With the game of poker enjoying an explosion in popularity, thanks in part to the success of big-ticket tournaments like the World Series of Poker and the World Poker Open, online poker is becoming a bigger attraction than ever. Millions of people go online every day to participate in online poker, play for points, casino credits, or real money. If you are interested in playing online poker, how can you get started?
First, you must understand what online poker is not. If you’ve ever been to a land-based casino, you may have seen standalone video poker games that look similar to slot machines. Although many internet casinos have video poker games, this is not what online poker is. Also, online poker is not played alone or against the “house” like many other internet casino games such as blackjack and roulette.
So what is online poker? Playing online poker is almost like sitting down to a table game at home or in a land-based casino; only your “virtual” opponents are not in the same physical room as you. When you sign up for an online poker game, you are playing against real people who are connecting to the online poker room from all over the world. You are betting your money against your money and there are no “house odds” involved. Aside from taking a small percentage of the winning pot (internet casinos have to make a profit somehow!), The dealer in an online game of poker does not have a personal stake in the game. Your poker skills really come into play when you participate in online poker.
There are several components of online poker that beginners should be aware of. One is the poker website itself. There are hundreds of websites that offer live online poker, and you should review the rules, promotions, bonuses, and the selection of games available when choosing one to play. Another consideration is the poker software that you install on your PC that allows you to participate in the game. Playtech or Microgaming develop the most popular versions of poker software, each offering different graphics and sounds to bring you your online poker experience. Visit internet poker review websites to get an idea of the different poker rooms and gaming software available.
The game of online poker is often very easy to understand. You can see all your cards, but your opponents can only see the face-up cards; Similarly, you can see your opponent’s face-up cards, but not your face-up cards. Poker software provides buttons for betting, withdrawing, and dealing in tie games. If you are new to online poker, whether you are a pro at the game or just starting out, you can have fun playing online poker!