Online poker takes the game that once lived only in backrooms and casinos and brings it to your computer, smartphone or tablet. You can play for free, for a few pennies or for satellite entries into live events around the world. Regardless of your level of experience or skill you will find plenty of opponents at a table.

It can be difficult to learn online poker but there are a lot of resources available. There are books, articles and even full courses that teach you the basics. Many of these materials focus on the strategy used in online poker but most of the principles can be applied to live games as well.

Once you have the basic skills down you can sign up to a real money account with an online poker site and deposit funds. The site’s lobby will list the available games and you can choose one to play. Most reputable sites offer a “beginner” option for new players where you are automatically seated with other players who classify themselves as beginners. This greatly levels the playing field for newcomers and can help you get used to the speed and features of the game.

Getting money on and off of an online poker site is much easier now than in the past. Depending on your region you can use a number of methods for deposit and withdrawal including credit cards, pre-paid cards, third-party eWallets, wire transfers and good old-fashioned paper checks.