No Download Texas Holdem

As the name suggests, no download Texas holdem is playing a
game online or on a mobile device without being forced to
download a software package first.

This may seem a bit strange if you’re fairly new to online
and / or mobile poker, but some poker rooms still have download
solutions and when poker was first available to online players
your only option was to download a poker room client.

Keep reading to learn the other names that players call no
download solutions, how to get started, the differences between
download and no download, and how your choice of software
solutions need to be considered when you think about your long
term holdem goals.

Other Names

No download Texas holdem refers to any way you can play
without downloading the poker room client. You can find many
different names for this that are used now and have been used
over the years. Here’s a list of common names used for no
download poker options:

• Flash
• Mac
• Instant or Instant Play
• Browser Based

Many players also consider mobile Texas holdem solutions as
no download. It’s usually played using an app on a mobile
device which isn’t the same technology as traditional no
download games on a desk top or lap top computer, but it doesn’t
really matter if you understand the technology. As long as it
works it doesn’t matter if you know how it works.

One issue is you generally can’t use apps designed for mobile
devices on your regular computer. If the mobile tablet or phone
accesses the game through a browser you can usually do so as
well on a regular computer, but an app is designed for mobile
use, not computers.

If you include mobile devices, here are a few more common
names that may be used:

The first no download Texas holdem solutions were created
because people who owned Macintosh computers were having a hard
time playing online poker. Their only option was to run a
special software program called an emulator that acted like a
Windows based system.

These programs didn’t work well so most Mac owners simply
didn’t play. The early online poker rooms didn’t like missing
out on the extra profit that this group of owners represented so
the companies started looking for solutions.

The software solutions designed to be downloaded on Windows
based computers wouldn’t work on Macintosh computers and
couldn’t be adapted to work either. But if they designed a flash
based product the Mac users could play on their computers. This
created the entire no download poker section of the industry and
Mac players have had poker options ever since.

How to Get Started

Getting started with a no download Texas holdem option is
easy. When you decide to sign up at a poker room that offers
this option you need to either set up an account and log into
the instant play poker section of the site or access the poker
room first and then sign up for an account.

Because everything happens in your browser it doesn’t matter
which order you have to use to get started. Once you sign up for
an account the first time all you have to do from then on is log
in and start playing:

• Once you have an account and load the poker client
  either find the free money section and join a table or make
  a deposit in the cashier area.

  **It’s always a good idea to try at least a few
  hands at the free money tables to make sure the software
  doesn’t have any glitches and so you can learn where all
  of the controls are located.

• Click the link to the cashier area and look for the
  options available to players where you live to make
  deposits.
• Pick one of the options that you have access to, make a
  deposit, and start playing.

  **If you have trouble making a deposit, check with
  someone in the support department.

• Also keep an eye out for promotional bonus codes before
  you make a deposit.
• Often you can get matching deposit bonuses that can
  double your starting bankroll. Always read all of the terms
  and conditions before you play for a poker bonus.

Where to Play

Not every online poker room offers a no download Texas holdem
solution. You can feel safe using any of the poker rooms listed
on this web site because we never list a poker room where we
don’t trust our own money, but not every room we list has an
instant play option.

When you visit a site where you want to play look for a link
or button advertising a no download, flash, or browser based
option. If you don’t find one you can contact support and ask
them if they have a solution, or simply download the main client
and get started that way.

If a site advertises a Mac solution you can probably use it
on your computer. But if it has an Apple solution this usually
means it’s for the iPads and iPhones. This type of solution
usually won’t work for regular PC users.

Differences Between Download and No Download

Once you join a table and start playing you probably won’t
notice much difference between a download and a no download
option. It’s possible that you won’t be able to see any
difference between the two options.

You need an internet connection to play using either
solution, but the framework is already on your computer with a
download client, so it may be a bit faster doing everything
before you start playing. But as long as you don’t have any
problems you probably will soon forget if you’re playing
download or no download Texas holdem poker.

Your Location

Players in certain locations aren’t allowed to play at some
poker rooms. Some players get the bright idea that they can get
around this by using no download and / or mobile solutions. They
combine these options with IP cloaking or spoofing to try to
fool the online poker rooms into thinking they’re located
somewhere else.

So players have been trying for years to figure out a way
around this.

The problem is that even if you can fool the software into
letting you sign up and play how are you going to handle the
account details and the banking details? You have to be able to
move money into the poker room and get it out and to do this you
have to have a bank account in a country the poker room accepts
players from.

For the most part if you find a poker room that lets you make
a deposit you can feel fairly safe about playing there. You need
to research the site and make sure they have a history of taking
care of players and you should never play with more money than
you can afford to lose, but most of the better known poker rooms
are safe and have a solid track record.

Of course you also need to be aware of the legal issues
concerning playing online Texas holdem where you live. Many
countries and jurisdictions have licensed and regulated online
poker, making it safe and easy for their citizens to play. But
other countries force you to play in a gray area, not knowing
for sure how legal playing actually is.

If you have any concerns or questions you should research the
government supplied details about online poker on the web sites
they run in your location and / or speak to an attorney. You
probably need to find one that has some experience with online
gambling, because most lawyers don’t know anything about it.

Strategy Considerations

This may sound a little silly, but if you want to be the
absolute best Texas holdem player that you can be you need to
analyze even the smallest part of your game. This includes
things as seemingly insignificant as your software choices. If
you’re not willing to do every single last thing needed to
maximize your poker profitability then you don’t need to worry
about whether you use a download or no download solution.

You have to do everything you can to keep your mind in a
profitable place when you’re playing poker. This includes not
thinking about the software that you’re using to play online.
Anything that takes your attention away from the game can cost
you money.

Depending on your internet connection and computer
capabilities, you may have trouble playing with a no download
solution. A slower internet connection speed and / or older
hardware can create lag times in no download Texas holdem games.

Because the framework of the game isn’t already downloaded on
your hard drive a no download solution can be resource
intensive. This can create issues while you’re trying to play.

You need to find a solution that works well enough to give
you peace of mind while playing. The last thing you want to do
is be distracted by something like this and lose a big hand or
get knocked out of a tournament.

On the other hand, if you play in large tournaments that can
last for hours you may want to find a solution that offers the
chance to play across a wide range of devices. Some no download
solutions let you play on your regular computer and also on a
mobile tablet or phone.

If you find one of these solutions you can start a big
tournament on your home computer and if it lasts for 10 hours
and you need to run out for a minute you can switch over to your
mobile device until you get back.

Conclusion

If you have a stable connection and your favorite poker room(s)
offer a no download solution it may be the best option for
you. But if your room offers both a download and no download
option you need to consider your options. You should try both
before making a final decision.

The bottom line is most online Texas holdem players can use
either type of software solution so you probably don’t need to
worry about it. Just follow these steps:

1. Find a poker room that accepts players from where you
   live
2. Sign up
3. Follow the instructions
4. Start playing!