Online poker takes the game of cards and wagers that people have been playing for centuries in the back rooms of smoky bars or in casinos and turns it into something that can be played from any computer, laptop or mobile device with an internet connection. It can be played for real money at any stake level from micro-stakes to the highest levels of regulated online poker tournament play and even for satellite entries into live events around the world.

The first step to getting started with poker online is choosing a site. The best poker sites are secure and licensed to operate in your jurisdiction. They use state-of-the-art encryption to protect your personal information and your money. They also have a dedicated customer service team ready to help you should you have any issues.

Another great feature of poker sites is that they usually have a large selection of games available. This is especially true of the bigger poker sites that attract a lot of traffic from around the world. This means that there are games to be played at all times of the day and night – from fast-fold cash games to turbo Sit ‘n Gos and massively popular no-limit Hold’em games.

Almost all poker sites will offer several different types of games but the most common is No-Limit Texas Hold’em. This is the game that Doyle Brunson calls “The Cadillac of Poker” and it is the most widely available game at all stake levels on poker sites worldwide.

The most important thing to remember when starting out in poker is that it is a skill-based game. The top pros spend as much time studying the game as they do playing and they are constantly working on their game in order to improve their results. If you are willing to invest some time in improving your skills by signing up for training with a site like Chip Leader Coaching or Upswing Poker, networking with successful players and brutally analyzing your own play after every session then you too can become one of the poker elites.

Another important factor to consider is that poker online is much faster and more reliable than live games. There is no waiting for the shuffle or collection of discards and there are no misdeals or bad beats to ruin your day. This makes it a very accessible game for newcomers to get involved with.

If you are a new player to poker it is highly recommended that you start off by joining a couple of freerolls or play-money tables before putting any real money on the line. All of the major poker sites have these tables and they are a good way to practice your strategy without risking any of your own hard earned cash.

The last thing to keep in mind is that you should always make sure to deposit and withdraw using reputable methods. Legitimate poker sites will accept deposits from a wide variety of sources including credit or debit cards, e-wallets and bank transfers. Withdrawals can also be made through some of these same methods and in legal US states you can even get your funds via PayPal.