A vast selection of today's poker destinations entice players to join by offering online poker play money. In fact, it is one of such gambling website's greatest attractions because it provides truly exciting entertainment for which those involved are not required to pay. The real benefit to poker play money, however, is that it can be used to learn basics without going completely broke.

Although the free cash can be used for good, it is important to realize that such games have obvious limitations to them. It is important, therefore, to decipher what is realistic and what is happening in a game due to the fact that nobody is actually losing anything. Free, or poker play money games are not truly useful if you plan to become even a semi-pro with winning aspirations. You also want to avoid picking up bad habits which are later on very difficult to get rid of.

Online Poker Play Money Differences

Participants in free rooms typically stay in the game regardless of their hand's strength. If there is nothing really at stake, you can afford to continue trying to win with whatever hand you are holding. When the risk is not there, even if you happen to have the worst hand at the table, you would typically keep drawing in hope of nabbing a better one.

Smart strategy involves loose preflop play with the hope of catching some 'friends' (a term referring to cards that are likely to improve a hand). Since in cash games unwise decisions typically cost players a lot of hard earned money, it is advised to play much tighter prior to the flop and filter the starting hands you are willing to stay in the game with.

Act as if the Cash is Real

Another rather negative impact associated with poker play money games is the false confidence that comes with winning. Just because you are successful in these "practice games" does not automatically mean you will take home the prize at a real cash game. Don't ever forget that the cash factor changes everything.

Statistics often demonstrate that winning practice "pros" tend to lose big time when testing their skills at standard tables. Our best advice is to try and use strategy and act as if the money is real, even if your competition isn't. It's ok to lose and fold because its ok to learn to lose now so you can avoid it when it counts!

Online Poker Freeroll Tournaments

Although, thus far, we have established that poker play money games can be quite different from real cash counterparts, it is not entirely so. Many times, as part of their overall promotional policy, rooms organize poker tournaments called freerolls. Freerolls are essentially tournaments which do not require any sort of investment.

The only difference lies in the fact that freerolls offer prizes to the winners in the form of cash or desired items. Usually, the more insignificant the amount of prize you can potentially collect, the more similar a freeroll is to "practice" game.

Operators believe that once you become confident enough playing a game, without investing anything but time, you will eventually seek to try out your skill in real games. Act smart and you may be able to avoid losses, the key is to always play as if the money is real.