Whether you’re a seasoned poker player or just starting out, it’s a great way to practice your skills. Unlike live games, you can play poker online from the comfort of your own home. And since you’ll be seated at your own table, you won’t need to travel to a local casino or spend money on a cab. You can even play poker on your smartphone.
In order to play, you’ll need to sign up for an account. You’ll also need to set up a virtual bank account. You can choose to have your money in the form of U.S. dollars, or in a variety of foreign currencies.
Most good sites will offer a “bonus” or promotion for new players. These can range from 20 percent to 100 percent of the initial deposit, and will generally require you to play a certain number of hands in order to collect the bonus. This is a good way to earn a little extra cash.
Some sites will allow you to enter a free poker tournament to win real cash. These tournaments are typically held at a lower buy-in, so less rich players can join. This type of poker draws a larger crowd and has a better chance of bringing home big cash prizes.
One of the better features of the online poker game is the ability to bluff without seeing your opponent’s face. Most real poker venues will allow this, but few online poker sites will.
