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Online poker is a great way to play the game from the comfort of your own home. It saves players a lot of money by eliminating the cost of travel. However, there are some important things to remember before you begin playing. For one, you need to have a reliable internet connection. If you don’t have this, then you may experience lag and other problems that can interfere with the game.

First, you need to sign up for an account with a poker site. This is usually a simple process and requires a minimum amount of personal information. You will be asked to create a screen name that you won’t be able to change later, and you must provide a valid email address. You’ll also need to choose a password to protect your account. If you’re a new player, it’s a good idea to try a few sites before choosing the best one for you.

Once you’ve signed up, the next step is to download the poker site’s software. This shouldn’t take more than a couple minutes and is virus-free for most computers. Once you’ve done this, you can open the software and select a screen name. It’s important to note that you can only have one account with an online poker site, and multi-accounting is against the rules.

The most obvious advantage of poker online is that you can play from any location with an internet connection. This means that you can play from the office, while on vacation, or even from your living room. In addition, you can use a variety of devices to play the game, including desktop computers, tablets, and mobile phones.

Another advantage of online poker is that it allows you to practice without risking any money. All major poker sites have so-called “play money” tables where you can play the game for free and learn the rules before you start wagering real cash. This feature is especially helpful for beginners who are intimidated by the thought of sitting down at a table with other experienced players in person.

In contrast, live poker players are accustomed to the fact that they have to pay for every hand they play. In some cases this can add up to a significant amount of money. Online poker rooms, on the other hand, usually have lower rakes. Consequently, they can offer players a much better chance to make a profit.

Moreover, the pace of play in online poker is much faster than in live games. This is because you don’t have to wait for the dealer to shuffle, you don’t have to worry about people giving off physical tells (as there aren’t any), and you can always play a few hands at once. All of this leads to a much faster paced game and more hands played per hour than in the casino. This is the main reason why people prefer to play poker online rather than in casinos.