Online poker takes the fun of the game and cranks it up a notch. Players can play for free or for the smallest stakes imaginable (literally pennies) and can also play for a chance at satellite entries into the best live poker tournaments in the world. Plus, players can play from anywhere in the world on their desktop computer, laptop, phone or tablet.

Getting started with poker online is easy enough, but there are some things you should know before you start playing for real money. First of all, you will want to find a reputable online poker site. This is important because a reputable site will not cheat their players. They will also make sure that their random number generator is regularly tested to ensure that every single deal is truly random.

Once you’ve found a reputable poker site you will need to sign up for an account. Most sites will require some kind of identification, such as a drivers license or utility bill that has your name and address on it. Some may even ask to scan this information before they let you play. This is normal and a good way to help prevent shady players from cheating the system.

The most popular poker variant played on the internet is No-Limit Texas Hold’em. You can find thousands of games running online around the clock at all different stake levels. No-Limit Hold’em is a great game to start with because it is simple to learn but very difficult to master.

When you’re deciding where to play, it’s always wise to look for an online poker room that accepts your preferred payment method. Many poker sites offer a variety of banking methods, including credit cards and e-wallets. Just be sure to read the rules of each poker site carefully before choosing one.

It’s also important to choose a poker room with a decent player base. A large player base means that you’ll have a much better shot at winning money. This is because the top players spend as much time studying their game as they do playing it. They sign up for training sites like Upswing Poker and Chip Leader Coaching, network with other successful pros, and brutally analyze their own play after every session.

Lastly, you’ll want to decide what kind of bankroll you’re comfortable with. It’s crucial to remember that poker is a game of skill over the long run and you will experience many losing days along the way. The key is to keep moving up the stakes and to never give up on the game.

Some people get sucked into the myth that poker is rigged and end up throwing away their entire bankroll because they don’t have the nerve to take a bad beat. This is why it’s so important to have a solid game-plan and to view your progress in poker over months and years, not weeks or days. This is how true winners approach the game.