Playing Holdem Poker Online Guide

Playing Holdem poker online is easier than you might think. Over a decade ago, when online poker was first introduced, it was a slow, glitch process that was often more trouble than it was worth. The advancements of software development, and certainly internet connection speeds, has changed all that.

Now days, it can take only a few minutes to get out of the starting gate and onto the virtual felt, including the time it takes to download the software, deposit funds and find a suitable table. With crisp, streaming graphics and realistic sound effects, playing Holdem poker online is incredibly close to playing in a live poker environment, and perhaps even more entertaining.

The first step is to find the right poker room to play Holdem poker online. There are literally hundreds of online poker sites, each with their own qualities, and occasionally pitfalls as well. But if you know what you want out of your internet poker experience, and what you should be looking for, the choice becomes much easier.

First of all, you’ll want a poker site that accommodates players from your area. For example, not all poker sites accept US players. If you’re American, you’ll want a US-facing online poker room. Security is very important, so selecting a large poker site with several years experience in the business will guarantee the safest online poker venture.

After selecting a site to play Holdem poker online, you’ll probably need to download the software. Some poker rooms will offer an instant-play, Java-based version of the software, but if you have the option of downloading, the speed and quality is usually a little better. Don’t worry if you’re on a Mac computer, either – today’s top online poker rooms now offer separate downloads for PC and Mac poker players.

Downloading and installing the software takes just a few moments. Simply click the “Download” button and follow the on-screen instructions. The poker lobby will load instantly upon completion of the installation.

Next, it’s time to make a deposit. This is done quickly by visiting the Cashier window. You’ll find options to deposit funds and withdrawal winnings here, along with a number of viable methods of deposit. Credit card is generally the fastest and easiest way to make a deposit. E-Checks are also quite prompt, and especially preferred by US players, since credit cards are less commonly accepted from American players. E-wallets, or online payment processors, are also a quick method of depositing at an online poker room.

Finally, it’s simply a matter of finding a table to be seated at. In the poker lobby, you’ll find cash games and tournaments available. Cash games, aka ring games, are basic poker tables, offering a range of limits, stakes and poker games. Tournaments come in multi-table (MTT) and sit’n’go (SNG) formats. MTT’s require pre-registering, with the tournament set to begin at a specific time. SNG’s start as soon as all seats are filled.

If you know exactly what you’re looking for in a cash game or tournament, most online poker software includes filters, used to search the poker lobby for preferred poker games. Be sure to use the filters to find specific stakes ranges, game types, limits, table sizes and other features you may be looking for. With so many customizable functions and special features, playing Hodlem poker online is as easy as Flop, Turn, River!