Poker is one of the most popular card games in the world and can now be enjoyed by players from all over the world thanks to online poker. There are hundreds of sites where you can play this exciting game with real money and take advantage of the many tournaments on offer to suit your style. However, before you decide where to play it is important to consider your local gambling laws and ensure that your chosen poker site is licensed and regulated in the country you live in.

If you are new to poker, the best way to get started is to sign up for a free account with an online poker site and try out a few hands. Many of the top online poker sites offer a range of different poker games and tournaments that are ideal for beginners and seasoned pros alike. Once you are comfortable with the rules of poker, it is possible to move up in stakes and win big!

During a game of poker, players place bets with chips that represent their wagers. When a player has a strong hand, they may choose to raise their bets to make other players fold. This is called bluffing, and it can be an effective strategy at the right times.

The speed of the game online is another benefit over live poker – manual actions like shuffling and dealing are usually done automatically, which means that the action can progress much faster. This is especially useful in online tournaments, where you can compete with thousands of players.