Playing poker online is one of the fastest ways to make money from the comfort of your home or while traveling. It is also an exciting game that rewards real skill unlike slots or the lottery.

To begin playing poker online you must first find a reliable site. The best sites have a sterling reputation in the poker community and offer a wide variety of games. They also allow players to deposit and withdraw using a variety of methods including e-checks and credit cards. They also have competitive tournament schedules and a lot of traffic.

Once you have found a poker site to play at it is important to familiarize yourself with the game. This is usually done by playing a few free hands and reading up on strategy. Poker is a very complex game but with practice and a willingness to learn you can become a top notch player. The best poker players spend just as much time studying the game as they do playing it. They sign up for training websites, network with successful pros and brutally analyze their own play after every session.

When it is your turn to act, you must choose whether to call the opening bet or raise it. You can also check, which means you will not make a wager and the betting decision passes to the next player. It is important to pay attention to how other players bet, as this can tell you a lot about their strength at the table.

Most online poker sites have a lobby that is categorized by cash games, tournaments and sit-n-go’s. Most reputable sites also have a section for beginners. Often these tables will be separated out from the rest of the games and you can only play against players that classify themselves as beginners. This greatly levels the playing field for new players and can be a great way to get used to the pace of online poker.

A few poker sites may require additional documentation to verify your identity before you can play. This is generally a painless process and only involves a few phone calls and some scanned documents. The most common requirement is a utility bill that proves you live at the address on file with the poker site.

Some online poker sites will offer reload bonuses to current customers as a way to entice them to keep playing at their site. These bonuses are usually very generous and can be worth a significant amount of money. Many poker players move from site to site collecting these bonuses, a process known as bonus hunting.

If you are a US resident and want to play poker for real money it is important to only use legal sites. You can look for a seal from a state gaming commission to make sure it is legitimate and has the necessary licenses. In addition, you should avoid any sites that accept players from other countries as they do not follow state regulations.