How to Find the Best Online Poker Sites
Online poker is a game of cards played over the internet that can be accessed from desktop computers, tablets and mobile phones. It takes all the excitement of live poker and turns it up a notch with more games, tournaments and stakes than you could ever find in a real world casino or bar. Online poker allows players to play for free, win real money or earn satellite entries into some of the biggest live events in the world.
There are a few things to look out for when choosing an online poker site. First and foremost you want to make sure that the site is safe and secure. This means that the site should be licensed and regulated by a governing body and utilize top-of-the-line encryption methods to safeguard your personal information. In addition, you want to check that the software used by the site has been audited by a third party to ensure it is free of bugs and vulnerabilities.
Once you’ve found a site that meets all of your requirements it’s time to start playing. Before you do, though, be sure to take a moment to review the available banking methods. Many sites offer both deposit and withdrawal options and it’s important to understand the limits, fees (if applicable) and processing times for each one. You should also check to see if there are any minimum and maximum deposit amounts.
Another great feature of online poker is the ability to multi-table. Most of the best sites will allow you to open multiple tables at once and move between them as you see fit. This can be a huge advantage for new players who might be intimidated by the idea of playing against strangers or who have trouble reading people’s tells in person. Having the ability to play multiple tables at once will also give you the chance to test out different strategies before making any big decisions.
It’s also a good idea to track your results on a regular basis. This can be done with almost any online poker site and it will help you see your wins and losses more clearly. Keeping an eye on your statistics will also help you develop an intuition for numbers like frequencies and EV estimation so that they become second-nature to you when you’re on the felt.
While there are many free resources for learning the basics of online poker it’s worth considering a paid course if you’re serious about getting better at the game. There are several leading operators that have dedicated poker schools and they generally include video instruction, practice hands and a variety of study materials. In addition there are a number of popular books on the subject such as Harrington on Hold’em, Theory of Poker and Super/System that can be bought in paperback or electronic form for under $20.