Online Poker FAQ — Beginners' Guide

Sites welcoming US players

Full Tilt Poker
Highest limits, celebrity players, $600 deposit bonus

Ultimate Bet
Aruba and Bellagio freerolls, $650 deposit bonus

Poker Stars
Best tournaments and frequent player freerolls

Absolute Poker
Weekly $150,000 freeroll


Compare all sites.

Online play - the basic mechanics

Even if you've played poker for years, getting started playing online poker means learning a new set of basic skills. You need to be able to find a game, sit down, buy chips and then, finally, see your cards and bet, raise or fold. And in the online world there are few unique issues to consider, like what to do when you lose your internet connection in the middle of a hand, and special rules of online etiquette. The section is a step-by-step guide to the basic mechanics of using the poker client software to play poker online. We'll use a play money ring game as an example.

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Kinds of games – play money vs. real money, ring game vs. tournament Using the lobby, sitting down, buying chips