Whether you want to play free poker games for fun or try your luck at winning satellite entries into the best live tournaments around the world online poker is a great way to get started. But before you play for real money it’s vital that you understand the basics of online poker betting strategy. This article is designed to arm you with some of the key tips and tricks that can make your online poker experience more profitable.
First Things First
You’ll need to download the poker client software from your chosen site and create a user account. This process usually involves answering some security questions to prevent fraud and the software demands a reasonably fast Internet connection to run smoothly. Some sites offer no-download options but they don’t have quite the same level of features and playability.
Once you’ve signed up you’ll be able to access the poker tables of your choice via the site’s lobby. This may be in a full-screen browser window or it might be a dedicated app on your phone or tablet. Increasingly mobile poker apps have been created with the same functionality as desktop versions making it easier to play on the go.
Most poker sites are safe but there are still scammers out there that target new players in particular. To avoid becoming a victim of these types of frauds make sure that the poker site you use is regulated and has a good reputation amongst its player base. Look for signs like fair dealing, a solid random number generator and a commitment to keeping the game free of bots and collusion.
The amount of chips you receive when you join a table can vary hugely depending on factors such as table limits and whether or not it’s a tournament. In addition, if you’re playing in a cash game the house will take a percentage of the pot or the buy-in to generate profits. These figures can range from 3-10% and are generally unavoidable.
Aside from the standard Texas Hold’em poker variants you can also play Omaha, 7 Card Stud and Crazy Pineapple online. Ignition Casino, the best US-facing poker site for beginners, is renowned for its wide range of friendly stakes and offers a monthly million-dollar Milly tournament as well as daily monster stack events.
While multi-tabling is possible on most tables it’s worth bearing in mind that you will be dealt a lot of hands, especially when playing turbo Sit n Gos and fast-fold cash games. This can lead to boredom or a lack of focus and it’s crucial that you’re able to make quick decisions when the action is on the line.
Depositing and withdrawing funds are very easy at most poker sites. You can usually use credit or debit cards, pre-paid cards, bank transfers and third-party eWallets. You should also check that your preferred poker site accepts the currency you’re used to using.