Poker is a great game to play, but requires immense practice to win at it. And since one needs money to play, how do you achieve this feat without going bankrupt. Obviously you can play for nickels and dimes, provided you find a set of players who think just like you. But what if you don't?

The Internet has become a ubiquitous solution for dilemmas like that. A search through cyber space has thrown up a few casinos offering free 5- and 7-Card Stud and even an occasional free Texas Holdem , but these are still few and far between. And in spite of the magic of the Internet, it is just not real poker, which is after all about people and strategy, not software and numbers alone.

So, another search and we come up with Multi-Player poker games. Most multi-player sites offer a number of multi-player online games, but the most popular are the free Texas Holdem. When you log on to any website you go through a quick installation and registration process and then you are on your way to the poker room.

The Poker Room consists of a list of all the virtual tables where games are in progress or waiting for players. Each table shows the min/max bets, buy-in and an indication of what that table's play level is, that is, in short what is available and what is suitable. In case you do not like what you see you have a choice of starting a table of your own. The games available include 5- and 7-Card Stud, Texas Holdem, Omaha, and others. When you start to play you're given $1000 in free chips. If you play and accumulate winnings the system will remember what you've got from one play session to the next.

Alternatively, the site remembers your losses too. In the event you bust, you retire from the present game, but the next time you start another game, you will be given another $1000 start-up. Additionally, each game consists of a chat window built right into the console. Just type in your message and the other players can see it. There are not too many disadvantages to it, except that their game servers can be a little pokey at times. If you're playing at a full table during the busy times it can take several minutes for a betting round to complete. This may take a bit of getting used to, especially when compared to the typical Casino software package. But remember that you're playing real people and not the computer.