Online poker is the game of poker played over the Internet rather than in a live setting. It has been partially responsible for a massive increase in the number of poker players worldwide. As a result, a whole ecosystem of software creators and operators has developed to meet the demands for age verification, financial services, anti-money laundering solutions, cyber security and fraud prevention.
Online gambling is legal in many jurisdictions and if you are of the right age to gamble in your region then you can play real money poker on most sites. Typically you will have to verify your age and create a user account before downloading the poker software. Some sites will let you play on a web browser or offer instant play games without the need to download any software. You can also choose to play at multiple tables and it is not unusual for professional poker players to be able to handle up to a dozen or so tables simultaneously. You would need a background in either acrobatics or teleportation to do the same in a live poker game.
If you are new to poker it is worth trying out some free games before putting any money on the line. Most poker websites will have a section of their site dedicated to this and you can find a wide variety of free games on offer. This is a great way to get used to the game and to practice your strategies before you start betting real money.
Almost all online poker rooms and networks will offer some sort of sign-up bonus to their players. This can be in the form of a cash amount or in tournament tickets. Depending on the site and the network you can find a range of bonus amounts from $10 to $1000 or more. It is important to shop around a bit to ensure you get the best deal.
One of the best things about online poker is the ability to use stats and tracking software to improve your game. This software allows you to see a wealth of information about your opponents and their tendencies before you ever sit down at the table. It can be a little daunting for new players but it really helps to make your decision-making more efficient.
There are a number of different poker tracking and stats software programs out there but the most popular is probably Poker Tracker. This piece of software gives you a heads-up display (HUD) that shows you everything you need to know about your opponents. It will tell you how often they call or raise, the number of flops they have seen and more.
There are a number of other features that can be useful to a serious poker player such as a hand replayer, a chat room and the ability to play on mobile devices. These days there are even apps for iPhones and iPads that will allow you to play poker in public places such as cafes and airports. In terms of computer requirements poker software is not particularly taxing and most modern laptops and desktops will be able to run it.