Getting started in online poker is fairly easy. The first thing you need to do is download poker software. The software will help you to track your hand history. It will also display your equity and odds. The software will also provide quizzes to test your knowledge. It should only take a few minutes to download and you should have no problem with it.

After you have downloaded the software and installed it, you will need to set up an account. You will need to enter your full name, date of birth and your address. You may also be required to verify your identity. For instance, you may be required to provide a utility bill or other documents.

Once you have a user account set up, you can play for free or for real money. You can play in tournaments with buy-ins as low as a few dollars or as high as thousands of dollars. You can also participate in freerolls, which are tournaments that are hosted specifically for certain groups of customers. These can be fun and exciting and you may win real money. The main attraction of playing poker is winning money.

To play poker, you must be at least 18 years of age. You also need to have a social security number. Some poker sites require you to provide additional documentation to verify your identity. Some sites are only licensed in certain states. However, most poker sites are licensed and are secure.

You will also need to set up a virtual bank account. The money you win is put into your account. If you want to withdraw your winnings, you can use a cheque or a wire transfer. Some poker sites do not accept credit cards. However, some sites offer a conversion service. These sites convert your money to a certain currency at a low premium. You may choose a virtual bank account with a lot of customers.

You can also choose to play anonymously. This will protect you from being sucked into shark-infested waters. Many poker players jump into higher limits before they are ready. If you are new to the game, it is a good idea to play at a “beginner” table. Most poker sites have these tables available. These tables will level the playing field for new players.

Many poker players make a lot of money and lose it all. They then drop back down. In order to be able to make a profit, you need to invest time and energy into learning the game. You also need to network with successful pros and find out where you can take poker training courses. You can find free poker training online.

Online poker is an exciting game that can be played anytime and anywhere. Most poker sites offer multiple tournament formats, including tournaments with buy-ins as low or as high as you like. There are also satellite tournaments that send you to live tournaments. You can also play poker on your phone or tablet.