If you’re looking to play poker online then you have a lot of options available to you. You can play for free, for the smallest stakes imaginable or for satellite entries into major tournaments around the world. All from the comfort of your home or on your mobile device. There are thousands of ring games and tournaments with buy-ins from tens to thousands of dollars available at any time of day or night.

Before you sign up at any site it’s essential to do some research to ensure that the casino is reputable and can be trusted. This includes checking out their software security and ensuring that they’re licensed and regulated by a recognised gambling authority. It’s also important to read reviews from other players to see what their experiences have been like.

Once you’ve found a site that meets your requirements it’s time to create an account. You’ll have to provide some basic information such as your name and address along with a valid email address and password. Some sites will require age verification so it’s important to be at least 18 years old or the minimum legal age in your jurisdiction. You may also have to provide a copy of your driver’s license or other form of ID depending on the poker site.

You’ll want to play only when you’re at your best and can give it 100% focus. If you’re tired or distracted you’ll make silly mistakes that can cost you money. Always remember that good bankroll management is key to winning poker online.

One of the biggest differences between live and online poker is that in the latter you won’t be able to read any physical tells. However, there are still a number of tells that you can pick up on, such as nervous talking, nail-biting and filling the chat box with messages.

Another important difference between online and live poker is the ability to play more than one table at a time. This is often referred to as multi-tabling. By playing on multiple tables you can increase your chances of winning by doubling the amount of money that you win per session.

In the beginning it’s important to remember that it takes time and patience to build a good poker bankroll. Many people make the mistake of trying to move up in stakes too quickly and get into big trouble. They end up getting caught in bad beats and other unlucky hands and going on monkey tilt, which can result in them losing their entire bankroll in a short period of time. To avoid this, you need to learn to view your results over a long period of time and not just in weeks or days.