Best FREE online poker site?

[somelittlehobo]

Ive played poker at a few online places but i havent really gotten to in depth with any of them. Do any of you guys play much online poker? If so what is your favorite site? I'd really love to get back into some online play!

[Nima]

I play mostly at POkerstars and I know Matt plays mostly at FullTilte Poker

[somelittlehobo]

Fulltilt is one i hadnt tried out yet. I think ill probably give it a shot sometime soon!

[OsiriX]

I'm playing pokerstars and everest poker.
I prefer everest poker but I'm having problems with my AVG virus scanner if I run it :S

[somelittlehobo]

Im playing FullTilt a lot recently... it says you are supposed to be over 18, but as long as i dont play "real money" i see no harm..

[chewyshoe]

If you aren't 18 and don't live in america you should just play micro tables - playing for fake money gets real tiresome and it generally just teaches you bad habbits (like chasing). If you play micro like $0.01/$0.02 you will struggle you lose much money if you play tight. You could even grind and build your way up to 12 table full ring and make a few dollars :).

[bigfoot1]

.....two reasons,either your bored,or using them as a training tool.I choose the latter.Having played the free rolls at several sites I found them to be fish fests and of limited training value.Untill I found DD poker.Ya gotta buy the software but then its free play.I am bigfoot1 there and sneak a game pretty much nightly for bout a year.The level of play is VERY high as we the players host and write the games...excellent hand calculator etc.I even went to their anual vegas tourney last week...was fun.It only supports texas hold em tourneys...no cash style razz or anything else,which is a bummer.However we are a small community that are always looking for new skilled players,or those who intend to become skilled.I'm new here so thx for your time.....pat

[TJericho]

If you aren't 18 and don't live in america you should just play micro tables - playing for fake money gets real tiresome and it generally just teaches you bad habbits (like chasing). If you play micro like $0.01/$0.02 you will struggle you lose much money if you play tight. You could even grind and build your way up to 12 table full ring and make a few dollars :).

Micro tables aren't a bad option at all. You can't think about what you're playing with as money though - it's got to be competitive, more important than the actual money amounts (which is insignifigant, granted).

I've found that micro-limit tables are oftentimes more difficult than the higher low limit tables: $.50/1 - $1/2, though when you get to $2/4 or $3/6the level is taken up a little bit.

And yeah, I completely agree with Chewyshoe, play money tables are terrible training devices - unless everyone else at the table is playing with an honest, competitive nature. But, that's rare to find online.

[MJPerry]

You learn jack shit from playing play money.

[Nima]

thats true, play money can't teach you any strategy, but I think its good to learn the rules well...

[MJPerry]

Meh, read a book.

Play money is the most useless invention ever.

[TJericho]

Meh, read a book.

Play money is the most useless invention ever.

In the past, I've found play money SNGs to be all right at times - you get more players who are there to play for fun (but not simply throw money at the table in the hopes of getting hit with the deck).

I'd suggest playing at lower stakes before I'd go with play money, but it's not always a bad option when the only other option is not playing at all. Better to play - even with play chips - than just read theory.

[Nima]

Better to play - even with play chips - than just read theory.

very true...

[MJPerry]

I disagree.

[Nima]

but for the player that just learned poker 2 weeks ago, this is the cheapest way to get a hang on the game and the rules

[Matt]

Play money games are damn near worthless for learning strategy. But as Nima said, they do have some value for the pure novice. I used the play money games on Party Poker to practice counting outs and reading the board in Omaha. You can also use play money stud games to practice keeping track of upcards.