When it comes to poker, a lot of people prefer online play over live. There are a lot of reasons for this, including the fact that you can play 24/7 and there’s no need to travel and pay for drinks or tips. But there are other reasons too, like the fact that playing online forces you to consider positions, calculate odds, and use other strategic tools in order to make decisions. This is a great way to improve your game, especially as the more you play, the better you’ll get at it.

The first step in online poker is registering an account. This requires an email address, date of birth, and phone number, as well as confirmation that you’re of legal gambling age in your state. You’ll also need to deposit funds in order to begin playing for real money.

Once you have an account, you can choose from a variety of games and stake levels. Some sites allow you to multi-table, which increases your potential winnings. Others provide bonus offers and loyalty programs to attract new players. You can even find a few that specialize in specific types of poker, such as low-stakes tournaments or MTTs.

It’s important to choose an online poker site that has solid software, which means that the games run smoothly and that you don’t experience any glitches or disconnections in the middle of a big hand. You should also check if the site accepts your preferred banking method and whether it has a minimum withdrawal limit.