Playing poker online is an excellent way to sharpen your game, practice new strategies, and learn from the pros. However, it’s important to know how to choose a legitimate site and use good banking practices when depositing money. The first step is to verify that the site is licensed and regulated in your jurisdiction before playing for real money. It’s also wise to sign up with a casino that offers secure transactions and encrypts player data.

Poker is a game of truth-telling and the best players are able to read their opponents. In live games, this is easy by reading physical tells; but in online poker, you must rely on analyzing betting tendencies and other behavioral clues to size up an opponent. The most successful poker players focus as much on studying the game as they do playing it. They sign up for training sites, network with top professionals, and brutally analyze their own decision-making after every session.

When you begin to play poker online, it’s a good idea to limit yourself to one table. There’s a lot to take in when you sit down at an online poker table and it can quickly become overwhelming. Additionally, playing multiple tables can lead to poor judgment calls and bad decisions. You should also learn to be patient and never rush yourself to make a call. It’s better to fold a marginal hand than risk losing a large amount of your bankroll.