These days there’s an app for everything, and if there isn’t… you can make your own.
Whether they’re from small teams of developers, solo passion projects or vibe-coding enthusiasts, new ways to play and new tools to improve are popping up every day.
Below we’ve cherry-picked a few of the more unusual new apps to have dropped recently, including free-play options for browsers, apps, on Steam and even within Reddit itself.
Please note that PokerOrg is not affiliated with any of these apps, we haven’t tested them all, and we can’t vouch for their safety, efficacy, or level of AI involved in their creation. If you have doubts about a download or website, don’t do it.
With that said, let’s check out the latest stuff that’s caught our eye this month.
Free-play games
While poker has always been a game closely associated with real-money gambling, there are plenty of those who play for other reasons entirely.
A zero-stakes online catch-up session with friends, for example, an offline single-player time-killer, or a play-anywhere app that lets you join a game in places where gambling isn’t permitted.
If that idea floats your boat, one of these could be for you.
Poker Patio
The idea of creating a private online table with friends has been around for a long while, but really took off around 2020 when much of the world was locked down during the pandemic.
One of the latest new options is Poker Patio, created by a small team of four, which offers single-table 6-Max and 9-Max ring games (multi-table tournaments and heads-up tables are apparently on the roadmap).
Private games are easy to set up, and the public ones are relatively busy too.Public tables are populated at a range of stakes, though limited for now to no-limit hold’em, and setting up a private game is as simple as selecting your stakes and sharing a link. You can also play against bots — at a range of difficulty levels — and compete for bragging rights on leaderboards.
Browser-based and free, though with some premium customization options kept behind a $4.99 subscription, Poker Patio allows for private games between friends with no registration required. Find out more.
Poker Rivals
What stands out the most about Poker Rivals is where you play it: within Reddit.
It’s a single-player game that drops you right into a single-table sit & go against AI opponents in just a couple of taps, all without leaving Reddit.
The fact you’re playing against bots means that any hands you fold can be sped through at high speed, so you’re able to play a lot of hands in not much time.
You’ll need a Reddit account, which will be used to track your bankroll and progress between sessions, with your account name used on the game’s leaderboards. Check it out here.
Poker Games
From Reddit to Steam. The online videogame storefront and platform is filled with everything from triple-A PC games to quirky puzzlers ideal for your Steam Deck, and is also home to this (generically and terribly named) game that allows you to set up private ring games for play-chips with your Steam friends.
Cross-platform play is possible between PC and mobile players, but the platform itself seems like the point here: if Steam is where you spend your leisure time, and you fancy a break from the likes of Counter-Strike 2, ARC Raiders or Overwatch, then Poker Games may be worth a try.
It’s available now on Steam for a couple of bucks.
Jailhouse Poker
From less-expected platforms to lesser-player games. Jailhouse Poker is a mobile app that specializes in the kind of games you’re unlikely to find in many other places. The game’s description lists variants including ‘7-8-Jack, Nine Trey, 7-11, Lowball, Dookie, Casualty, Box Omaha and more’, at least one of which we’ve definitely heard of.
Is that how they pronounce 'badugi' in jail?Apparently inspired by the developer’s own prison experiences — which may or may not instill 100% confidence in the security of this AI-coded app — the game claims to offer public, private and single-player bot games.
We say ‘claims to’ because the download option appears to have mysteriously disappeared from its Play Store page.
It only launched this month so it could be there are a few teething problems to iron out, but the fact remains that mixed games are fun and there are few single-player options for those looking to scratch that itch — especially when it comes to a quick round of ‘Dookie’ (can anyone explain that one? Actually, maybe don’t).
Training tools
It’s never been easier to find tools online to improve your game, but finding the right one to fit your habits, your budget and your own specific leaks isn’t always straightforward.
PlusEV
You can test out this mobile app right on its homepage with no download required, and while it does offer a paid upgrade there are some handy-looking free tools available too.
Drilling preflop spots is the order of the day here, and it will serve you up situations it has deemed you need the most help with. Calling itself ‘Duolingo for Poker', PlusEV claims it can identify your preflop leaks and tailor your training to focus on fixing them.
And unlike many other similar apps they’ve published some statistical findings to back up their claims, stating that across 1,000,000 training hands in a 30-day period, intermediate-level players improved to the tune of 0.061bb per decision. You can examine the numbers here.
Spin Coach
Lottery or jackpot sit & go tourneys, branded variously as Spin & Go, Espresso, Spin & Gold and more, are a mainstay of many large poker sites.
With the chance to win potentially large prizes for very short tournament sessions, these games followed the ‘fast-fold’ format over a decade ago as the latest effort to hook players short on time (the battle rages on with mystery bounty events, all-in or fold, PKOs and so on).
Yet despite the popularity of the format, few dedicated training resources are widely available. Spin Coach is one of them, though.
Spin Coach is nothing like spin class (we hope).You can import your tournament histories, or have them auto-imported while you play, to help identify leaks and then work on them within the app, whether they’re pre- or post-flop. Quizzes, replays and drills track your progress as you go.
Spin Coach offers a 14-day free trial, and is then priced at €9.90 per month for the basic package and €19.90 for the pro subscription (which includes training adjusted to your opponents’ leaks and more detailed stats). Find out more.
