In recent years the number of free poker players has grown an exponentially. The most popular variant is Texas Hold’em. But what is it that makes this game so appealing?

Every second of the day there are thousands of players playing online poker all around the world. Some poker rooms can accommodate over one hundred thousand players at a time. In global terms can be estimated at several million weekly players who pass through one or another poker room. If we talk about money every day this world moves many millions of dollars, which certainly in most cases not taxed because governments do not regulate the industry, but this is not the question.

So, what makes players take up the game of poker? The main attraction is money, lets face it, we would all like a little more. However, poker is still a big gambling game with no certainty of winning, so why do people still play?

Well, simply that at any given time any player can win a lot because at times certain poker hands can beat anyone. This means even the worst player in the world can have their moment of glory and gain (though they WILL lose more long term).

That’s because poker is not a game of pure chance. If it was then no way could it support the growing number of players who live to play poker. For if the win or lose depended on luck alone then the long-term fate would be balanced against profit.

On average only 10% of most poker players actually earn decent money on a regular basis. This proves that poker is all about technique and skill, not luck. So, what happens to the other 90% of the players who don’t win?

The difference with those who do not play well is that over time will lose money. They have their fun in the short term where they can and do win and it’s this that keeps them coming back (because it is also a fun game).

The 10% and prospective members of the elite 10% though, they spend time studying the game, play with strategy, analyze each situation and try to learn from mistakes in order to get on the right side of profitability. Never was the phrase “you make your own luck” so true as in online poker. For them it is a war.

Whatever type of poker is being played, whether its pay poker, or free poker, good players can and do lose in the short term and have at times horrible losing streaks. Bad players can sometimes win a load. But over time there is no doubt that good players triumph and make profits while the bad players will lose more than they win but keep coming back because they’re either aiming to get better or simply hoping for that one “big hit”.

If poker is new to you and you don’t want to dive in and lose all of your own hard earned cash in one go, then playing on free poker sites is a perfect way to start. This way you can gain experience and learn the game without losing own money, but still winning real cash.