Online Poker is an internet-based card game that allows players to wager real money against other people. Its popularity surged in 2003 after 27-year old accountant Chris Moneymaker qualified for the World Series of Poker Main Event via a $40 satellite tournament, resulting in a media frenzy and a boom in online poker.
Playing online is relatively straightforward as long as you are physically located in a state where it is legal to do so. Most states regulate online poker to ensure that the games are fair and your account funds and information are protected.
To play online poker, you will need to sign up for a poker site and create an account with a username and password. Once you have an account, you can deposit money into your poker account using a variety of methods. Money that you lose is deducted from your account balance, while money that you win is added to it.
The rules of online poker are the same as those of live poker, but there are some unique nuances. One major difference is that online players cannot read physical ‘tells’ from their opponents. This may make the game less appealing for players who rely on reading body language and posture to gauge their opponents’ skill levels. However, this does not mean that playing online is impossible for these players; it simply means that they will need to develop other strategies for assessing their opponents.