Online poker takes the game you already love to play at home or at your local casino and cranks it up to a whole new level. With the ability to play for anything from pennies to satellite entry into the biggest live tournaments around the world, and all from a desktop computer, tablet or smartphone, online poker is perfect for anyone looking to try out the game or take their land-based skills to the virtual tables.
The best online poker sites are highly regulated in the states that allow them to operate and offer a wide range of games, including Texas Hold’em and Omaha, as well as Sit & Go events and tournaments. Players can also choose from a variety of banking methods to fund their accounts and withdrawal options when they are ready to cash out.
One of the most important things for anyone playing poker, regardless of their skill level, is to track their results. This will give them a clear picture of where they are winning and losing money and of what strategies work or don’t. Fortunately, many online poker rooms make this easy by providing a handy tracker that shows you your win-rate, number of flops seen and times you went to showdown, among other important data points.
Whether you’re an advanced player or a complete beginner, the most successful poker players are always learning and improving. Luckily, there are plenty of free and paid-for poker learning resources available online for all players. For beginners, these range from simple rulebooks to detailed strategy guides, while more seasoned players may prefer to read up on preflop ranges or analyze complex post-flop strategies.
In addition to the free and paid poker learning resources, most online poker rooms have their own lobbies where you can find what type of poker games they offer. The lobbies are usually categorized by Cash Games, Tournaments and Sit & Go’s or whatever special format games the site runs. Those who are new to online poker should look for the “Beginner” tabs in the lobby which will seat them at tables with other players who have marked themselves as beginners, helping them get used to the pace of online games and the fact that they can’t face each other in the eyes.
Most reputable online poker rooms charge what is known as a rake, which is a scaled commission fee removed from each hand and is a key part of how a poker room makes money. This will vary from room to room and you should check with each site for more information.
While there are a few online poker operators that do not charge a rake, they are likely to be illegitimate and should be avoided as they do not have the necessary consumer safeguards in place. Most of the reputable US-facing poker sites that accept players from across the country will have a rake option in the lobby. The other major way that a poker site generates revenue is through the sale of player data, which has become more common since Black Friday.