Online poker takes the classic card game to a whole new level. It’s a fun, intellectually thrilling game that rewards real skill instead of luck like slots or the lottery. It’s also something anyone can play at any time for any stakes from the comfort of their own home. And it’s accessible across the globe, with players of all levels able to find a seat at the table and compete for huge cash prizes and even satellite entries into live tournaments around the world.
First and foremost, before you start playing you’ll need to make sure you have a bankroll that’s appropriate for your level of experience. This is typically referred to as your “buy-in” budget and is something you should always have before you enter any tournaments. The best way to determine this is to track your results and see how much you’re losing on average per session. This will give you a clear picture of how much you should be spending on your buy-ins to maximize your winnings.
Next up, you’ll want to decide if you’re going to play for real money or just try it out with some free money. If you’re going to use real money it’s important that you find a site that’s safe and secure. This means a website with a good reputation for being regulated by a respected gaming commission, and software that’s constantly tested by an independent third party to ensure it’s free from bugs. It’s also a good idea to check the site uses encryption to keep your personal information secure.
Most poker sites offer a free player account but to access the full range of games you’ll need to deposit some money. This is usually pretty quick and easy, but some poker sites may ask for additional documents to verify your identity and age. This is perfectly normal and is usually done by scanning a driver’s license or utility bill in the name of the person that registered the account.
Once you’re logged in it’s a good idea to spend some time exploring the lobby. This is where you’ll find all of the available poker games including cash games, tournaments and sit & go’s. A great tip is to take advantage of the filters on the left side of the lobby and filter by game type, stakes, and more. This will help you quickly find the game that’s right for you and avoid any unnecessary clicking.
A good poker site will also offer a wide variety of bonuses and promotions to attract new players. These can be anything from a free play money bonus to a percentage of your first real-money deposit. The more generous a site’s bonus offerings are, the higher they’ll rank on our rankings.
Lastly, look for a site that offers the option to track your results. This is a great tool to have if you’re serious about improving your poker skills. It will show you things like your win rate, number of flops seen and the times that you’ve gone to showdown.