Poker has long been a game played in the back of smoky bars and casinos but online poker has taken it to another level. It is now possible to play for real money from the comfort of your own home, for any stakes you choose, on desktop computers, laptops or mobile devices. You can even win satellite entries into the world’s biggest live tournaments. Online poker offers players something different from the casino floor; a fun, easy to play intellectual game that rewards actual skill rather than just chance.

One of the first things you should do if you’re planning to start playing poker online is sign up for an account at a reputable poker room. You should only use sites that have the highest levels of security and have their games and random number generators audited by a third party. In addition to these basic requirements, you should also look for a site that has an intuitive interface and allows you to quickly find the games you want to play.

Once you have your account set up, you can then load up the games that you want to play and begin playing for real money. You can usually deposit money from your bank account or a virtual wallet to fund your poker play. When you win, the money that you have earned is added to your account balance and when you lose it’s deducted from your balance.

When you’re a winning player in an online poker game, it’s important to stay calm and make the best decisions you can under pressure. If you’re battling your emotions and getting too upset, it can be difficult to focus on making the mathematically sound plays that will help you maintain your winning streaks.

You should also be familiar with the betting structures that are used in online poker games. There are three main types: Pot Limit, Fixed Limit and No Limit. These are listed in the poker lobby alongside the type of game that you’re playing and it’s important to understand what each of them means before you start making any big decisions at the table.

Finally, you should be able to read your opponents and know how to tell when they’re bluffing. You can do this by studying their body language and paying attention to the amount of time it takes them to act when they’re in position. You can also get clues by their betting patterns, for example, if they’re always raising on the river and never calling you, they may be trying to steal your chips.

While most players would love to win every hand, variance in online poker is much higher than in the casino or the bar, so it’s a common experience for players to log on and be down two or more buy-ins within their first few minutes of playing. Understanding that this is just a part of the game makes it easier for players to keep their emotions in check and to make the best decisions they can under pressure.