In simple words, when you play poker on an online poker app or website, it is known as online poker. The rules of the game remain the same in online poker, the only change is that instead of playing on a real table, you are playing on a virtual one.
Online poker can be further bifurcated into two types:
Cash online poker: In this variant, real money is involved and the winner takes home cash prizes.
Free online poker: This variant of poker does not involve any real money but is played with the same poker rules in place as cash online poker.
A poker game where no real money is involved is known as free online poker. Here’s how it is different from cash online poker:
Variant | Buy-In | Winnings |
Cash online poker | Real money | Real money |
Free online poker | Virtual currency | Virtual currency |
Now, let’s understand about the advantages and disadvantages of free online poker:
Advantages | Disadvantages |
It is free to play | Since it is a free game, players may not take it seriously and play recklessly |
It helps you practice for free before you get into cash games | You may react differently to certain situations when real money is involved |
You can play unlimited free online poker games | You do not win any real money |
You get to practice with players who are new and learn along with them | Rookies and professionals do not have the same response to certain situations. When you play a cash game, this might turn into a disadvantage. |
If you want to play free online poker, you will need to find a reputable online poker platform that offers a smooth gameplay experience and keeps you and your data safe.
Pocket52 has been in the free online poker industry for a long time now. It’s been one of the preferable destinations when it comes to free games. Here are the benefits of playing free online poker on Pocket52:
It’s very easy to start playing free online poker on the Pocket52 app. Follow these steps:
Step 1 | Visit www.pocket52.com |
Step 2 | Download the app and open it |
Step 3 | Enter your mobile number to register on the app. You will need to enter an OTP that you get on your number to complete the registration process. It takes less than 2 minutes. |
Step 4 | Choose the variant of poker you want to play and how many players you want to play it with. |
Step 5 | Start the game and enjoy. |
Variant | Hole cards (pre-flop) | Community cards | Combination |
Texas Hold’em | 2 | 5 | Best 5 |
Omaha | 4 | 5 | Best 5 |
Seven-card stud | 2 face down, 1 face up | No community cards | Best 5 |
Note: Each poker variation has been sub-variants which might follow a different set of rules.
Free poker tournaments are just like any other poker tournament, the only difference is that you do not have to pay any Buy-In amount for it. Anyone can participate in these tournaments for free.
When playing a free poker tournament, keep the following things in mind:
Although free online poker does not involve any real money, we must make sure that we are not spending too much time on it. Treat poker just as a game and we’d recommend that you do not stray from your other responsibilities in life.
Free online poker is a great way to learn the game. It’s great when it comes to developing new strategies and improving your skills. Make sure you apply all the learnings in real money games as well.
Pocket52 is a great place to start playing free online poker games. You can play unlimited free games here.
The rules of a poker game vary depending on the variant that you’re playing. For example, in Texas Hold’em you get two hole cards while in Omaha you get four.
You can play the game in public at some places in India. We’d recommend you check out the rules and regulations of the state before you plan to do so.