Online poker takes the game you love from your local casino and cranks it up a few notches. You can play for free, for the smallest stakes imaginable and even win satellite entries into the biggest live tournaments in the world. All this can be done from a desktop computer, laptop or even a smartphone. And the best part is that you can do it all from the comfort of your own home.
Signing up for a real money poker site is simple enough, all you need to do is create an account and enter your bank details. You will then be provided with a username and password and can begin playing. Poker sites also offer a variety of ways to deposit and withdraw funds including credit cards, e-checks and third-party eWallets. Many poker sites also have dedicated mobile apps for their players allowing you to play your favorite game from anywhere with an internet connection.
The most popular game across all online poker sites is no-limit Texas Hold’em. The rules are essentially the same, you are dealt two cards and try to combine them with five community cards to make the best possible hand. It is easy to learn but very difficult to master so it makes a great starter game for newcomers to the world of online poker.
Other poker games available at different online poker sites include Omaha, stud and 32-card draw. Some of these games are not as popular as the likes of texas hold’em but can still be fun to play. In addition to these game variations most poker sites will feature a good selection of tournaments, cash games and sit and go’s. 888poker is one of the most popular poker sites around and boasts an extensive player base with plenty of action at all levels. Its user interface is excellent and fast, load times are quick and it offers a wide range of spicy bonuses and promotions. Moreover, the site has a fast-fold option called SNAP that allows you to fold when you are not happy with your hand and be automatically reseated at a new table.
Depending on the online poker site you choose, it may offer a number of additional software applications to help you improve your play. These include programs that save, sort and recall all your hands along with scanning active tables for known players and displaying previous statistics from prior hands played with them next to their name (known as a heads up display or HUD). Other poker programs can perform odds, equity or variance calculations for you while you play.
Some online poker websites will also charge a fee for their services which is known as rake. This is usually a percentage of the pot taken by the house and will vary from poker site to poker site. To find out what rake is charged at a specific poker site you should speak with the customer support team.