For years poker was a pastime played in the back of bars or casinos but when an accountant from Tennessee elevated it to primetime it became a game that can be wagered against anyone with access to the internet. Online poker has exploded over the last decade and offers players an opportunity to play for real money at a variety of top-rated sites.
In order to play poker online you must first register with a poker site and create a user account. The process is generally simple and quick. Then you must deposit funds to start playing games. Depending on the country in which you live there may be age verification checks that you will need to pass in order to play for real money. The age verification process is usually nothing more than having your ID scanned and submitting it to the poker site for review.
The top poker sites have large player pools which offer players the chance to compete against a wide range of skill levels. They also run big tournaments and have events with massive prize pools. Some even feature live dealers. These are all great features and are a major reason that players choose to play at a particular site.
Depending on the type of poker site you choose you can also find many different types of games to play. There are traditional cash games, multi-table tournaments and Sit & Go’s to name just a few of the popular options. Most poker sites will also have a beginner tables which can be extremely helpful for new players. These tables are geared towards beginner players and help level the playing field for people that are just starting out.
When it comes to playing poker online the most important thing is to make mathematically sound plays and not let the buy-in of a tournament or a hand of ring games effect your decision making. It is easy to get caught up in emotion and end up making a bad play, especially when you’re trying to win a large amount of money. To avoid this, always be sure to play within your bankroll.
The top US-based poker sites are Bovada, BetOnline, Full Tilt and PokerStars. All of them have high traffic and offer a huge range of games and promotions. Many of them offer tournaments with guaranteed prize pools in the millions of dollars. They also have anonymous poker which helps protect players from sharks that use long-term analysis tools to spot easy prey. Some of these sites also have great customer support. They are ready to answer any questions you might have and are committed to making your experience a positive one. They will also offer a free demo version of their games so that you can try them out before ponying up actual money. Besides the free versions you can also play for fun with friends in their own rooms on the site. Some of these poker sites even offer mobile apps for on-the-go gaming.
