While playing poker online is not the same as live play, it is a fun and convenient way to play your favorite game. You can sign up for a free account at many poker sites and use it to practice before you play with real money. You can also choose to deposit funds into your account and have the money deducted from your balance when you lose, or added back when you win.

It’s important to realize that online poker is a much faster-paced game than live poker. You should expect to be dealt 3-4x as many hands per hour when you play online. If you are new to the game, we recommend starting out with one table until you are comfortable making decisions at the speed of the games.

Unlike in live poker, where players can read each other’s tells, you cannot do this in online poker. It is therefore crucial that you have a good understanding of your opponent’s betting range to make the best decisions in the game.

Another important aspect of poker online is the high variance. It is common for online poker players to go on 20-30 buy-in downswings while playing the game. This is a result of the increased number of hands played and the fact that bluffs are much easier to call than they would be in live poker. Therefore, it is important to learn how to manage your emotions and remain calm during these tough times.