Unlike the old-school game of poker played in casinos, online poker has come a long way. Today, you can play poker from your home computer or on your smartphone. You can even use ceramic chips. In fact, some poker sites have hundreds of players online at once. However, some countries are not willing to allow poker on the Internet. The United States is one of these nations.

There are several poker books on the market that are popular. One of the best is Super/System. It offers free information on how to win at poker. Another popular book is Harrington on Hold’em. You can also learn how to play from a poker coach.

The first thing to do is sign up for an account at an online poker site. This involves entering your personal information, including your name, date of birth, and address. The site may also ask you to provide documents that verify your identity. For instance, they might check your utility bill to make sure that you live where you claim to. If you are unable to provide the required documentation, your account might be disabled.

The next step is to download the software. Most sites will allow you to do this in a matter of minutes. You can find several different types of software, including free and premium versions. There are also video databases that show famous poker pros. Most of the sites that are licensed are virus-free, which makes them safe for users.

Once you have downloaded the software, you need to register for an account. You must be at least 18 years old, and you will need to provide a social security number or other identification. You can then start playing for real money. The website will usually notify you when it’s your turn to act.

Once you have logged in, you will have access to a variety of tables. These include “beginner” tables that are designed for new players. They are a good place to start because they level the playing field. These tables will often give you a small amount of money to play with. It’s also a good idea to sign up for a poker training website so that you can brush up on your skills. If you have friends who play poker, you can ask them for recommendations.

It’s also a good idea to keep track of your session statistics. This will let you know where you are winning and losing. You should also pay attention to your win-rate and the number of flops that you see. You can use these numbers to determine where you are at in the game and where you should focus your efforts. You should also take the time to watch the showdowns at the table.

Lastly, you should look into upgrading to the RunItOnce video database. It contains a lot of video from famous poker pros.

The best part of online poker is that it can be played on any device. You can play on your desktop, laptop, or smartphone.