Excellent Poker Online Guidance 4

One thing that prevents many poker enthusiasts from actually playing the game competitively is their lack of formal game knowledge. Many players whose sole experience is Friday night poker games with the boys are concerned about getting embarrassed whenever they sidle up to the felt at their local casino. One wonderful good thing about online poker is its anonymity. If you have let your inexperience intimidate you, then online poker rooms are the perfect place to finally getting some cash game action. Having said that, you will discover still a few things you'd be smart to cover before playing poker online.

The online Poker Technology

The necessities of playing poker online are simple enough: a computer and an Internet connection. Sounds easy right? For the most part it is, but you can find a couple of important exceptions. For one, dial-up is mostly not fast enough to support a full poker software package, and if you're running the clock out waiting for your cards to load you're more likely to get booted. Second, not all poker sites support Macs. While Mac-friendly software and no download flash sites are becoming more common, it's still best to check a poker room's tech requirements before you decide to make any big plans.

Selecting a Poker Room

A misguided majority of first-time poker players give their money to the first poker room they find only to later learn that that room is swimming in sharks or that it doesn't even offer the game they prefer. It's quick and easy to check out a poker room's traffic, design and table offerings by loading a flash version of their site. Always review a room before you decide to make your first deposit.

Starting out Playing Poker Online

Once you have found a poker room that suits your needs, the next phase is downloading their software. While a flash version of the site can give you instant access to the action when you are playing away from home, only the downloadable software package provides you with access to all player features. Most poker software platforms only take a few minutes to download; it's a small price to pay for the full experience.

After the software is installed, you'll need a member's account to start playing. Signing up for an account is free and rarely requires any sensitive information beyond your name, age and address. If you're preparing to play at the free tables, then investigate this site is the final requirement before playing. Once you have confirmed your new account, you are ready to hit the tables and tourneys.

Depositing / Withdrawing

If you're preparing to play for cash, then you will need to make a deposit before you can participate - even in freerolls. Part of your pre-download poker room review process should be looking at payment options. You need to know what's accepted, especially if you are living in a country with anti-gambling legislation which will prevent you from using common options like a checking account or credit card. Many online poker players open e-wallet accounts that streamline withdrawals and deposits while adding an extra level of security to the funds transfer process.

It's vital to remember that while deposits are typically instantaneous, withdrawals may take days or maybe weeks to process according to a player's home country and available withdrawal options.