Poker players had no way to test their poker skills for a long time now. The only way to test your poker skills was to actually play the game. But that could prove to be a costly decision. Often times you would end up discovering that your skills aren’t winning and you just cannot figure out what to do in order to improve your game.

By using a free online poker test you can now find out how good your poker skills really are. Nowadays there are several such tests available. The original test was first published at PokerTester.com. When you take a poker test all you have to do is answer 25 multiple-choice questions. These questions are designed to test 8 different poker skills areas.

No one is born a poker pro. In order to become a proficient player you must put in the time and effort and work on your skills. As time progresses your skills will improve, and this applies to all poker players. Advancing from amateur to pro poker player takes a combination of skills, time and experience.

Here are some questions you will be asked:

Starting Hands

It is very important to realize which hands you must play and from which positions and under which circumstances. This will have a big impact on how well you do in poker.

Betting Strategy

The way you bet is equally important if you want to have a lucrative poker session. Sometimes you must bet, other times you must call, and other times you must fold. Making the right decision at the right time will make all the difference.

Playing the Odds

If you want to make money and buildup your stack, then you must know how and when to play the odds. This includes quickly calculating outs, pot odds and determining whether your hand is a money-maker or loser, statistically speaking of course. Since there’s always an element of chance involved you can’t play strictly by the odds. But it is a major factor to take into consideration.

Bluffing and Trapping

Successful bluffing is one of the most important skills in the game of poker. In poker you will not typically get that many super-strong hands, which makes the ability to bluff and trap successfully a critical part of the game.

Reading Players

Another critical poker skill is the ability to understand what a player is likely doing at any point in the game, as well as successfully reading their hand strength. You’ll know when to fold when holding the second-best hands and when to raise or go all-in against a bluff, if you learn to successfully read your opponent.

Heads Up Play

Since there are many occasions where you’ll be pitted against just one opponent, it is critical to properly play in a one-on-one situation. In a heads up play you will truly see which player is the best.

Advanced Play

You will be able to confuse your opponents and keep them off balance and wondering what’s going on if you can master a few advanced techniques. This way they will have a hard time trying to read you and thus gain an advantage.

Tournament Play

Knowing and using proper tournament strategy is an important skill to develop as much of today’s play is centered on tournaments, large multi-table tournaments as well as satellite and sit and go tournaments.

Taking the poker test will take about 15 to 20 minutes, if you do it thoughtfully. You will then receive a “report card” with your overall score. The report includes a score for each of the 8 key poker skills areas and this way you will know exactly on which areas to improve, and where your strengths lay. You will even be offered some tips for your problem skills areas.

You simply cannot improve your poker skills if you do not know which skills need improving. But to improve your poker skills you must first understand them, and this is where this poker test comes in handy. Discovering your own poker skill level in an objective manner is now extremely simple. You can use this information to improve your skills, your poker game, and thus become a pro in a less time.