Free online games that are realistic?

I have played the free games at all the major internet cardrooms and at Yahoo. I am new to the game and desperately want to learn but the free games are so maniacal that I can see they are not even the same game. Any suggestions?

I dont think the free games are helpfull. I myself began in a small homegame with some friends and when I got interested in the game I began to read, and read forums like 2+2. The next step is probably taking a shot at the baby games by Paradise or Planet. There's much difference between free games and the baby games. As long no money is involved you cant speak of real poker IMO.


Regards

There is no such thing as poker without money. Money is the whole point of the game. It's like playing baseball with no score. Just trying to hit a homerun for the fun of it.


Put $100 into Paradise and play $0.50-$1.00. That should last you a while if you play a reasonable game.

Yahoo! is a terrible place to play poker. Everybody is betting, raising, and calling with any 2 cards all the way to the river. You'll develop terrible habits there.


You can play reasonably serious poker for play money at pokerpages.com. The tournaments there are fun and tough to beat. It may only be tournament chips at stake, but everybody seems to take the game seriously. The side play-money games there seem better than paradisepoker.com as well.

I AGREE : (1)-THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS POKER WITHOUT MONEY. (2)-READ! (3)-READ SOME MORE !

Limit holdem tourneys on pokerpages

I bought Hoyle Casino which has a variety of standard poker games. The competition is weak and soft, but I used it to help study my notes on all the poker books that I got. For instance I used it to generate random situations to learn the Sklansky hands and also how to initially play them under different circumstances like facing a raise or a reraise. Keep in mind though, I really had to stretch my imagination at times when it came to 'outsmarting' my opponents. I know the computer characters don't really semi-bluff like real players do, but I'd have to imagine that they might be if they were real. I think doing the same thing I did will help you nail down some basics when it comes to starting hands.

I just wanted to thank you guys for taking the time to respond to my question.


I signed up for the tournaments at pokerpages and am looking over software. I also have a bunch of good books and of course the internet is full of good stuff. I'll probably try some of the .25/.50 games in the near future as well.


Anyway, I hope to see you around the tables!

In all the play money game i've try pokerpage is sure the best one with their nl and limit tournement with some prizes even if i didn't read about what it was if you win them. When the tournement start there is lot of loose players but more the tournement advance more the play is cool and more realistic, habitually there is around 150 players top5 got someting i think i dont know i've just play two tourney for now never finished better than 19th (and 24th the second time) but was fun anyway it sure not like if you would bet all your money so not really the samething than real money table.