In this article we're reviewing poker free online games and asking to what extent are, or can such games be as training aids for real online poker play against real people for money.

To make clear, what we are considering are poker game downloads you play against the computer by yourself as opposed to the kind of free poker download games you're able to play at most online poker websites that feature free training game play versus other beginners or people checking out tactics.

Our evaluation looks at the most well known download poker game around, namely the Governor of poker games collection and the links are going to parts 1 and 2, suitable for both Mac and PC downloads..

Truly free?
Each game is $6.99 but you can try free before you buy since they offer a poker games free download complete version test for Mac and PC, so there's nothing to lose.

So what are these games all about? This is my summary, this is the publisher description which is the marketing pitch.

Governor of Poker 1
Governor of Poker, a poker game like you’ve never seen before. Discover if you've got what it takes to go up against the Pro players of the old west? Dare to join a tournament or a cash game and perhaps bet ‘all in’. Does it satisfy you to totally clean the table of players and win all their cash and even their property. Can you rise to the challenge and become the Governor of Poker and lord it over all Texas?

We bet after playing Governor of Poker you haven’t had enough! Then it's time for Governor of Poker part 2 where you'll find a ton of extra’s!

Governor of Poker 2
This sequel features many changes. Cities have grown, new people arrived… It’s all good, but some things cannot be accepted just like that! Lots more cities to conquer and tournaments to play, interactive wallpaper, downloadable theme music, an extra ‘Pro’ difficulty mode and more.

And the biggest challenge of all awaits. In a parallel to the real world USA online poker money play situation, poker has been banned and you must fight the ban underground.

In Governor of Poker 2 you can also learn how to play the best poker with the poker-tutorial. There are many new tournaments, multi table with up to 120 competitors spread taking place in 19 cities and 27 poker rooms and casinos. It also includes a bounty hunter game, where you win cash prizes when eliminating an opponent or play against a whole team of players!

Plus you can set up your own tournaments and, for real risk takers, get bank loans. You can choose to get to your next games by train, river casino boat or stage coach, naturally you can play poker while travelling.

Buy the hats that suit you best or to get admitted to new locations. Look for opponent tells based on emotions like nervous, on fire, steamy and tilted. And to regain your Governor status beat the 9 most notorious poker players in the west!

Player reviews - Is Governor of poker worthwhile?
The Governor of poker games reviews I've found have been mixed. Seems Governor of poker games are love it or hate it - so get the free poker games downloads version first and try it and see what camp you're in!

What does seem key is that it is more a game than a real life training sim. If what you are after is a real life poker training system then this is not quite it simply as there are not other people there and your computer is not an AI. For real life practice you still need the sort of free download poker games practice games that you can find on sites like NoPayPOKER.com where the play and attitudes are all very real!

However where the governor of poker games can really be of value is help you is to get to grips with the mechanics of the game and so save some blushes when you go up against real players for the first time.

You'll know then how blinds work, about betting, raising, folding and all that sort of thing. It is also possible to set a difficult skill level which some have said is much harder that most real life games so it may help you get ready to go up against some real sharks!

But if what you want is a fun poker game, one that is also suitable for kids to play then the Governor of poker series is one you should look at. Go get the Governor poker games free download for pc or Mac today.