If you’re thinking about playing online poker, here are a few tips for new players. Poker sites usually offer sign-up bonuses and other goodies to new players. Those incentives may include free site credits, tournament tickets, and other goodies. You can even play with free play money. For example, Big Fish, Zynga, and PlayWPT all offer free play money to new players. Those bonuses are great for players just starting out and can make the difference between winning or losing.

One tip for beginners is to understand the rankings of the different starting hands. For example, 6-5 diamonds has a good chance of a straight flush. On the other hand, 8-9-J has a high chance of a straight flush. Learning the rankings of these hands is another excellent online poker tip. Understanding what kinds of hands are strong and weak in online poker can help you avoid playing bad hands. The most important thing to remember is to always look beyond your finances when making online poker decisions.

Instant play poker is another option. If you’re concerned about compatibility, you can opt for this type of software. Many downloadable poker clients are designed only for Windows PCs, so you’re not going to be able to play poker on Apple Macs. Fortunately, instant play poker works with a wide variety of devices. Typically, it’s powered by Adobe Flash and has a modern, clean look. It’s also easy to play.

Different online poker sites have different stakes. Some of them offer free games and other low stakes. Others offer big prize games. If you’re looking for a low-risk game, try playing for pennies. Online poker is available on desktop computers, laptops, tablets, and mobile phones. There’s something for every type of player. Whether you’re a novice or a professional, online poker is a great way to improve your game.

If you’re an American player, you may want to consider an offshore poker site. Offshore poker sites aren’t regulated in the United States, but they remain popular in the market. Only a few states regulate their online poker markets, and Michigan and West Virginia are expected to follow suit shortly. But if you’re looking for legal online poker sites, there are some things you should consider. So make sure to check the laws in your state before signing up with an offshore site.

Another good tip is to keep track of your results. Keeping track of your results is an essential skill for winning online poker games. It will help you identify any patterns you may have. If you have a losing streak, look up your sessions’ stats and see how often you’re losing. Pay special attention to your win-rate, flop counts, and showdowns. Knowing where you’re losing is a great way to improve your game.

Another tip for success in online poker is to pick a site with stable software. If the software doesn’t load or runs slow, you’re going to find yourself frustrated in a bad luck streak. Fortunately, this problem is rare with downloadable software. It’s still a problem with mobile and instant play software. But the good news is that more states are legalizing online poker. There are plenty of options for players in the market.