Online poker is where a lot of the fun happens. It’s a game that you can play 24/7 from anywhere in the world that is regulated by your state and allows for real money wagering. You can play for the smallest stakes imaginable or win satellite entries into the biggest live tournaments in the world. The best part about playing poker online is that you can do it from a desktop computer, laptop, tablet or mobile phone and you can also use a variety of different payment methods to get money on to the site and then withdraw winnings.
The first step in getting started with poker is to choose an online poker site and sign up for a player account. This will require a little bit of personal information such as your name, address, email address and social security number (in the case of the USA) so it’s important to use a safe and secure poker site that offers an IP PIN or IRS tax ID to prevent identity theft and fraud. Once you’ve signed up you’ll be asked to make a deposit using your preferred method. Most sites will accept credit cards, debit cards, pre-paid cards and eWallets while others allow for bank transfers, e-checks or third party eWallets.
Once you have money on the site it’s time to head over to the poker tables and start making some bets. While it may seem like a simple game you’ll need to learn the rules and strategies before you can become successful at the table. It’s a good idea to read poker strategy guides and try out some free poker games on the site before you start playing for real cash.
While the game can be a lot of fun, it’s a serious competition that takes a lot of practice to master. The top players spend as much time studying the game as they do playing it. They also network with other professionals and brutally analyze their own play after every session. Luckily, poker is easy to learn and can be very profitable.
You can play all kinds of poker games on most legal, regulated poker sites although Texas Hold’em is the dominant game. There are also variations such as Omaha, 7 Card Stud and Crazy Pineapple. Generally, the games on offer will be categorized by type (cash, Sit & Go or tournaments) and then by stake levels. Some online poker sites will even have a “beginner” category where you’ll only be seated with other players who classify themselves as beginners which can level the field for newcomers to the game.
It’s also worth checking to see if the poker site has a tracking feature so you can keep an eye on your wins and losses. It’s a great way to get an overview of your poker performance over the long term. In some cases the software will actually do this for you but it’s always a good idea to track your own results.
