Poker is a game of skill played by people from all over the world. It has a long history as a recreational activity, but in the last few decades it’s become much more than that. Now you can play online poker for anything from free to satellite entries into the biggest tournaments in the world. And you can do it from any computer, tablet or smartphone.

Poker online is a lot like poker offline in some ways, but it’s also different. When you’re playing poker online you can’t see your opponents and you can’t pick up on all their tells (twitch of the nose, dart of the eyes, subtle body movement etc). But the good news is that there are plenty of ways to get an edge over your competitors at the virtual table.

One way to do this is by using a hand-history tracker or HUD (heads-up display). These tools are used by the pros to give themselves an edge over their competition. They overlay your online poker tables with information on your opponent’s tendencies, including how often they raise pre-flop and when they call and fold. This can help you to make more profitable decisions.

Another way to improve your online poker is by only playing within your bankroll. This is one of the most important poker skills to master. It means that you should never bet more than what you can afford to lose, and that you should only play games with players at your skill level or lower. You can practice this by playing in small-stakes tournaments, or even heads-up cash games.

It’s also important to limit distractions when you’re playing poker online. It’s easy to get distracted by the TV, music, family and friends or other devices. But top athletes never let any of these things distract them when they’re in the zone. So be sure to eliminate any distractions before you sit down at your online poker table.

If you’re new to the game of poker online, it’s a good idea to start out with small-stakes tournaments to familiarize yourself with the rules and software. Then, once you’ve mastered those basics, you can move on to higher-stakes tournaments and cash games. Just remember to take regular breaks to avoid getting bored or over-tired. Taking breaks will also help you to stay focused and improve your decision-making.