Online poker is one of the most popular card games around for a good reason. It’s a fun, intellectual game that rewards actual skill over the long haul and players can win real money at any stake they like from the comfort of their homes. Plus, it’s easy to get started and doesn’t require a lot of equipment or a fancy casino visit to get started playing.

Getting Started

Getting started playing online poker is as simple as finding a safe, secure site and signing up for an account. You’ll be asked to provide basic personal information such as your name, address and phone number as well as a username and password. You’ll also have the option to deposit funds via a variety of methods once you’re ready to play.

Once you’ve signed up for an account you’ll be prompted to download the poker site software if necessary. This is generally quick and painless and should only take a couple minutes even with a slower Internet connection. Then it’s time to create an account and choose a screen name.

When it comes to playing poker online you’ll want to make sure you’re comfortable with the rules and strategies involved. The best way to do this is to start out with the simplest form of poker – straight poker or Texas hold’em. This will give you a solid foundation to understand the game and how it works before moving up in stakes. When you do move up in stakes it’s important not to get discouraged if you run bad for a while. Just drop down a bit, grind back up and try again.