From cash games to tournaments, you can enjoy your favorite poker games twenty-four hours a day. See below for a list of the poker games available and some helpful tips on how to play each.
World Series Of Poker. Play Deuces Wild video poker online for free, this game can also be enjoyed in real money mode. No downloads or signups required to start playing.
The major plus of real money online poker is that you can win tons of cash, just by playing on your PC, Mac, tablet, or smartphone. Good sites will offer a range of real money poker offerings, from cash games that fill quickly and run round-the-clock to nightly tournaments that carry big guaranteed prize pools.
Basic Poker Rules
Many variations of poker exist, but all of them share certain basic rules. Each game involves betting on the strength of your poker hand, and all games feature a ‘pot’ that those bets go into. The player with the strongest hand, or the only player left in the pot after everyone else folds, wins the pot.
All poker games also feature a mandatory bet of some kind. In Hold’em games, this is usually called a ‘blind’ and is wagered when it's one or more players’ turn to post the blinds. In Stud and Draw poker games, this is usually called an ‘ante’ and is wagered every hand, while some games have antes in addition to blinds.
All poker games feature one or more betting rounds in which the player can make one of the following betting choices:
- Check - To not bet, with the option to call or raise later in the betting round
- Bet - To put chips into the pot
- Fold - To release, or ‘muck’, your hand and forfeit any chance of winning the current pot
- Call - To put into the pot an amount of chips equal to the most recent bet or raise
- Raise - To increase the amount of the current bet
When the betting rounds are complete, if there are multiple players still in the pot, there is a ‘showdown’, where the remaining players show their hands to each other. The person with the best hand wins the pot. If there is only one person left in the pot at the end of a betting round (i.e. everyone else folds), that person does not have to show his hand, and he automatically wins the pot.
Please be sure you review and understand the Poker Hand Rankings before you play!
Texas Hold’em
Texas Hold'em (or simply, ‘Hold'em’) is the most popular poker game in the world. Each player is dealt two cards (‘hole cards’) which belong only to that player. Five community cards are dealt face-up on the ‘board’ and all players may use these cards in conjunction with their own hole cards to make the best five-card poker hand possible. Click here for more on Texas Hold’em Hand Rankings.
6+ Hold'em
This popular 'short deck' format plays much like Texas Hold’em, but with a few exciting differences. All cards lower than a six are removed from the deck, and everyone posts an ante before each hand. Only the button posts a blind - known as the 'button blind'. Unlike traditional hand rankings, a flush beats a full-house and Ace, 6, 7, 8, 9 is classified as a straight.
Showtime Hold’em
Showtime Hold’em plays almost identically to Texas Hold’em (see above), with the exception that every card folded by any player remains face-up and visible for the rest of the hand. This includes all cards folded before and after the flop.
Omaha High and Omaha Hi/Lo
Omaha is similar to Texas Hold’em, but players receive four hole cards instead of two. Hands must consist of exactly two cards from the player’s hole cards and three cards from the board. In Omaha Hi/Lo, and Omaha Eight (played with an ‘eight or better’ qualifier - meaning that a hand must be, at worst, an eight-low to be eligible to win the low portion of the pot), each pot is divided between the best hand for high and the best hand for low (based on traditional hand rankings). We offer Omaha games in both limit and pot limit, while Omaha Hi/Lo and Omaha Eight are available in limit, pot limit and no limit.
PokerStars Fusion
PokerStars Fusion mixes elements of Texas Hold’em with Omaha. Hands play identically to Omaha High, with the exception that players start with just two hole cards, receiving a third on the flop, and a fourth and final hole card on the turn. As with Omaha, exactly two hole cards must be used in combination with three community cards to make the best poker hand. PokerStars Fusion is available as a pot limit ring game.
PokerStars Tempest Hold'em
This unique format ups the ante on traditional Texas Hold'em games. Not only do the antes increase every hand until a showdown is reached, but there's an extra pre-flop blind - known as a Giant Blind - and you only have two options: all-in or fold. Hands play out per regular Texas Hold'em rules (see above), but every pot is 'capped'. That means no player can wager or lose more than 10 Giant Blinds in a single hand.
Deep Water Hold'em
With Giant Blinds and ever-changing antes, Deep Water Hold'em is your chance to dive into Texas Hold'em games with a twist. At the beginning of each hand, every player posts an ante and the player sat to the left of the Big Blind posts a Giant Blind. The antes then increase every hand until a showdown is reached, up to a maximum value. Will you sink or swim? Play Deep Water Hold'em to find out.
5 Card Omaha and 5 Card Omaha Hi/Lo
5 Card Omaha and 5 Card Omaha Hi/Lo are similar in some ways to regular Omaha games, but with a fifth hole card dealt to each player pre-flop. 5 Card Omaha games are available at pot limit and no limit tables, while Hi/Lo games can be played at Limit, pot Limit and no Limit tables.
Courchevel and Courchevel Hi/Lo
Courchevel is an exciting form of 5 Card Omaha, where the first flop card is dealt face up at the beginning of the hand. Courchevel Hi/Lo is a popular split pot form of Omaha poker, where each player is dealt five cards pre-flop. You can play Courchevel and Courchevel Hi/Lo for free at limit, pot limit and no limit tables.
Seven Card Stud and Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo
Seven Card Stud is a classic poker game in which players are dealt seven cards throughout the course of the hand, but only the best five-card hand possible for each player is used to determine the winner. The split pot version of Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo offers a twist to this much-loved game and is played with an ‘eight or better’ qualifier, meaning that a hand must be, at worst, an eight-low to be eligible to win the low portion of the pot.
Razz (7 Card Stud Low)
If you think you can never make a hand, Razz is the game for you. This version of seven-card lowball allows you to aim for the absolute worst five-card hand and still win. The ante and playing structure of Razz is exactly the same as Seven Card Stud except it is played for low instead of high. Straights and flushes are ignored, so the best possible hand is 5,4,3,2,A.
Five Card Draw
In Five Card Draw, the idea is to make the best five-card hand after one ‘draw’ - or substitution of unwanted cards. Players are dealt five hole cards, and once the first round of betting is complete, players select the hole cards they wish to discard (if any) by clicking on them. You can change your mind by clicking on the card(s) a second time. Once players in the hand have completed their draws there is another round of betting, and the winner is either the player left after everyone else has folded, or the player with the best five-card hand.
2-7 Single Draw and 2-7 Triple Draw
2-7 Single Draw and 2-7 Triple Draw are lowball games that force you to make the worst possible low hand. In 2-7 Single Draw, players can discard unwanted cards after the first round of betting. In 2-7 Triple Draw, players can discard unwanted cards after each of the first three rounds of betting. In 2-7 games, an Ace is *always* a high card, and straights and flushes count against you, so in both games, the lowest possible hand is 7,5,4,3,2 of different suits. Please review the 2-7 hand ranking system below before playing either of these exciting poker games.
HORSE & 8-Game Mix (Mixed games)
HORSE (Hold'em, Omaha, Razz, Seven Card Stud, Seven Card Stud Eight-or-Better) is the collection of games that allows you to prove how well-rounded a poker player you are. If you get bored playing one game all the time, try out HORSE to round out your skills. We also offer 8-Game Mix, which is the same rotation as HORSE, but also includes rounds of No Limit Hold’em, Pot Limit Omaha and 2-7 Triple Draw.
Badugi
Badugi is a form of draw poker, where the object of the game is to make the best low hand of different suits, from the four cards you are dealt. After the first betting round, remaining players can discard unwanted cards and draw. Another round of betting then ensues, after which there are two more draw and betting rounds. It's important to understand that in Badugi, pairs and suited cards don't count at all; a 'badugi' is a hand of four different ranks and all four suits. The best hand possible is 4, 3, 2, A, of different suits. Please review the Badugi hand ranking system below before playing.
Poker Hand Rankings
We deal many varieties of poker, some of which use different hand rankings. Hold’em, Omaha, Seven Card Stud and Five Card Draw all use the traditional ‘high’ poker rankings. Omaha Hi/Lo, Razz and Stud Hi/Lo use the ‘Ace to Five’ (‘California’) low hand rankings for low hands. 2-7 Single Draw and 2-7 Triple Draw use the ‘Deuce to Seven’ (‘Kansas City’) lowball rankings for low hands. Lastly, Badugi uses a special ranking of hands unique to that game.
Straight Flush: Five cards in sequence, of the same suit.
In the event of a tie: Highest rank at the top of the sequence wins.
The best possible straight flush is known as a royal flush, which consists of the ace, king, queen, jack and ten of a suit. A royal flush is an unbeatable hand.
Four of a Kind: Four cards of the same rank, and one side card or ‘kicker’.
In the event of a tie: Highest four of a kind wins. In community card games where players have the same four of a kind, the highest fifth side card ('kicker') wins.
Full House: Three cards of the same rank, and two cards of a different, matching rank.
In the event of a tie: Highest three matching cards wins the pot. In community card games where players have the same three matching cards, the highest value of the two matching cards wins.
Flush: Five cards of the same suit.
In the event of a tie: The player holding the highest ranked card wins. If necessary, the second-highest, third-highest, fourth-highest, and fifth-highest cards can be used to break the tie. If all five cards are the same ranks, the pot is split. The suit itself is never used to break a tie in poker.
Straight: Five cards in sequence.
In the event of a tie: Highest ranking card at the top of the sequence wins.
Note: The Ace may be used at the top or bottom of the sequence, and is the only card which can act in this manner. A,K,Q,J,T is the highest (Ace high) straight; 5,4,3,2,A is the lowest (Five high) straight.
Three of a kind: Three cards of the same rank, and two unrelated side cards.
In the event of a tie: Highest ranking three of a kind wins. In community card games where players have the same three of a kind, the highest side card, and if necessary, the second-highest side card wins.
Two pair: Two cards of a matching rank, another two cards of a different matching rank, and one side card.
In the event of a tie: Highest pair wins. If players have the same highest pair, highest second pair wins. If both players have two identical pairs, highest side card wins.
One pair: Two cards of a matching rank, and three unrelated side cards.
In the event of a tie: Highest pair wins. If players have the same pair, the highest side card wins, and if necessary, the second-highest and third-highest side card can be used to break the tie.
High card: Any hand that does not qualify under a category listed above.
In the event of a tie: Highest card wins, and if necessary, the second-highest, third-highest, fourth-highest and smallest card can be used to break the tie.
This method of ranking low hands is used in traditional Hi/Lo games, like Omaha Hi/Lo and Stud Hi/Lo, as well as in Razz, the ‘low only’ Stud game.
Note that suits are irrelevant for Ace to Five low. A flush or straight does not ‘break’ an Ace to Five low poker hand. Aces are always a ‘low’ card when considering a low hand.
Please also note that the value of a five-card low hand starts with the top card, and goes down from there.
Five Low, or Wheel: The Five, Four, Three, Deuce and Ace.
In the event of a tie: All Five-high hands split the pot.
Six Low: Any five unpaired cards with the highest card being a Six.
In the event of a tie: The lower second-highest ranking card wins the pot. Thus 6,4,3,2,A defeats 6,5,4,2,A. If necessary, the third-highest, fourth-highest and fifth-highest cards in the hand can be used to break the tie.
Seven Low: Any five unpaired cards with the highest card being a Seven.
In the event of a tie: The lower second-highest ranking card wins the pot. If necessary, the third-highest, fourth-highest and fifth-highest cards in the hand can be used to break the tie.
Eight Low: Any five unpaired cards with the highest card being an Eight.
In the event of a tie: The lower second-highest ranking card wins the pot. If necessary, the third-highest, fourth-highest and fifth-highest cards in the hand can be used to break the tie.
An Eight Low is the weakest hand that qualifies for low in Omaha Hi/Lo and Stud Hi/Lo. However in Razz, there is no such ‘qualifier’ and the lowest hand will always win the pot, even if it is a nine low, queen low, or even a pair!
The 2-7 Lowball hand rankings are the exact opposite of the traditional ‘high’ hand rankings. Therefore, the worst possible hand in traditional high poker – seven-deuce high, with different suits, becomes the best possible hand in 2-7 lowball (a ‘perfect seven’ low or ‘wheel’).
In practice, an ace always plays as a high card in 2-7 (so A,5,4,3,2 is an ace high, not a straight). Straights and flushes count against your hand in 2-7.
Seven Low: Any five unpaired, unconnected cards of different suits, with the highest card being a seven. The best possible hand is 7,5,4,3,2, also known as a ‘wheel’ or ‘number one’.
In the event of a tie: The lower second card wins the pot. Thus 7,5,4,3,2 beats 7,6,5,3,2 (a ‘Seven-Five low’ is better than a ‘Seven-Six low’). If necessary, the third-highest, fourth-highest and fifth-highest cards in the hand can be used to break the tie.
Eight Low: Any five unpaired, unconnected cards of different suits, with the highest card being an eight.
In the event of a tie: The lower second card wins the pot. If necessary, the third-highest, fourth-highest and fifth-highest cards in the hand can be used to break the tie.
Nine Low: Any five unpaired, unconnected cards of different suits, with the highest card being a nine.
In the event of a tie: The lower second card wins the pot. If necessary, the third-highest, fourth-highest and fifth-highest cards in the hand can be used to break the tie.
Ten Low: Any five unpaired, unconnected cards of different suits, with the highest card being a ten.
In the event of a tie: The lower second card wins the pot. If necessary, the third-highest, fourth-highest and fifth-highest cards in the hand can be used to break the tie.
Note: There is no ‘qualifier’ for low in 2-7 lowball games. The above are just examples of hands that may come up in play – the lowest hand will always win the pot in 2-7, even if it is a pair or worse!
Badugi does not use traditional poker hand rankings and it takes some practice to learn how to correctly read the hands. Badugi hand rankings are somewhat related to the Ace to Five rankings; like in Ace to Five, an ace always plays as a low card. However, unlike Ace to Five, each card in your hand must be a different suit and a different rank, in order to count.
Badugi hands consist of four cards, instead of the usual five. Because of this it is impossible to make a five-card straight, and having four cards in sequence does not hurt your hand.
Remember, if you have cards of the same suit, only one of them counts, and if you have pairs, only one of them counts.
Badugi: A badugi is any hand which consists of four unpaired cards, each a different suit.
In the event of a tie: The lower second card wins the pot. If necessary, the third-highest and fourth-highest cards in the hand can be used to break the tie.
Three-Card Hand: Any hand consisting of three unpaired cards of different suits, but a fourth paired or suited card. The lowest three unpaired cards of different suits play.
Because there is a pair, one of the fours does not count, so it is simply ignored, making a 4,2,A three-card hand.
Because there are two hearts in this hand, one of them is ignored, making a 3,2,A three-card hand.
In the event of a tie: The lower second card wins the pot. If necessary, the third-highest card in the hand can be used to break the tie. The fourth (paired or suited) card does not count toward the hand and is not used to break ties.
Two-Card Hand: Any hand consisting of two unpaired cards of different suits, but two paired or suited cards. The lowest two unpaired cards of different suits play.
Because there are two pairs, one of each pair is discarded, making a 5,A two-card hand.
Because there are three hearts, two of them are discarded, making a 2,A two-card hand.
In the event of a tie: The lower second card wins the pot. The third and fourth (paired or suited) cards do not count toward the hand and are not used to break ties.
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One-Card Hand: A hand consisting of only one playable card. The lowest card plays.
Since there are four Aces, three of them are discarded, making a one-card hand of just an Ace.
Since there are four cards of the same suit, three of them are discarded, making a one-card hand of just a Three.
In the event of a tie: The pot is split between two equal one-card hands.
If you have any questions about any of the games available, contact Support.
Table Of Contents
Who said free poker games are boring? From freeroll tournaments to mobile poker apps, there are a lot of ways for you to play poker online for free and enjoy it!
Get a glimpse of the best free poker sites as we get into 2020 and be prepared: the cards will soon be in the air!
Finding a reliable place to play free online poker can be an overwhelming task, especially if you are looking for some fun and you don't want to spend anything.
In case you are new to the poker scene, several online poker rooms offer these types of free poker games with no registration.
The best and most realistic of all free poker sites is the WSOP Poker app.
The World's #1 Free Poker App!Play free poker games and tournaments to win a WSOP bracelet!
Use the MASSIVE no deposit bonus to get started and grind your way to the top. Now accepts US Players!
Play NowThat's where you find the best free online poker games with fake money to play with other poker players from all over the world and engage in exciting Texas Holdem Poker and Omaha ring games and tournaments.
Playing on these play money poker sites helps you understand how poker works and how to use the right strategy to beat your opponents.
Many players started playing online poker from the free games. That's because playing free poker online you can develop your poker skills and learn the ins and outs of popular games like Texas Hold'em and Omaha poker before you decide to play for real money.
Think of Anette Obrestad.
Once poker wunderkind, Obrestad started playing online poker for free — and then, one freeroll tournament after the other, she built the insane bankroll that helped finance games and tournaments for real money.
Use the free poker games online to become a better player.
The best online, free poker sites are essential to get some free poker practice. How else could you try our proven poker tips without risking a single cent of your bankroll?
In this article, you find all your best option to play free online poker in 2020.
All these sites have options to play free online poker games with fake money and help hone your poker skills with some good poker practice.
All the site in the list offer mobile poker apps or platforms, so you can play with other poker players on desktop, Android, and iOS.
The mobile poker apps feature the same games and tournaments you find on the desktop versions. Some (like the World Series of Poker (WSOP) app, Zynga Poker, and the World Poker Tour (WPT) Poker app) do not offer options to play for real money.
Others (like PokerStars, PartyPoker, and 888Poker) combine free poker games and tournaments with real money ones - so you can have an authentic 'full poker experience' always playing on the same website.
So, are you ready to start playing some poker? Join tens of thousands of other poker players on these exciting websites, claim all the poker bonuses available right now, and get busy with your first poker hand.
Best Free Poker Sites
Need more information to choose where to play some good free Texas Hold'em, Omaha, and stud games online? Check out the description of all the free poker sites and don't forget you can read even more about them on the reviews published on our list of the top online poker sites.
WSOP Poker
The World Series of Poker (WSOP) Social Poker site is the best free-to-play poker sites in the world. This poker site and mobile poker app comes from the kitchens of Playtika, the same social Casino giant that came up with uber-successful apps like Slotomania and House of Fun.
WSOP Poker is the only option to play no-limit hold'em and pot-limit Omaha cash games against friends, family, and opponents from all around the world.
US players can play online poker games on the WSOP free mobile poker app.
Compared to other free poker sites, WSOP Poker hosts some massive games and tournaments where you compete for awesome prizes, including virtual WSOP bracelets.
Link the WSOP free poker app to your Facebook account to challenge your friends and brag to them when you beat them in a big pot or major free poker tournament.
The WSOP poker app offers the best free poker games online. It is a superb place to practise poker for free and hone your skills without any financial risk to your bankroll.
Play free poker games on WSOP Poker:iTunes, Google Play, and Desktop; free.
PokerStars
If you already play poker, you know about PokerStars already.
PokerStars is like a mecca for Poker. It is:
- The largest online poker site in the world
- The host of the most successful online poker series
- The only real money PA poker site in 2019
PokerStars is also known for providing great free poker games online — although this isn't a 100% free poker site like the one that operates under the World Series of Poker brand.
This online poker site is known for the breadth of poker games and tournament formats that you can get accustomed to if you're starting and learning to play online.
Playing free poker games on PokerStars is simple:
- Register a gaming account (it's free)
- Select the 'Play Money' option.
From there, you are good to go. Ready to take on the world.
Pro tip: when you run out of chips, you can top up by taking a seat at a ring game table. That way, you can continue with your free poker games.
PokerStars Team ProBarry Greenstein joins the action of free Texas hold'em games on PokerStars very often.
As an American player, Greenstein can't play real money poker in the US. So he often shows up at the play-money tables over at PokerStars.
To play free poker games with Barry Greenstein, you'll need to work yourself up to the highest play-money stakes and grow a bankroll able to survive those limits.
Play free poker games on PokerStars:iTunes, Google Play, and Desktop; free.
888poker
888poker is another behemoth in the poker scene. They too offer both real-money and free poker games.
The free poker practice mode helps you familiarise yourself with the poker rules and learn how to avoid all the most common mistakes beginners make.
To play free poker games on 888poker:
- Register a gaming account (it's free)
- Head to the 888poker Practice Play Lobby
If you qualify for their welcome bonus, you can also play free online poker games to win real money.
Just for registering with 888poker, you get a free $8 instant bonus to play free poker games and an additional $80 free bonus as you collect status points.
888poker is where you get non-stop cash games, giving you the ultimate freedom to decide when and for how long you want to play poker online.
With the number of players who have signed up for 888, free games for play money are always on offer. You never have to wait long to play a play money cash game or free poker tournament.
And, when you're finally ready to stretch into real-money games, you can take your first deposit, get 888poker to double it, and gain entry into nine free tournaments.
Play free poker games on 888poker:iTunes, Google Play, and Desktop; free.
partypoker
Partypoker also allows you to play online poker free and for real money. These games allow you to explore your ability, strategy, and luck.
If you're serious about playing, you can jump right into a free game in the 'Play Money' tab or even go to the free poker school to learn about how to play online.
New players can receive a money bonus for when they decide to step up their game and try real-money poker.
On Partypoker, you can track your progress, take free poker missions for rewards, and grab free poker promotions for a wide variety of prizes and tournament offerings.
Like on 888poker and PokerStars, there are plenty of players on the free partypoker client, so you should never be bored. Free poker awaits!
Play free poker games on Partypoker:iTunes, Google Play, and Desktop; free.
Full Tilt Poker
Full Tilt Poker is still a force to be reckoned with.
While it's not the poker site it once was, you can still play on your favourite software against players from all over the world.
Full Tilt now uses the poker platform of PokerStars, but the avatars and other perks of the site are still alive and kicking.
Playing free poker on Full Tilt is as easy as it can be.
Like the other sites, they offer play money games so you can give poker a try without risking any of your hard-earned money.
Go ahead and give the play money games a try; it's a lot of fun.
- Register a gaming account (it's free)
- Choose your free poker games and play
Like almost all the other real money free poker sites on this page, Full Tilt gives you the option to transition to real money play — if you want to.
You can do so by making a deposit and choosing any of the real money games on the platform, or by going for one of the many freeroll tournaments available.
Don't you know what a freeroll tournament is? Great. You just qualified for the next chapter of this free poker guide.
Play free poker games on Full Tilt Poker:iTunes, Google Play, and Desktop; free.
Free Poker vs Freeroll
Freeroll tournaments are online multiplayer events that cost nothing to enter.
The difference between these free games and the ones with play money is that these are the event where you can win real money.
No other free poker event let you win real money for free. That's why freeroll poker tournaments are hugely popular with beginners.
Play is often reckless on these free poker events, so you have to be patient and smart about it.
Free Online Poker FAQ
What is the best free online poker site?
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According to our latest survey and market data, the best all-free online poker site is the World Series of Poker mobile poker app. In terms of hybrid sites (those where you can choose to free and real money poker games), the world's best poker site in 2020 is still PokerStars.
Can you play poker online for free?
You can play free poker games in various forms. You can use a no deposit bonus to play real money games and tournaments (e.g. the one at 888poker), open an account on a hybrid site to combine play money and real money games (e.g. PokerStars), enter a freeroll tournament, or download a free mobile poker (e.g. WSOP Poker).
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In what states can you play online poker?
As of January 2020, the only states where you can play online poker in the United States for real money are Nevada, Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
To know what operators offer legal online poker games in these states, check our pages dedicated to PA Poker Sites and NJ Poker Sites. Also, you can follow the legislative process and know when more states are likely to regulate online poker via our US Poker Map.
The WSOP Poker app is legal in all US states.
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Additional Readings
Free Money Poker Games
- PokerStars freeroll events (PokerNews-exclusive): full list of online, free poker tournaments available only to the readers of PokerNews.com.
- The best poker app in 2020: a complete overview of the top free poker apps available today with tips to play the best games of Texas hold'em, Omaha, and more.
- Best online poker sites in 2020: all the top websites to play online poker in 2019, ranked from the most beginner-friendly to the hardest ones.
This article was originally published on Feb. 17, 2017. Last update: November 28, 2019.
Everybody needs an account at one of these online poker rooms! They're the biggest, the best, and we get you the best poker bonuses. Check out our online poker section for details on all the online poker rooms around.
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