For those who aren’t really fans of Facebook or Myspace, almost every online poker site allows a free download of their poker client to play on their network for free. Before the days of the internet, learning the game of poker cost players an arm and a leg, with the online poker boom that education is now available for free and in the comfort of your own home.

Some players may have friends bugging them to come to their local home game, but don’t feel comfortable playing due to a lack of knowledge of how the game is played. A few clicks of the mouse a new player can be playing the game in a matter of minutes. After a few hours in front of the computer this fresh newbie will be ready for his upcoming home game.

We’ve all heard it time and time again, practice makes perfect. To become an expert you need to put in about 2,000 hours to something. Why would you want to pay for something when there’s a free alternative? The more you play, the more you’ll learn. You may not acquire every skill needed to quit your job and travel the casino circuit but you will get a jump start on your road to a life as a semi-professional poker player.

Depending on which online poker site you play at will determine which games and features are available. Some sites feature only Texas Holdem, others include Pineapple, Omaha, and even Seven Card Stud. Different betting limits are also available ranging from limit, pot limit, no limit to high low, or even half kill or kill games. For those that are unaware high low is a game where the low hand and high hand split the pot. Half kill and kill games increase the blinds to try and stop a hot player from continuing to win pots.

Some online poker sites even offer what are known as “freeroll tournaments” where free players get a chance at real cash. Typically these tournaments are full of hundreds if not thousands of players hungry for a shot to take a stab at an online poker bankroll. While the odds of winning are not in your favor this can be a great stepping stone to tournament poker and understanding how to survive a long tournament. Regardless of whether you win or lose, you’ll be gaining an education that will last a lifetime.

Want a real jump start on your poker competition? Why not read some of the best texas hold em books such as Every Hand Revealed by Gus Hansen.