Poker has always been popular but when a Tennessee accountant aptly named Chris Moneymaker won the World Series of Poker Main Event in 2003 it became a national obsession. In the ensuing decade online poker sites took off, and it’s now possible to play anywhere in the world with an Internet connection.
But to succeed at poker you must put in the time and learn the nitty-gritty, just like any other skill. You must commit to smart game selection, too, choosing limits and games that will give you the best chance to make a profit over the long run. Lastly, you must understand that you’re going to have a lot of losing days. This is why it’s important to keep your bankroll in check and not chase big wins.
The first thing you should do when playing poker online is to familiarize yourself with the game’s unique features. For instance, there’s usually a “beginner” tab where you can choose to be seated with only other players who classify themselves as such. This helps level the playing field for new players.
Another online poker feature to familiarize yourself with is pot odds. Pot odds are the ratio of the amount in the pot to the cost of calling a bet, and can be very useful for determining whether or not it’s a good idea to call a bet. While there are a number of poker-specific software tools that can help you make this calculation, many online poker sites also have it as a built-in function.