How to Get Started Playing Online Poker
Poker is a fun and engaging game that rewards real skill. The top players work just as hard on their skills as they do playing the game, and it’s this dedication that allows them to make a steady profit over time. The online poker world takes this concept and cranks it up a notch, giving players the opportunity to play the game on any device, for as long as they like, at stakes ranging from free to the highest possible.
The first step to getting started is picking a poker site. Most offer a variety of different poker variants, with cash games, tournaments and Sit ‘n’ Go’s all available to choose from. Some also host regular large-scale multi-table tournaments such as the monthly Milly with a million dollar prize pool and daily monster stack tournaments where every player starts off with a massive amount of chips to increase their chances of winning big.
If you’re new to the game, the best place to start is on a beginner table. These tables are grouped together by the poker site and ensure that you’re only sitting down with players of similar skill levels. This will help you develop your game and get comfortable with the speed of online poker.
You can find these beginner tables in the lobby by selecting the appropriate tab – usually marked as Cash Games, Tournaments or Sit ‘n’ Go’s – and filtering by the type of game you want to play. Some sites will even let you select the number of seats you’d like to fill.
In addition to allowing you to play at lower limits, beginner tables are great for leveling the playing field between more experienced players and those who are less skilled. This can help you build your bankroll and learn the game without donating your money to those who are better than you. It’s important to note that your skill level will rise as you move up the stakes, so be sure to play against players of a similar skill level as yourself in order to maximize your wins and minimize your losses.
Using a poker online tool such as our Which Hand Wins Calculator can be a huge help for players trying to figure out the outcomes of hands that may seem confusing at first glance. These calculators will break down the hands and provide you with the most likely outcome based on your opponents’ cards and the board.
Another helpful poker online resource is our online Poker Odds Calculator. This is a quick and easy tool to use that will show you the odds of a given hand beating another. It’s a handy way to help you understand how pot odds work and the importance of position at the poker table.