Online poker is the king of card games and you can play for just about any stakes you can imagine. From free play to satellite entries into the world’s largest live poker tournaments and everything in between. All you need is a laptop, desktop computer or mobile phone and an internet connection. The first step is choosing an online poker site with the games you want to play and a good reputation. Many sites also offer play money tables where you can practice your skills without risking real cash. These can be invaluable to new players as they learn the game and build up their confidence before playing for real.
Once you’ve found a site you like sign up and deposit funds. Most online poker rooms accept a variety of payment methods and provide secure and fast deposits. The best online poker sites will also be reputable and adhere to responsible gambling standards.
Before you can start playing you’ll need to make sure that online poker is legal in your jurisdiction. Most states have laws that govern how and where you can play. You’ll also want to check the terms of service and bonus offers for your chosen site. Once you’re ready to play you’ll need to create a username and password. Then you’ll need to login and begin stacking chips.
The first thing to understand about poker online is that it’s a game of percentages. You’ll win some and lose some, but the goal is to make a steady profit over the long term. It’s important to view your progress in online poker from the perspective of months and years, not weeks or days. Too many people get too emotionally invested in their wins and losses and go on monkey tilt.
One of the great things about poker online is that you can play any number of tables at once. While this may sound intimidating it’s actually quite easy to manage if you do your homework. Multi-tabling will allow you to spread your bankroll across different types of hands and exploit weaknesses in the game. It’s also a good idea to stick with stronger hands from early position and avoid calling with marginal hands in late position.
Another advantage of online poker is that you can choose your own seat at the table. While this may not be as big a factor as it is in live poker, it can make all the difference in your winnings. The top poker sites will display player streaks and leaderboards so you can find a table with players of your skill level.
You’ll also be able to use software programs that will help you improve your game. These include hand history programs that save, sort and recall your hands. They can even scan active tables for known players and display previous statistics next to their name (known as a heads up display or HUD). These can be very useful tools for beginners and can save you a lot of time and effort in analysing your opponents.