Online poker takes the game to a whole new level. There are games available from the smallest stakes you can imagine (literally pennies) all the way up to satellite entries into major tournaments around the world. You can play on your desktop computer, laptop, mobile phone or tablet. The game itself is pretty simple – you only get two cards at the start of the hand and then have to make a strong hold to win the pot. The game can also be extremely addictive and fun to play with friends.

One of the best things about poker online is that you can play from anywhere in the world, including your home. You just need a computer or mobile device with an internet connection and you can play in any time of the day or night. It is also very convenient to deposit and withdraw money, as most poker sites accept a variety of credit or debit cards, pre-paid cards, eChecks and even bank transfers.

The most popular poker game is No Limit Texas Hold’em, which has been the dominant form of the game for decades. Its popularity really took off in 2003 when a Tennessee accountant named Chris Moneymaker won the World Series of Poker Main Event and his story became an instant national obsession with millions of Americans wondering if they could be next.

Some players will use a hand history tracker or HUD to give them an edge over their competition. These tools let them see a visual display of their own past results and the playing style of the competition and help them identify tendencies in the way that their opponents raise, call and fold. Other pros will use a special camera to watch the table, which allows them to zoom in on their opponents and read their tells.

Unlike playing at your local casino, when you play poker online you can stay anonymous and don’t have to worry about sharks reading physical ’tells’ in the same way that they can at brick-and-mortar games. This can be particularly helpful when you are just starting out and don’t want to draw the attention of experienced players who might try to take advantage of you.

Aside from the obvious benefits of playing poker online, you can also benefit from the large player pool. This is because many of the poker sites that are most popular with players have a large traffic base. This creates a lot of softer games and allows beginners to learn the game while more experienced players can challenge themselves with high-stakes games. There are also a number of different types of poker games available on these sites, from the popular No Limit Texas Hold’em and Omaha Hi-Lo to more obscure variants such as 7 Card Stud and 8 Deck Jacks. Players can also choose from a wide variety of tournament formats including freezeout, re-entry, turbo, hyper-turbo and bounty knockout tournaments.