You can build pretty much anything these days, as long as you have a starter kit. It’s no different when you finally decide to take the plunge and play online poker. You need the right tools to play, so you can start building your poker career – and your poker bankroll. Take care of the following items on this checklist, and you’ll be ready to play online Texas Hold’em and all the other great games we have for you right here at Ignition Poker lobby.

Desktop or Mobile Device

If you want to play poker for real money, you have to be online, which means you need an internet-ready device. Pretty much any desktop computer, tablet or smartphone produced since 2010 will get you there. Many of our players at Ignition Poker have gone mobile already. As long as you have a reliable internet connection, you can download our new poker app (available for both iOS and Android devices), or log directly into our poker room.

You can also use this address to log in using your desktop, but you’ll probably want to download our industry-leading poker client instead – especially if you’re an aspiring professional. Either way, you’ll have access to all the different types of poker we have for you at Ignition. Specific minimum requirements for your Mac or PC are listed in our Help guide if you need further information.

While meeting these minimums will get you started on your poker journey, using better equipment will naturally give you a better experience, and a better chance of winning at the tables. Mobile poker looks and feels better when you use a smartphone or tablet that’s capable of handling high internet speeds, preferably with a larger, high-resolution screen. For desktop users, consider using a more powerful computer with multiple displays, and an ergonomic mouse and keyboard. Serious pros will often add back-up power and internet capability to their workstations. They’ll also use a gaming chair, kneeling chair, or even a stand-up desk with a treadmill attachment.

Cryptocurrency Deposit

Once you’ve got your gear ready, it’s time to open your Ignition Poker account. Simply fill out our one-page form, and once you’ve been approved, you can try out our poker room for free at the Play Money tables. Get yourself familiar with the layout and which buttons do what; it won’t take long before you’re comfortable with the software and ready to play the Real Money games.

To do that, you’ll need to put some money in your Ignition account. Several different deposit methods are available, but these days, the best method by far is using cryptocurrency. Ignition Poker was one of the very first online rooms to accept Bitcoin, as well as Bitcoin Cash and Bitcoin SV. Transactions are processed quickly and securely, and you’ll pay far less in fees using cryptocurrency than you would with other methods.

If you haven’t tried Bitcoin yet, you’ll need to add two more items to your toolkit: a cryptocurrency wallet, and an account at a cryptocurrency exchange. We recommend downloading a digital wallet, preferably to your mobile device (so you can use the QR code scanner), and we recommend opening an account at a regulated exchange, rather than using a peer-to-peer exchange. This will ensure you have the right combination of security and functionality when you make your deposits.

Speaking of which, don’t forget to claim your Ignition Poker Welcome Bonus when you make your first deposit with us. It’s just one of the many bonuses you can claim at Ignition, but it’s also the largest, and it gets even bigger when you use Bitcoin. Check out our Promotions page to find out more about all the free bonus money you can collect.

Type of Poker You Want to Play

So, you’ve got your desktop or mobile device all tricked out, and you’ve got some money in your Ignition Poker account. Now you’re ready to play poker online – but what kind? With so many games to play, it helps to know ahead of time what’s on the menu. Here’s a breakdown of the different types of poker you’ll find at Ignition:

Game Variant (Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Omaha Hi/Lo)

Chances are you’re interested in playing Texas Hold’em – the Cadillac of Poker, as Doyle Brunson famously calls it. This is the game that started the online poker boom back in the early 2000s. You’re dealt two cards, face down, then up to five community cards are dealt face-up in the middle of the table; make the best five-card poker hand with the cards you see, or get everyone else to fold, and you’ll scoop the pot. Most of the games being played right now at Ignition are Texas Hold’em games, so start here if you’re relatively new at poker.

For a bigger challenge, try playing with four hole cards instead of two. Omaha is quickly becoming the game of choice for more experienced players. With this variant, you must use exactly two of your hole cards, plus three community cards, to make your five-card hand. Omaha Hi/Lo is a split-pot game that takes poker to a whole other level by asking you to make the best low hand as well as the best high hand. No matter what level of player you are, try these games out for size – they’re a lot of fun, and a great way to build your poker muscles.

Betting Limits (Fixed-Limit, Pot-Limit, No-Limit)

Poker is a betting game, and each variant of poker can be played using one of three betting limits. Fixed-limit games, or just “Limit” for short, have small, specific bet sizes for each round of play (flop, turn and river). In pot-limit games, the maximum bet or raise you can make is equal to the size of the pot, and in no-limit games, you can bet as many chips as you have in your stack. No-Limit Hold’em is still the most popular poker game in the world, but if you’re a new player, consider starting with Limit Hold’em, which has smaller pots and fewer decisions to make.

Stakes (Freeroll, Micro, etc.)

Whether you’re playing the microstakes or you’re a dedicated high-roller, there’s a game waiting for you at Ignition Poker. Depending on which variant and betting limit you choose, you could be playing for pennies or thousands of dollars per hand. The quality of your opponents tends to go up as you move up the levels, so again, consider playing the lowest stakes when you’re just starting out. You can even play for free, which we’ll explain in our next section.

Game Type (Cash, Tournament, Sit-and-Go)

There’s one last decision to make when it comes to your poker: Will it be a cash game or a tournament? Cash poker is the original way to play the game, allowing you to play as few or as many hands as you want, whenever you want. Tournaments start at a certain scheduled time, and you play until you either win or run out of chips. Most recreational players are interested in tournaments – that’s how the poker boom was born – but it’s a good idea to play a mix of both. Freeroll tournaments, which cost nothing to play, are incredibly valuable when you’re new at poker.

You can get the benefits of both cash and tournament poker by playing one of the many Sit-and-Gos running at Ignition Poker. These are small tournaments of a specific size (even as small as two players), and they begin as soon as the required number of players have signed up. Sit-and-Gos usually take less than an hour to complete, so you can fit them into your schedule more easily; they’re also a great way for newer players to practice for larger tournaments. Three-player Jackpot Sit-and-Gos are also available at Ignition, giving you the chance to win up to $150,000 in a matter of minutes.

 

Bankroll

When you’re deciding which stakes to play at Ignition Poker, consider how much money you have in your bankroll. Poker is a game of luck as well as skill; no matter how good you are at the game, your bankroll will naturally go up and down, so if you want to avoid going busto, make sure you have enough money in your account for the stakes you want to play. As a very quick rule of thumb, have at least 20 buy-ins in your bankroll when playing cash games, and 100 buy-ins when you’re playing tournaments.

Strategy

The last thing you need for poker success – but hardly the least – is a winning strategy. Great strides have been made in this department over the past 20 years; our valuable treasure trove of strategy articles here at Ignition will show you how to get the most success from your poker experience, whether you’re a new player or a veteran on the felt. There is indeed a lot of money out there waiting to be won, but remember: Poker is a game, and games are meant to be fun. Enjoy yourself, play wisely, and we’ll see you at the tables.