To play and win at poker of any type from simple fun free online poker games to high roller Monaco there are certain rules you must follow as otherwise you will simply lose all the time, I know this as I used to break them all at one time or another and lost bankroll after bankroll. Most of the time we lose playing poker as a result of beating ourselves,not by being beaten by other players.

However, get these basics right and I promise you that in future you will only ever be beaten by a better hand and not by bad play.

1. Conserve your bankroll by only playing quality cards pre-flop. For example, pairs, connectors, suited connectors and face cards.

2. Keep in mind that pairs, even Aces are one of the lowest hands in poker. Because of this you should not bet on them during the hand at any time. If you are in a cheap hand you should try to stay in but don't bet on it.

3. If the flop does not help you, fold. If the flop does not help your hole cards Fold. Do this and you will conserve your bankroll for the next play.

4. Never attempt to buy a straight or a flush.

5. Be sure that you do not fight a straight or flush. If the community cards are straight or suited someone at the table will have the Straight or Flush. In the rare event that nobody does you will still save your money, but most of the time someone will so don't fight it.

6. Watch the suit of the flopped cards, I have seen so many people who have a flush staring them in the face get smashed as they didn't see it.

7. Absolutely never move All-in preflop. Only free poker game donks, fools with more money than sense or players messing about with friends do this. I don't care what you have in the hole. This is when the donkeys will kill you with plain old dumb grass munching luck and it happens all the time. You may have A's in the hole and some donkey will go all-in with 8 4 and win! Just discipline yourself to fold and wait for another chance. The only time to break this rule is if you are up 1000% to your opponents. And I have seen that backfire many times too.

8. The biggest one of all - Patience. If you don't have it you'll lose even if all your other skills are great. Books have been written on this core poker skill so I won't go on about it here.

So these are eight fundamental rules for winning in poker, or rather eight rules for not losing which comes down to much the same thing. These are just outlines of strategy so make sure you read up in more detail on them in poker books or in free online poker coaching lessons and of course make sure you practice and play free poker games online at NoPayPOKER.com before risking any of your dollars.