This video from Expert Insight will teach you the basics of Texas Hold'em.
"Is it safe to gamble online?"
Lots of people are a little apprehensive about playing poker online for the first time, especially for real money. They want to know that the poker room is secure and that they'll enjoy playing there. This part is actually easy.
A little online research will tell you whether or not a particular online poker room is considered to be honest and secure. Check to see if a gaming commission endorses it and make sure they are using the top security measures available (SSL, Verisign, etc. all the same stuff online banking uses.) *Everyone should check to make sure it's legal in his or her own country or state.
"How do I know I won't be cheated?"
Many people worry about the card room or even other players cheating.
Poker isn't like any other game in a casino in that players play against each other and not the house. So how does any casino, live or online make money on poker? Online card rooms make money on poker the same way real casinos do, from "rake." The "rake" is a small percentage of each pot that is collected by the card room as a fee for using their venue. Card rooms have very little to gain and everything to lose by cheating. Bottom line here: not likely at all.
Some people worry that other players might cheat by working together (colluding) at a table. While this is unlikely and uncommon, it is possible. Collusion is just as possible at a live card room in a real casino. The good part about playing online is that you can switch tables easily and often if you suspect anything. You can also report unusual activity to the site. Most sites want to prevent any chance of cheating and go to great measures to do so. The better the atmosphere they provide for you, the more money they will make in the long run.
"Will I like using their software and interface?"
The best way to find out if you'll like playing on their software is to simply try it out. Most online poker rooms offer the option to sign up for "play money." This is a great way to get to know the software and interface. It's also a good way to learn the flow of the games and even learn new variations.
Most players eventually get tired of play money games because people don't always play good poker. You often run into people that go all-in all the time in play money games because they know they can just reload in a few minutes.
"Ok, I'm getting some teeth and I want to feed on some fish."
So now you are ready to give real money games a try. It is amazing how differently people play even when there are only a few cents at stake. At most places, real money games start as low as $4 buy-in so it won't take the rent money to get started.
"How do I deposit real money?"
Many US players are using ePassport or Visa gift cards to deposit into poker accounts.
There are other, similar methods like Firepay or PrepaidATM for non-US players.
Credit Cards can be used, but may require a call to your card's company. Most have security restrictions set up to restrict the use of the cards on gaming sites. They can usually unlock this feature if you call and request it.
If you have any problems getting started with real money on a site just contact their support and ask questions.
"Pick your poison."
Most online card rooms offer a wide variety of games. Check them all out. One of the perks of playing poker online is being able to try out all of the games with much more ease than a live casino.
"Don't spend it all in one place."
The moral here is "play responsibly." This means using common sense with choosing what limit to play. A player should have enough money in his or her bankroll to withstand losing 300 big bets. Example: If I have $600 dollars in my bankroll, the biggest Hold 'em game I should sit at would be $1/$2 limit. You can sit at higher limit tables, but be prepared to move down if you hit a quick downswing. Poker is a game of skill, but still has a lot of variance. Even the best players in the world get bad cards and go on losing streaks.
If you play responsibly and stay within your limits, you can keep poker fun and extend the life of your bankroll.
"Hit the books."
There are tons of great books out there on poker. Grab a few that match your level of play and study up. Why not learn everything Doyle Brunson spent years and millions learning in a few weeks? Every great poker player out there has read almost every poker book available…twice.
Check out our Poker Store section for a list of good books, DVDs and other learning tools.
Have fun!
If after reading this, you still have some questions, you can contact us here. We will try to answer general questions if we can.
