If you just play free poker games for fun then the technical side of the game might not be of so much interest to you. However, if you are interested in increasing your pot and getting more money from your poker play then learning the technical side is essential.

The first thing I felt I needed to know was how pot odds actually worked in order to make the most money I could!

Pot odds, and what it means: The amount of money in the pot compared to the amount you must put in the pot to continue playing. Suppose there is $60 in the pot. Somebody bets $6, so the pot now contains $66. It costs you $6 to call, so your pot odds are 11:1. If your chance of having the best hand is at least one out of twelve, you should call.

Pot odds also apply to draws. For instance, suppose you have a draw to the nut flush with one card left to come. In this case, you are about a 4:1 underdog to make your flush.

If it costs you $8 to call the bet, then there must be about $32 in the pot (including the most recent bet) to make your call correct.

If you are clued up on how pot odds work then you stand a much better chance of winning a game and increasing your cash.

The other side of pot odds that we need to look at are 'implied odds'. These are trying to figure out what the future pot is going to be, how many other people are playing and also what the final pot could contain.

Whether you are playing free poker or pay poker then you will need to practice learning about pot odds if you want to be as good as the pro's. Professional players have spent years practicing and calculating odds to be as good as they are.

An example of implied odds are as followed: First of all are you talking about the flop or turn? Four outs on the flop is about 17% and on the turn about 9 per cent.

So if you are getting 5/1 or better on the flop you should call if you are getting 10/1 or better on the turn you should also call.

You must remember to consider the implied odds and how big the pot may grow, so you might not need exactly the right odds at the time of calling to justify the call if you know the pot will get bigger.

A good rule of thumb on a draw is to have a least 2 other opponents in (this is for an opened straight or a 4 flush).

Most new players will be clueless on the subject, but there is plenty of good sites and books to learn the more advanced ways of thinking and playing, and its always best to be prepared before getting in over your head against advanced players.

Whatever your reasons for playing poker or free poker games, whether it is to play for fun or progress a career, then learning a few of the tips available online can help you build a great bankroll.