Online poker is a fast-paced game of skill over the long term. Top pros spend just as much time studying their game as playing it. They invest in training at sites such as Chip Leader Coaching and Upswing Poker, network with successful players, and brutally analyze their play after every session.

When it comes to online poker, the variance is far higher than in live games – due to the fact that you’re dealing a lot more hands per hour. This means that you’re likely to have a lot more highs and a lot more lows. This can be a huge adjustment for new players, and it’s not uncommon to go on 20, 30, or even 50 buy-in downswings during the course of your online career.

Getting started with online poker can seem daunting, but it’s not nearly as hard as it seems. The first step is to find a reputable poker site that accepts your preferred payment method. Once you’ve done this, you can start with one table at a time and gradually add more tables as you become comfortable with the speed of play and the way that computers respond to your actions.

When you’re ready to make a deposit, all you have to do is head to the cashier section of your poker site and plug in your details. Most poker sites use a 3rd party company to process their payments, so the amount you want to deposit is simply entered and confirmed.