How to Play Poker Online: Choosing a Site

So, you know how to play poker, and now you would like to start playing poker online. Your first challenge is finding a site, but which site should you choose? Choosing a site that you are going to trust with your money isn't to be taken lightly. One way to make this decision is by sticking with the most popular and trustworthy (i.e., top) sites featured in our guide.

A lot of the top sites have made a name for themselves. You may have already seen an ad on TV or in a poker magazine. Or you may have come here looking for the top sites, in which case you can browse our top poker sites listings, our poker ratings comparison, or our online poker reviews. Our reviews contain screenshots of the software and more detailed information for each poker room.

Playing Poker Online: Downloading the Software

If you like what you see, the download and installion process is relatively simple and is almost completely automated on most sites. Click download and then install the software. After installation is complete the poker room should load for you. The first screen will usually ask you for certain registration details and also to choose your user name and set a password for your account. A small tip when picking a password - use numbers and letters as to make it difficult for anyone to hack your account.

Playing Real vs. Play Money Games

So far, you have chosen your site, downloaded and installed the software, and chosen your user name. Most sites offer real money and play money games. If you are a first time poker player you should start with the site's play money games so that you don't waste money while learning to play.

If you are familiar with poker and have played before you will most likely buy-in. Many different methods of making a deposit are possible at most poker sites. Normally, you can use your credit card, NETeller, Firepay, checks or wire transfers, or even Western Union. Most sites are very user friendly and make it simple to buy in. In most cases, you open your "bank" or "cashier" while on the site and then click a button that says "buy chips" or "make a deposit" . Fill out the form, and often just a few seconds later your money is available.

IMPORTANT NOTE: PokerHo will walk you through the following steps at Poker Stars. The exact steps and wording will vary from poker room to poker room, but most card rooms use a similar process.

Choosing a Poker Game and Seat at the Table

Choosing a poker game to play is, again, made very simple. Different games and tournaments are broken down into sections with one click access. If you want to play Hold'em, click the Hold'em tab. You will usually see fixed limit, pot limit, and no limit. The price of the blinds are posted on each table. Say you want to start small and play a $0.50/1.00 fixed game - find those limits in the lobby under the Hold'em tab and double click on it. A table will open. If a seat is available at that table there will be an empty seat - click on it to sit down.

Buying In Once you are seated, a box will appear asking you how much you would like to bring to the table (there is usually a minimum and maximum amount required for every limit). Type in the amount you wish to bring in, and then click OK- your money will appear in front of you at the table. You are now ready to start playing poker.

How to Play Online Poker: The Action Buttons

When it is your turn to act, buttons will pop up on your playing screen: typically call, bet, raise, and/or fold.

If you don't know what to do here, you should really start by reading our Texas Hold Em Poker Rules, Rules for Playing Omaha Poker, and/or Seven Card Stud Poker Rules pages.

There is also a time-bank feature on most sites. This allows you to make your decision out of turn and acts for you when it becomes your turn to act.

There is also an auto-post feature. When you first sit at a game, it is generally a good idea to click auto-post - this automatically posts your blinds every round for you. If you do not click auto post, you have to manually click the button in order to put your blinds in every time. When betting and raising or folding, remember that everything is a one click action. If you click it once, that's it and there is no going back. So be aware of where your action buttons are and know when to click them.

How to Play in Online Poker Tournaments

Entering an online poker tournament is basically the same as entering a ring game. There will be a tournament tab - click on it and the tournaments for the day will appear with their buy-in price and starting time. Registration usually opens 1 hour before the start of the tournament and stays open until the tournament starts.

When you find which tournament you would like to join, double click on it in the main lobby and a tournament lobby will open for you. You will see a register button - click on it and you will be prompted to verify the amount you are paying to enter it. Click yes and you are in. When it is time to start you will automatically be seated at your tournament table. When registration closes, payouts will be posted in the tournament lobby so that you can see exactly what $$ you are playing for.

This process may sound a little complicated when you take it in all at once, but it really is not. Playing poker online is very fun and easy. Once you get over the hump of choosing a site, buying in, and deciding what limits you are comfortable playing with, it is an easy ride from there. All you have left to do is to work on your poker skills. . .

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