There’s something special about playing poker online with real money at stake. It forces you to play smarter, and it makes the game more exciting. But it also takes a lot of hard work to get better at it. You have to learn to forget the bad beats, the coolers, and the suckouts, and remember that your math will sort it all out in the long run.

The first step is to find a good poker site that accepts your preferred deposit methods. You want to be able to deposit and withdraw funds quickly and securely. Look for a site that uses SSL encryption to protect your personal information. You should also read the site’s terms and conditions to make sure you can abide by them.

Once you’ve found a good site, start by choosing a tournament or free game to play. Most poker sites offer a range of games, so you can choose one that suits your style of play. Some also have special features such as a fast-fold button that lets you quit your hand without losing any chips.

Once you’re comfortable with the basic game, move up to the bigger games. If you’re a beginner, it’s best to stick with Texas Hold’em or Omaha. But you can always try other poker-based games as well, such as 5-Card Stud, 3-Card Brag, 7-Card Stud, Razz, and Ho-Lo.