1) Be aware of the minimum computer hardware requirements for technically satisfactory play. In most cases, your operating system should be Windows 98 or later. On-line poker options for Macintosh users are at present far more limited than for Windows users. While downloading a poker site’s software will go more slowly for dial-up than for cable customers, once the download is achieved dial-up customers should be able to play without significant impediment. What is vital, however, is the reliability of your internet connection.

2) Some lingo is particular to on-line poker. A) Client; the word Client in an on-line poker situation is used in reference to a poker program that runs on your computer; B) Server; a poker site’s Server relays information between the Clients of the various players at a table.

3) Know that for most poker sites, it is necessary to download and install to your computer the site’s software before you will be able to play. Some sites offer the option of playing through Java, Flash, or some such without downloading; doing this is not at all recommended as the play is very slow and erratic. If you come across a site that wants to charge you for downloading its poker software, look for another site.

4) If you are a poker neophyte, gain, through reading, a baseline understanding of the game before you attempt any form of on-line play. If you are an experienced home game or casino poker player, acquaint yourself with a poker site by playing at its play money tables.

5) Many people new to on-line poker have questions about the integrity of on-line poker sites. Recent years have seen a dramatic increase in the sophistication of on-line sites and doing business over them is as safe as doing business with any other reputable form of on-line business. There are some basic indicators of a site’s legitimacy. A) Its license. Understand that all poker servers are located outside of the United States. As of this writing, however, the legality of on-line poker in the U.S. is ambiguous, yet nobody has ever suffered legal consequences from playing poker on-line. Poker sites with licenses have those licenses from countries that have high standards and strong oversight for the industry. Reputable licensing countries include Costa Rica, Malta, and the Kanawake Indian Reservation in Canada. B) Seals of Approval from outside parties such as consulting firms. Many sites have seals of approval from outside auditors; such seals can add to your sense of security about using the site. C) Money Deposits Made Through Third Parties. Knowing that a poker site completes its deposits and payouts through a third party such as Western Union assures you that the site conforms to the third party’s rules.

6) Understand that from poker site to poker site, there are differences in the interface (how the program appears and is used on your computer screen), bonuses, games available, and such. It is best to explore different poker sites, playing at the play money tables, in order that you learn the range of what’s available. With the proviso that you are selecting a reputable poker site, much of where you wind up doing the bulk of your playing will depend on your individual taste.

7) Your first step is to choose a poker site and download its software. Pokersavvy.com allows you to read reviews of various sites and then download those sites’ software right from our homepage. Downloading from most poker sites is extremely easy to achieve. A site’s homepage generally makes abundantly evident where you click to download its software. Further instructions for installing and running the poker software appear during the process. Most of these poker softwares put an icon on your computer desktop; all you must do when you want to visit the site is click on the desktop icon. Do be aware that advances in poker-playing software occur with regularity and that you should accept all poker software updates when they are offered to you.

Having downloaded the poker software, you will need to create an account on the site. Be sure to give whatever contact information the site requests you give. You do want the site operators to be able to reach you, after all, and particularly after you start playing for real money. Many sites allow you to upload an image to represent you at its tables. Choose one that is A) not offensive to anybody and B) not particularly remarkable. If you make the mistake of choosing an attention-grabbing image, then you will have no end of comments made about it every time you sit down to play. Poker sites will also have you choose a player nickname; choose one you can truly live with as most sites don’t allow you to change your nickname.

9) When selecting poker sites on which to play, it is recommended that you explore many features of the site. Even if everything is going smoothly for you at first, look for something you don’t quite understand and then communicate with the site’s help department to get a feel for how efficiently they respond to you. Also, time spent exploring a variety of poker sites is time well spent. You’ll learn about the variety of interfaces available and you’ll see in greater detail what each site has to offer.

10) Where a site gives you the option to receive its e-mailings, always elect to receive those mailings. They’ll have information about special games and tournaments being offered, as well as about special bonuses. On the subject of bonuses; always read the fine print. Many sites offer what appears to be a generous bonus (such as giving you 20% extra in chips if you deposit $500) but then have many conditions you must fulfill before you receive the bonus.

11) People new to online poker sometimes have anxiety about making deposits to poker sites. However, if you have selected a reputable, well-reviewed site that uses a third party to effect its money transactions, you can rest assured that those transactions will be honestly effected. After all, to make money, which they mainly do through the house rake, sites need players playing on them, and if they earned a reputation for dishonesty they would have no customers.