You’ve been crushing the home game, bluffing with impunity at the casino and even dominating your friends in face to face sessions. But when you play poker online, things just don’t seem to go your way. The best way to avoid this is by taking the time to learn how to play the game properly. The key is to stick to one type of game and master it before moving on to other variations.

Choosing the right poker site is crucial for your success. This means picking a site that offers secure software, has an easy to use interface, and is mobile-friendly. You should also make sure the site has a reputation for being trustworthy. This includes making sure their site is regulated and regularly audited by a third-party security firm. Lastly, it is important to check that the games offered by the site are fair and do not have any exploitable weaknesses.

Another crucial tip is to limit your number of tables when playing poker online. Too many tables can cause sensory overload, which can prevent you from being able to focus on the actual game and make good decisions. This is especially true if you are new to the game, so be sure to play only one table at a time when you’re starting out.

Bluffing online is different than live, as you won’t be able to see your opponent’s body language or pick up on their nuances. Instead, you’ll have to rely on their betting history and other information about their tendencies. Learning how to read these tells can help you become a better player.

It is important to remember that bluffing should be used sparingly, and only against players that you know you can outdraw. For example, if you’re playing with a friend, it may be an excellent idea to try and outdraw them by raising when they have a strong hand. However, if you’re playing against an unfamiliar opponent, this may not be the case.

It’s also important to remember that it’s normal to lose when you move up in stakes. It happens to all players, including professionals, and it’s usually just a bad run. However, you should never take this personally and just drop back down a bit and grind it out until you’re ready to move up again.