Online poker has become a popular way to play the game of poker for a number of reasons. It is easy to deposit and withdraw money from poker sites, it is legal and most online poker sites have a friendly and welcoming environment for players.
Almost all poker variations are available online so you can find one that suits your playing style and your budget. Most online poker sites will also offer free games to try before you invest any real money.
The best way to get started in online poker is to choose a good quality site that offers free play and good support, but if you are serious about the game there are some tools you can use to improve your playing experience. These tools will help you track your sessions, analyze your results and make the most of your time at the table.
Poker Tracking Software
A major benefit of poker tracking software is that it enables you to replay your hands and analyze them. These applications can also calculate your and your opponents’ statistics in real-time. These tools are essential to any serious online poker player, assuming the poker site they play on allows them.
Pot Odds
The pot odds are a vital tool for any online poker player to know, as they can help you decide whether to bet or fold when you are holding a weak hand. They are calculated by dividing the current size of the pot by the cost of a call from your opponent.
Bluffing & Tells
Bluffing is when a player bets or acts in a manner that suggests they have a stronger hand than they actually do. It is a form of play that can be effective against weaker players and is often a useful strategy in lower stakes games where you have more opponents.
You can also use poker tells to identify weaknesses in your opponents’ hands. These can include how much time they take to decide on a hand and sizing they are using, among other factors.
Poker Training Videos
There are many top notch poker learning resources available online that will help you develop your game and increase your winnings. You should try and watch as many of these as you can.
Poker Tools
Several poker software programs are available to help you with your online poker games, some of which are more advanced than others. You should choose the software that will suit your needs best and make the most of it.
Sign up bonuses
Most poker sites offer sign-up bonuses to new members, and these can be quite lucrative if you are willing to make a bit of effort. Generally these bonuses are released after you have accumulated a certain amount of frequent player points.
This will allow you to receive a bonus when you sign up for an account at a particular site, and some of these bonuses can even be worth thousands of dollars!