You want to play online poker, but you don't know where to start. You might log on to that site you saw on TV last night, create an account, and try your luck. How does this site compare to the myriad of other online poker rooms out there, though? Unless you've been around the online block once or twice, it may not be immediately apparent as to the variations between the many poker services. The similarities will certainly stand out, but not necessarily the differences.

You need to keep a few handy pieces of information in mind. These tips will help you decide where to play, what game to play, and how to play them. Ultimately it will boil down to a combination of your personal preference and necessity, but these ten online poker tips should help get you started.

10. Try it before you buy it: If you're new to online poker, or you're trying out a new site, consider getting used to the controls by playing free poker games at the site of your choice. That way, you can get used to the software before making a deposit.

9. Read reviews to help you choose: There is a myriad of different poker sites out there, meaning that the online poker market is a buyers market. Unlike with brick-and-mortar casinos, you don't have limited availability. So shop around by reading site reviews to help you choose where to open an account.

8. Keep up to date: As much as we all like to limit the size of our inboxes, allowing the sites with which you keep an account to email you, will make sure you know about the latest promotions. These can mean added value for you, the player. But be wary of external, 3rd party sites which will try to bombard you with spam and clutter your inbox.

7. Get the bonus you deserve: Always ask yourself, "does this site care about my business?" If they don't offer a fair first deposit bonus, you might want to consider a different site which values your business enough to reward you for becoming a member. Loyalty is also important; some sites will leave their existing players high and dry without any reload bonuses. You should consider playing only at the sites who are considerate enough to reward you with a periodic reload bonus.

6. Choose your game wisely: You shouldn't stop being picky once you've chosen your online home. You should also choose your games wisely. Online poker, because of it's ability to connect players from around the world, makes table selection easier. You can usually choose the right stakes and the best players to play against. Make sure you take full advantage of that ability.

5. Timing tells all: When you're finally seated in the game, you'll notice that essentially the only 'tell' you have is the timing of bets. Sure, just like in live poker you should be paying attention to betting patterns, but if you're looking for a tell, timing may be it. To get a read on a player, watch how quickly they bet (and what their use of the auto-bet features implies), to get a read on how the timing of their bets can give you an angle to knowing what they hold.

4. You reap what you sow: In online poker, like in live poker, playing too many starting hands will simply drain your bankroll over time. Given how easy it is to call when playing online (you only need to click a button), many people get carried away with seeing the flop. Read some relevant poker books, and make sure you know which hands to play, and which to fold while it's cheap to do so. Otherwise, you will not reap the wins that correct play brings.

3. Plan your sessions: You should not play poker for too long in a single sitting. Planning the length of your sessions in advance will allow you to keep balance and avoid burnout. Remember that the games will still be there tomorrow.

2. When the going gets tough, the tough get going: A strong player not only knows when to play, but when to stop playing. Either because the competition gets too tough, or you're on a streak of bad luck, when things don't go your way, one of the best things to do is take a break. Sometimes you need only a few minutes or an hour, and sometimes a few days off, or trying a different game, will get you going again.

1. Play within your means: It's basic budgeting, but remember never to play with money you need for other things. Even the best player in the world will still lose from time to time, because poker involves luck. So keep your money for important things, and only commit income you can afford to spend, to playing poker. Online poker features easy depositing and means that a good player must keep track of their budget wisely, to avoid losing more in a bad streak than they should.