Should you play free poker?

I've been asked many times if playing free poker online is a good way to improve your skills. Personally I avoid playing free poker (by free I'm referring to play money games were nothing tangible is at stake). Doyle Brunson is famous for saying that "poker is not a card game you play with people but a people game you play with cards" or something to that effect. In other words the the thought process of your opponents is just as important if not more important than the cards themselves. Ad: Texas Hold'em Secrets Revealed When there is nothing is at stake people play differently. It's a lot harder to go all-in with your hard earn paycheck than with play chips. Virtually everything you learn about how your opponents react in a play money game won't apply to a real money game. My advice is if you have a small bank roll play at lower limit tables until you have enough to move up. It's not glamorous to play .05/.10 limit but at least what you learn will carry over to higher limits (mostly). There are two exceptions to this rule for me: You've never played poker online or you are learning a game new to you such as seven card stud or Omaha poker. Mistakes at any limit are expensive and few of us have unlimited bank rolls so learning the rules and mechanics of a game with play money makes a lot of sense. You new to the site and want to test out the functionality or are otherwise unsure about it. If you are thinking of playing a site for the first time it makes sense to get used to the layout and controls before you invest any money. But if you are considering a site that is strangely or poorly laid out or if it is brand new I suggest moving onto a more tried and true poker site. Good luck and have fun! Poker Resources Featured Poker Rooms: Absolute Poker Full Tilt Poker UltimateBet PokerStars Learn to Play Poker Profitably the right way: Sit N Go Pro Outstanding Poker