Choosing an Online Poker Site
Online poker is a multi-billion dollar industry that brings together players from all corners of the globe to wager against each other. It is a game of strategy, luck and skill where decisions must be made quickly. It is important to know the rules and how to play properly so that you can avoid making mistakes that will cost you big money.
The first thing you should do when choosing a poker site is to make sure it is licensed by a gaming authority. This will ensure that your money is safe and that the game is fair. It is also important to look for a website that uses secure sockets layer (SSL) encryption technology to protect your personal information.
Once you have chosen a reputable site it is time to sign up for an account. Most sites will offer some kind of sign-up bonus for new members. This is usually a percentage of the amount of real money you play on the site. The bonus is not automatically released but is released in small increments as you earn frequent player points. To get the most value out of your bonus be sure to play regularly for a few weeks after you have signed up.
In addition to bonuses many online poker sites feature a variety of different games and tournaments. Most will have cash games, tournaments and Sit & Go’s all of which are based on different poker variants but still use the same principles. If you are just starting out we highly recommend using a tournament site that offers ‘beginner tables’. This way you will only be seated with other players who classify themselves as beginners and this will dramatically level the playing field for you.
There is a lot of poker terminology to learn and it can be overwhelming for a new player. Fortunately online poker makes a lot of the information available to players for free. You can read books like Harrington on Hold’em, Theory of Poker and Super/System or just browse the strategy forums on the internet. You can also download poker software that will allow you to set your preferred color scheme and table layout.
Another aspect of poker that you need to consider is bluffing and betting. It is important to understand how to determine if your opponent is bluffing and what hands you should call with in different situations. This is especially important in late position.
A good online poker website will provide a variety of banking methods that you can use to deposit and withdraw money. You should also look for a customer service department that can help you with any issues that you may have. This could be through email, live chat or a phone number. Lastly you should also look for a poker site that has a solid reputation when it comes to payouts. Many unlicensed and rogue poker sites have been known to cheat their players out of their hard earned winnings. This is not an issue with regulated, state-licensed sites that are backed by a governing body.