Online poker is a game of skill, but it requires practice and commitment to master. Some of the best online poker sites offer free play for new players so that they can get a feel for the game without risking their real money. Once you’re ready to start playing for money, choose a site that offers a secure connection and virus-free software. You’ll also need to create an account with a screen name and password. You can only have one account per poker room; multi-accounting is against the rules and will lead to a ban from the site.

Most online poker sites offer a variety of games, including Texas Hold’em and Omaha. There are also tournaments and Sit-and-Go’s for players who like to compete against other players. Some sites even offer rakeback, which is a form of compensation that rewards players with a percentage of the site’s rake.

Some players use poker tracking software to help them improve their game. These programs save, sort and recall hand histories, and scan active tables for known opponents. They then display previous statistics from hands played with that player next to their name (a heads-up display or HUD) if allowed by the poker site. Tracking software can help you spot leaks in your own strategy and make informed decisions about how to play each hand.

Some states have banned online poker, but others have created interstate compacts to allow players to compete with one another. Some states require poker sites to verify that all players are located in the state, while others have strict laws about what types of information they can collect from players.