I started playing poker years ago and have penned my fair share of articles about poker over those years. But, one thing I have learned is that it doesn't matter how many free poker articles I read, they wont make me a poker winner… its getting on the tables and making the hints and tips you get a reality. Most players will read the articles and then shy away when it comes to the tables because they don't want to look like a fool by making a wrong move.

By keeping a constant eye on the tables and playing poker regularly is the best way of staying ahead of your opponents. Making poker moves away from your comfort zone, such as bluffing and blind stealing is something I would recommend you continue over time to prove to yourself that they do pay off. Trying these moves a few times a week just won't cut it, you'll lose 2 or 3 times and just give up on that major part of poker all together.

Many poker players say that if you cant see the donk at the table, then you are it. Similarly, if every other player at the table looks like a donk, then it may well be that you don't actually know how to play poker. Some may be offended by that, but by winning is what determines who the best players are not what hand they had pre flop.

Don't put to much emphasis on what you lost with or how you lost a single hand. It is what happens in the long run that means the most. Keep at it, play the free poker games as much as you can then try to move up to money games, if it doesn't work out don't despair. Go back to a free poker site game and do it again… and again.

The term "donk" is often heard on poker tables and free poker tables around the world. The technical definition of a donk is "a bad player who makes blatantly bad poker plays and a weak player". Donk is a shortened term for donkey. Traditionally, donk is a term that has a negative connotation to describe sub par playing techniques. However, in some poker circles some people wear the title of donk proudly. Does the term donk describe a player with a different style of play that is becoming more acceptable in poker?

Now that we have defined the traditional negative paradigm of donk, let's explore a new emerging view of being a donk.

The term donk is often used on poker tables when someone with inferior cards wins a big pot. If someone calls a big preflop raise with small connectors or suited cards to catch a flush or a straight, is this poor play? Or, can this simply been seen as an opportunist? Although statisticians confirm that playing superior cards in poker will yield greater profits, the donk often confirms that playing inferior cards can result in surprising profits.

The creed of donks is that every hand should be viewed as an opportunistic adventure. Donks often call large preflop raises with low cards hoping the board will result in low cards to produce a winning hand. After all, why should paint cards get all the respect? Donks consider themselves entrepreneurs in the world of poker by employing every hole card dealt to them with equal opportunity to be put into play. Basically, donks are hopeless optimists believing that every hand will result in a win and the more hands played the greater the odds of winning.

So what differentiates a donk player from a winning donk player, since donks will play every hand fast and loose? Good donks know how to evaluate and assess whether the flop will provide an opportunity to win. If the flop is favourable and offers a glimmer of hope, a chase will ensue. If the flop doesn't provide any hope, a wise donk will fold. A wise donk isn't simply a poor player, but someone who finds opportunity in playing a wide variety of cards.

Whatever type of player you are playing against, its worth checking out free poker sites to see if you can improve your game and find a way to beat them.

It doesn't matter how you like to play your poker, whether it is online free poker or in a casino, there are lots of different ways you can play. Some players are conservative players and some play aggressively and then you have others who like to play a little of each.

This first paragraph is for all the aggressive players out there who probably play on tilt 90% of the time. This is a good way to get chips fast but also a great way to lose chips fast. The more you are aggressive the more risk you have of losing a lot of your chip stacks. It's good and bad, be careful you don't go broke.

Conservative is another way of playing. It's a good style, you usually take down the pots that you are in and you usually make it far in small tournaments. If you are playing in a cash game this is a really good way of playing, you only go in on something good like a pair or something like that but hardly ever bluff.

Now to be a complete poker player the best way to play is a little bit of both. If you play this way then no one knows what you have and no one can ever be for sure what you have. Playing like this will ensure that other players cannot read your game play, giving you the advantage. Hopefully you will be playing against players who like to just stick to one way of playing their poker.

If you are new to poker then the first thing you will need to learn is how to play. My best advice would be to hit some low stakes or even free poker tables so you avoid risking lots of money.

On the same note, if you have only ever played one style of poker, then its worth experimenting by playing the other style to see how well you do.

I look forward to seeing you at the poker tables soon!