Online poker, as the name suggests, is the poker game played over the Internet. Online poker has been responsible for a dramatic increase in the number of poker players from around the world. Thanks in part to uptake of online casinos, the craze for poker spreading beyond the mega-rich, business-suited elite, allowing everyone a fair chance to place modest wagers from the comfort of their own home.
Statistics confirm the above. In January 2003 the total global daily cash game turnover for online poker only 10 million U.S. dollars (£ 5.3m), and in 2004 rose to $ 60m (£ 32m). Now, $ 180m (£ 95m) is inserted in cash game pots in online poker every day! Not surprisingly, this number is expected to grow steadily each year.
How different is 
online poker compared to playing it on the spot?
There are hundreds of portals offering online poker, most of them are more or less similar. The difference, if any, are usually in the gaming environment and quality of interaction with other players. This may depend much of the popularity of the site, as popular gaming sites try to have some built-in controls and attract big players, which in turn can improve your overall game experience. Also, while some portals have a responsible, informative entries and provides a significant amount of content (news, tournament results, strategy articles, reviews of online poker, etc.) while others try to function as pure lines for other places that are normally where actual gambling games are offered.
Although many people have different views as regards the differences between online poker and brick and mortar poker is concerned, most agree on at least some of the following:
Online sites are cheaper and readily available.
Online poker rooms are more player-friendly as they come up with proposals that allow players to play for low stakes and are very suitable for beginners.
Online poker player is much faster, since there is no banter around the table. While brick and mortar casino players consider this interplay a central element in the game for most playing online, that stress is laid on mathematical calculations and actual moves. Fixed or offline poker game is time consuming, when the average player is around thirty hands per hour while in online poker these delays, processing and mixing is instantaneous and thus the average play is faster due to 'auto action' buttons.
A disadvantage of playing online poker is that it is more vulnerable to certain types of fraud, even though most poker sites have safety checks.
Unlike a brick and mortar casino, you can bet on more than one table at a time when you play online. Then you could log into more than one poker site simultaneously, which means you do not have to be as good a player to make the same amount of money online (since you increase your chances of winning by playing on multiple tables at the same time)!
Some experienced players also feel that people who mostly play online poker can be a disadvantage in a bricks and mortar casino, as they have opportunities to learn to study and influence body language.
Another differentiating feature of online poker is that it provides free money to play, so that new players can practice without risk of losing money.
From a legal standpoint, some common legal issues. Online game poker is very legitimate and regulated in many advanced countries in
Getting Started
Whether you are a professional or novice, online poker offers you a comfortable and interesting gaming environment and a safer (compared to brick and mortar casinos) means to learn to play with small stakes. There are many websites that offer guidelines and tips on learning to play well. Here are some interesting poker-related terms to get you started:
Royal flush: high cards (Ace, King, Queen, Jack) of the same suit in numerical order.
Straight flush: cards of same suit in numerical order.
Four of a kind: cards of the same value (e.g. four queens).
Full house: Three cards of same rank, two of a second.
Flush: all cards are in the same color.
Straight: cards are in numerical order, but not in the same color.
Three of a kind: Three cards of equal value.
Two pair: two pairs of cards with the same value (e.g. queen, queen and king, king)
Pair: Two cards of equal value.
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