One of the most fascinating aspects of the game of poker is that knowing the rules of play is truly just the beginning of mastering the game. Of course, you have to be able to rattle off the order of hands, and you have to know the basics of betting, calling, and raising, but to truly master poker you have to learn to react to different styles of play. Playing free online multi-player poker at VIPpoker.com is a great way to do just that.

Although there are a ton of poker theorists out there offering books on strategy, the truth is that you really cannot learn how to master poker by reading a book. The best way to learn how to play poker is to play poker. This is due in large part to the fact that the game can change depending on who you are playing against.

At a multi-player table, you might have five or six different playing styles all put together. You might have "rocks," or tight passive players, sitting on one side of you, and a calling station, or loose passive player, sitting on the other side. Only by facing these different types of players will you subsequently learn the most effective strategies for betting, calling, raising, and check raising.

For example, if you have a calling station type player to your right, you can pretty much guarantee that he is not going to fold to you no matter what. This can be good if you have a great hand that cannot be beaten, but as this is seldom the case, it is wise to keep an eye on what they might be drawing toward--for example, a flush, straight, etc. Free multi-player poker can be an easy way to not just have fun, but to truly give yourself a poker education before you start spending real money on the game. Sign up to play free online multi-player poker at VIPpoker.com.