Online poker, often called Internet Poker, is playing the game of poker but instead of in person with real cards you play online via the Internet.
How is online poker different to playing in person?
In essence the game is the same online as playing poker in person. The table layout is the same, you can choose from the similar tables of Washington, Texas, New York or California. Likewise you can join a poker room or casino online to play with other players. The mechanics of the game are the same online as in person. What is different… you have a computer at home in your room with Internet access to help you play.
Another difference is that online you can play for free or for real money. As long as you have Internet access good math skills and you can follow the rules of the game, you can easily play online.
You can also choose the stakes you want to play for free or for real money from different levels of bankroll. By playing for free you can start with low stakes until you learn the game. If you think you are ready to play for real money, you can play with high stakes.
Why play online poker?
Online poker is one of the fastest growing games in the world. The rise of online casinos and sportsbooks has caused the popularity of online poker to explode.
Another reason for poker’s popularity is that most of the people in the world who play poker play online for real money. Some people here play poker for free or for fun. But there are also large numbers of people here who play it for stakes.
It is a bit misleading to those who say poker is based on luck and skill as most of the good players in poker play it for money and big pots.
Where can you find the largest payouts in the world of online poker?
There are two places to find the largest poker payouts around the world of online poker. You can play for free in one of the two poker rooms or you can play in the larger poker rooms that play big money.
The largest of these poker rooms is without a doubt PokerStars. If you want to play poker here you need to deposit money. The minimum deposit is $500 and the maximum is $1,000. PokerStars is the home to some of the biggest poker tournaments and you can even play in the WSOP, the world series of poker.
The second place in this list is without a doubt Party Poker. Party poker not only offers large payouts but also great poker bonuses. They offer an outstanding customer service and you will find a customer willing to help you anytime.
Why play in the smaller poker rooms?
I will ask you again. Why play in the smaller poker rooms?
Here’s a quick answer. The smaller poker rooms just don’t have that professional feel. Say you are in a big game. You don’t want to sit and wait for a bingo or fish around for a half hour before you can start playing. You want to be in a poker room and start playing quickly.
The big rooms also offer much more options for your deposit. The smaller poker rooms limit you to playing the minimum number of poker hands required to earn an instant bonus and they often require you to earn multiple times the bonus in order to withdraw it. This really makes no sense unless you really are just testing the poker room.
So, although playing in the smaller poker rooms can be fun, you really are better off playing in the big ones. If you want to still test out your skills before playing for real money, then the smaller poker rooms are certainly the way to go.
Should I play at the small limits?
The answer to this question is simple. The small limits just do not offer the same aggressiveness and quality players as the mid and big limits poker rooms. The small limits attract a more casual type of player, which is great for beginner players. However, if you are looking for profitable games against tougher opponents, you can’t do better than the mid and big limits.
What size bankroll are you looking for?
Your bankroll is ultimately your bankroll. Your bankroll should consist of money you are able to play with and money you won’t need to deposit and away from.
For the purpose of this guide, I will assume you have a $200 bankroll. This is a small number because the majority of online poker players will be within the $5 to $25 range of bankroll. It allows you to relax more before hitting the tables and allows you to determine whether or not you are playing at the right limit or the wrong limit.
Play at the right limit
This will assume that you are playing at a full table of nine opponents. It will also assume that your betting unit is the big blind and not the small blind.
