Whether you’re playing for free or for real money, poker online is a fun and exciting way to enjoy the game. You can play on your computer, smartphone, or tablet. It’s also one of the easiest games to learn. If you’re new to the game, there are a few things you should know.

The first thing you need to do is to set a budget. It’s important to know how much you want to invest in poker and how much you can afford to lose. You should also have a plan for each street. You should pay attention to your win-rate and the number of times you went to a showdown. You can use this information to determine where you’re losing.

You should also choose a poker site that offers a good bonus. Some sites offer free chips several times a day. You can also get bonuses based on the number of frequent player points you earn. This will help you get ahead of the game.

The next step is to download the poker software. This shouldn’t take too long. Some sites also offer tracking software that can help you evaluate your opponents.

Once you’re ready to start playing, you can choose a table. Most sites have “beginner” tables that level the playing field for new players. These tables have a certain cap on how many hands you can play.

Once you’ve played a few cash games, you may want to move up to a higher stake. This depends on your return-on-investment (ROI) and how comfortable you are beating your current stake level.