Getting started with online poker is easy. The first step is to sign up for an account. You will need to provide your name, social security number, date of birth, and your address. Some sites will also ask you to provide a utility bill and other documents to verify your identity.
The next step is to download poker software. Most online poker sites will require less than a minute to download. This software is usually free, and most sites offer a “quick start” feature that lets you choose your game, stakes, and number of players. This option is great for new players.
When playing at a poker site, you will also need to decide how much money you are willing to invest. Some online poker sites offer freerolls, or free tournaments, that allow you to win real money without paying an entry fee. The prizes vary from site to site, and vary by the stakes you play. You can also opt to play in satellites, which are tournaments that start at a low buy-in and lead to seats in bigger tournaments like the $10k WSOP Main Event.
PokerStars and Full Tilt are the two biggest names in online poker. These sites offer a variety of games, including sit & go’s, tournaments, cash games, and Zoom Poker. They also host big prize tournaments like the Pennsylvania Championship of Online Poker. PokerStars also hosts the annual World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event, which consists of a series of tournaments.
Another advantage of playing poker online is that it can be played anytime, anywhere. You can play on your laptop, tablet, or smartphone, and you can play for free or for real money. You can play against other players or against strangers.
You can also sign up for poker training sites, which are a great way to improve your game. These sites can teach you all about poker, including how to make the best hand, and how to play against others. Some sites even offer exclusive free tournaments every week. You can also win extra money by snatching out opponents. Some sites offer free poker training guides, and there are a number of free online strategy sites as well.
One of the most popular books on poker is “Super/System” by Tom Dwan. Another book that has received a lot of attention is “Harrington on Hold’em”. Regardless of which game you choose to play, you should always remember that the biggest draw of online poker is the chance to win real money.
Before playing poker for real money, you should set a budget and decide how much you want to spend on it. You will also want to set a limit on how many hands you will play each day. When playing poker online, you may be required to sign up for a real money account, and you may be asked to provide identification or proof of age. You can also request a withdrawal from your account, which is usually processed quickly.