggressive manner by raising large pre-flop bets in accordance with position techniques while utilizing aggressive betting strategies.

So, try out my ‘aggressive hugger’ strategy when playing free online poker sites. You may be impressed with how well it actually does work.