Poker online is an exciting card game where players place bets using chips which represent their wager. The game can be played in various settings, including private homes and casinos. The cards are dealt by a dealer, who may be an employee of the casino or an independent contractor. The dealer is responsible for the integrity of the game and cannot reveal the cards to other players. The player who wins the most chips at the end of a hand is declared the winner.

One of the most important things to remember when playing poker is that position still matters – just as it does in live poker. When you’re in early position, it’s very easy to be re-raised by players behind you. This is frustrating and can easily ruin your chances of seeing the flop. The best way to avoid this is to play more preflop hands and to raise a lot of your preflop bets when you’re in early position.

Another thing to remember is that the pace of poker online is much quicker than in live games. This can be hard for some people to get used to, especially if they’re coming from a live environment where they’re accustomed to the slower pace.

Many players jump right into higher limits before they’re ready for them, and this can lead to disaster. It’s a good idea to start at the lower stakes and work your way up, as this will help you build a bankroll.