Free Poker Video Games

Caught the poker bug? You ain't alone, buddy. The popularity for poker has grown outrageously. And most people play it online, using free client software provided by the online gaming casinos.

Why Now?

Poker was once seen as a seedy game played by lowlifes in dives and shady back alleys. The high rollers played craps and baccarat; the winos played poker. But TV and shifting moral values changed that. Gambling became more commonplace, and shows like Celebrity Poker and ESPN coverage of major poker events brought the mainstream into the poker fold and showed them the ropes.

Where to Go?

Since the games themselves are free to download, your main choice is where to go to download your client. It's an important choice, because chances are fairly good that you'll end up opening an account with that casino to gamble some real money, too. Not all of the online casinos are legit. And the fact that it's, well, illegal - that does play into the matter. You should make sure you go to a site that's generally well-known and hasn't been criticized for being financially unsound or not paying when players try to cash out. For information on the best places, try Poker Tips.

What Are The Games Like?

The graphics and sound do vary between the different poker clients, but really, most differences are merely cosmetic. Some clients are a little smoother, and some offer niceties like the option to have the four card suits show up in four colors rather than just red and black. As far as variety, most of the clients offer alternatives to Texas Hold 'Em, which is the most popular. Some other game types include Omaha, Omaha Hi-Lo, Five-Card Stud, Seven-Card Stud, Five-Card Draw, and even Blackjack. Best of all, the clients allow you to play the same games for fake chips. You get a stack of play money, you sit down at a table full of other players who're just experimenting, and you go at it. If you lose your fake chips, most of the time you can just go get some more. It's a great way to gain experience and find out how the games work. Highly recommended for all but the most experienced players.

What's The Gaming Experience?

In a nutshell: very different from laying down the smack in a 3D shooter. Well, you knew that, but the difference extends beyond the graphics and pace to the style of gamer you'll meet. In general, it's a mixed bag, but unlike action gaming, many players engage silently. It's a little eerie to sit through an hour of intense poker without seeing a single word appear on the chat interface (which is text-only on almost all of the clients, by the way). The higher the stakes, the quieter the room. At the low-stakes tables, playing for nickels, the players tend to be much chattier and more mutually supportive. Occasionally, of course, you'll see a player who can't stop shooting his mouth off, talking smack and trying to intimidate. This is frowned on in other games, but in poker rooms, it's really unwelcome, and such players usually end up getting their just desserts. As a result, though, the usual clues that real poker players read are completely missing. You can't see anyone react to their cards, eye your chips, or shake nervously as the flop hits the table. If a player's really aggressive, you have very little to indicate whether it's confidence or bluffing. Be careful.

Worth A Gamble?

If you enjoy poker, online play is really the best way to get your hands in the game, pun intended. And if you're new to the games, the free-fake-chips tables are the way to learn. On the other hand, many many people are suffering from serious gambling addictions playing exactly these kinds of games. We strongly recommend you stay FAR away from these games - even the free ones - if you've had trouble at Vegas or been obsessed with other games in the past. It's no joke - people are losing jobs, spouses, and careers over online poker. It's not worth it. If you're not sure you have the fortitude to walk away and cut your losses when you're hurting, don't even start. That said, online poker can be a blast. May Lady Luck smile on you! [[[Poker Cheats]]]

Why Now?

Poker was once seen as a seedy game played by lowlifes in dives and shady back alleys. The high rollers played craps and baccarat; the winos played poker. But TV and shifting moral values changed that. Gambling became more commonplace, and shows like Celebrity Poker and ESPN coverage of major poker events brought the mainstream into the poker fold and showed them the ropes.

Where to Go?

Since the games themselves are free to download, your main choice is where to go to download your client. It's an important choice, because chances are fairly good that you'll end up opening an account with that casino to gamble some real money, too.

Not all of the online casinos are legit. And the fact that it's, well, illegal - that does play into the matter. You should make sure you go to a site that's generally well-known and hasn't been criticized for being financially unsound or not paying when players try to cash out. For information on the best places, try Poker Tips.

What Are The Games Like?

The graphics and sound do vary between the different poker clients, but really, most differences are merely cosmetic. Some clients are a little smoother, and some offer niceties like the option to have the four card suits show up in four colors rather than just red and black.

As far as variety, most of the clients offer alternatives to Texas Hold 'Em, which is the most popular. Some other game types include Omaha, Omaha Hi-Lo, Five-Card Stud, Seven-Card Stud, Five-Card Draw, and even Blackjack.

Best of all, the clients allow you to play the same games for fake chips. You get a stack of play money, you sit down at a table full of other players who're just experimenting, and you go at it. If you lose your fake chips, most of the time you can just go get some more. It's a great way to gain experience and find out how the games work. Highly recommended for all but the most experienced players.

What's The Gaming Experience?

In a nutshell: very different from laying down the smack in a 3D shooter. Well, you knew that, but the difference extends beyond the graphics and pace to the style of gamer you'll meet.

In general, it's a mixed bag, but unlike action gaming, many players engage silently. It's a little eerie to sit through an hour of intense poker without seeing a single word appear on the chat interface (which is text-only on almost all of the clients, by the way). The higher the stakes, the quieter the room. At the low-stakes tables, playing for nickels, the players tend to be much chattier and more mutually supportive.

Occasionally, of course, you'll see a player who can't stop shooting his mouth off, talking smack and trying to intimidate. This is frowned on in other games, but in poker rooms, it's really unwelcome, and such players usually end up getting their just desserts.

As a result, though, the usual clues that real poker players read are completely missing. You can't see anyone react to their cards, eye your chips, or shake nervously as the flop hits the table. If a player's really aggressive, you have very little to indicate whether it's confidence or bluffing. Be careful.

Worth A Gamble?

If you enjoy poker, online play is really the best way to get your hands in the game, pun intended. And if you're new to the games, the free-fake-chips tables are the way to learn.

On the other hand, many many people are suffering from serious gambling addictions playing exactly these kinds of games. We strongly recommend you stay FAR away from these games - even the free ones - if you've had trouble at Vegas or been obsessed with other games in the past. It's no joke - people are losing jobs, spouses, and careers over online poker. It's not worth it. If you're not sure you have the fortitude to walk away and cut your losses when you're hurting, don't even start.

That said, online poker can be a blast. May Lady Luck smile on you!