Online poker can be a bit of a challenge for players used to live games. They must be aware of the speed that online poker moves at and the fact that their decisions are limited by time.
Greed can also be a problem in online poker. For instance, a player might discard a low pair to chase a higher scoring hand.
Legality
The legality of playing poker online is a complex issue. Many states have laws that regulate gambling, and some prohibit it altogether. However, the Supreme Court recently struck down a federal ban on sports betting and left it up to individual states to determine how to handle it. As a result, there is hope that more states will legalize online poker in the future.
Moreover, some experts believe that the game of poker is predominantly a game of skill rather than chance, which could exempt it from state gambling laws. In addition, players are not required to disclose their real names and addresses when they play. This is a major advantage of the game over other forms of gambling.
Currently, New Jersey and Nevada have state-regulated i-poker organizations that are operating successfully. These sites are often partnered with brick-and-mortar casinos and offer a variety of convenient deposit and withdrawal methods. Consequently, these sites tend to be safer than their offshore counterparts.
Sites that accept US players
The biggest online poker sites accept US players and offer a variety of real money games. These include Texas Hold’em, Omaha and Stud games in a range of buy-ins and game formats. Some even have casino-style video poker. Regardless of the type of game you choose, all real money online poker sites use secure connections and are subject to strict consumer protection laws.
The popularity of online poker was boosted in 2003 when a Tennessee accountant named Chris Moneymaker won the World Series of Poker main event. His story spread nationally and millions of casual players gave the game a try.
The UIGEA forced many poker sites to shut down, but a few still cater to American players. ACR, for example, has a strong traffic base and allows players to use HUDs and tracking software. The site also offers a generous Elite Loyalty program, in which you earn 27.5 Awards Points for each dollar spent.
Table software
Table software helps you improve your poker game by providing a heads-up display that reveals mistakes made by your opponents. It can also help you identify the type of hands your opponents are holding. It can be used at cash tables and in tournaments. However, you must note that these types of calculators are illegal while playing online and may result in a ban.
The most popular of these poker tools is Poker Tracker 4, which is free and includes a powerful HUD that aids real-time decision-making. It is constantly monitoring hand history and updating its on-screen statistics without any input from you. Its accuracy depends on how big a local database you have – this can be built slowly over time or quickly using services such as HandHQ, which emails you daily with thousands of hand histories.
Another useful tool is Leak Buster 2, which identifies leaks in your game and provides video tutorials on how to fix them. It is available for multitabling and supports most poker sites.