The first rule of good free online poker playing is to have patience. For example, I've gone 20 hands or more on various sites and will fold due to terrible cards. In time some good cards will appear. You just have to wait.

Most players tend to go all in if they have an A and another card. This is a mistake. Of course 2 Aces are nice but I'd rather bet small and play on nine people's money than all in and maybe you'll get one taker. Wait until after the flop to bet. Make sure a possible straight or flush won't beat you. It's worth the wait.

Don't bet on future cards you hope you'll get. For example you have 4 cards to a straight and someone goes all in. Just fold. Odds are not in your favour to bet.

Of course you can't read a poker face on line, but you can learn from the way they will bet over the course of the game. I see a lot of people bet $400 on opening bet and then go all in after flop. These people generally have nothing.

Then along comes the aggressive player. There will always be one of these at the table, they have more money and bet high every hand. Its worth just letting them get on with it and not letting it get to you. The right hand will come for you.

If you are a gambler, make sure your down cards will make a straight, or you have a pair. Never bet 2/9, 2/8, K/3 for example. All you have here is a luck bet.

I have found that playing free online poker games to perfect my play is the way to start playing poker, there are many sites that you can play at and not pay a penny but still win real cash.

Poker is all about patience and only a little bit of luck. If you are patient in every game and tournament that you play then you wont go far wrong. Next time you are on the free online poker sites try it out.