Why Online Poker Could be the Ideal Launchpad for a New Player

Since poker has become cool all over the planet in recent years, it’s no surprise that many people have decided that they want to give it a try. Everyone wants to become a poker expert right away, but what’s the best way to get started smoothly? There are some good reasons for believing that online poker gives you the perfect start.

Try Different Versions of the Game

The variety is one intriguing aspect of online card games you might not have considered so far. If you think about it, when you learn poker from a friend or by joining in local games, you’re probably only going to pick up one main variant of the game. Who can say that this will be the right version for your skills and interests? As a beginner, you can learn poker in more than one way.

Games such as Texas Hold'em, Omaha, Seven-Card Stud, and Razz are all great and have a lot in common with one another, but they also have some crucial differences. Or what if you learn a less popular version like Pineapple Hold'em or the unlikely sounding Baseball Poker? You might become an expert in a game that few other people know of! Going online lets you choose from all the most popular variants and switch between them whenever you want to try something else. The rules are easy to find in each game, so it’s only going to take you a moment to learn the ropes and start playing.

What if you’d rather stick with the classics? You’ve still got options! The versions of Texas Holdem poker offered online let you take part in jackpot sit-n-gos or multi-table tournaments. You can also choose from a range of stakes, meaning that there is no need to bet more than you’re comfortable with during your first games. Anonymous tables and quick seating let new players get going with no fuss. This can be a way of discovering versions of the card game that you might never have seen before. Online casinos add new games regularly, and this gives them a way to let their players try new versions of poker with added rules and twists.

A Pressure-Free Start

What does it feel like when imagining your first time sitting at a poker table with other players? Even the pros get nervous, so finding ways of controlling anxiety is one of the biggest challenges for every type of player. The first time you play against others with money on the table is going to be nerve-racking, so doing it online can feel a lot more comfortable.

There’s no need to feel self-conscious or overawed when you join a virtual table to play. You can choose exactly where and when to connect to the game, so you get the chance to relax and pick precisely what makes most sense to you. This also removes any doubts you might have about whether you can meet the stakes - online poker sites let you play with small stakes if you prefer, with no risk of you feeling pressured into adding more to the pot than you’re comfortable with.

No Need to Hide Your Emotions

Worrying about giving away clues regarding what cards are in their hands is one of the biggest concerns for new poker players taking their first steps in the game. Known as tells, these are physical signs that let other players guess what you’re thinking. Some newcomers may consider bluffing, but this is extremely difficult to do and isn’t as common in poker games as you might think.

Playing online is the ideal solution for anyone worried about giving away vital information concerning their cards. There’s no risk of anyone working out what your hand consists of. In fact, you can choose to play against the dealer if you prefer to simply avoid human opponents at first. Video poker is another simple option where all you have to do is try to get a paying combination, like a royal flush or three of a kind.

If you prefer, you can look for live casino games where you interact with a human dealer as the game is played. The video below from Bodog shows how a live blackjack game develops, with the presence of a live dealer adding to the excitement without making the player feel stressed.

Once you feel at home playing poker, it’s then a question of deciding how you want to play the game each time. Maybe you’ll choose to go online at times and play in a real-world setting on other occasions. The flexibility offered by the different approaches to this game is one of the main benefits you’ll discover when you start playing online.