Online poker has revolutionized the way millions of players play the game of cards. While nothing beats playing live, the convenience of online poker has opened the door to this fascinating card game to players all over the world. The first step to playing poker online is finding a reputable site that offers the games you are interested in. This can be done by checking the reputation of a poker site and reading professional reviews as well as player reviews.

Once you have found a reputable poker site, make your first deposit and start playing. Most sites offer bonus play and real money poker. Bonus play allows players to play for free without wagering any real money. This is great for beginners to get used to the game without risking any money. Real money poker is competitive play against other players who are wagering real money. This is where players need to learn to think about position, calculate pot odds and assign ranges.

The most important thing to remember when playing poker online is that it is a game of skill over the long run. If you don’t spend time studying the game, you won’t be able to win consistently. It is also essential to have a bankroll that you can afford to lose. If you don’t, you will be worried about every little bad stretch and this will affect your mental game. If you don’t have enough capital to invest in the game, you should stick with sweepstakes poker sites or at least try to limit your losses by playing for smaller stakes.