Times have changed. And the biggest change in poker is the Internet. Used to be a player needed to play for years, spending all kinds of money, before they could pick up the skills and experience needed to play proficient poker. Today, a young person can be up and running by the time of their 22nd Birthday. Playing online tournaments is the easiest, fastest and most economical way to improve your live tournament play. Period. I spent thousands of dollars and many years entering and traveling to different events before I had the experience necessary to properly compete in a brick & mortar casino. You can avoid all that expense and time by learning on the Internet. Get busy practicing! Remember, you are playing in a real poker game, not a video game. Some players have a tendency to take the online version of poker less seriously than a live game. Don’t let yourself fall into this frame of mind. Remember, play every hand, and every card, perfectly. Be courteous when you have to leave the game for a while, check the "Deal Me Out" box. Then when you return, uncheck it to continue playing. Also, click the Auto Post Blind box to help speed up play. Do what you can to make playing on the Internet a more enjoyable experience for everyone.  When you first join a table and start playing in a game, it is best to post the blind when the button is one to your left. This will give you the best position and most value for your per/hand cost. Make sure you click the correct button that allows you to post the blind in that spot.    When you first start out playing on the Internet, stick with the free games to get familiar with the software and the rules of the game. After you are comfortable, you can start playing for small stakes. Lessons in poker can be very expensive, so take advantage of the quantity of free and low limit tables available on the Internet. Be sure to keep diligent records of your play for every session, it will serve as your scoreboard. And never play with money you can't afford to lose. Play limits and games that you are comfortable with. This will add to your enjoyment of the game and keep poker a fun experience. You probably have enough stress in your life ... don't add to it with your poker efforts. What is a comfortable limit? Well, it will depend on the size of your bankroll and your tolerance for risk, but generally, it should be high enough that you feel like you have accomplished something and have been properly rewarded ... and low enough that you never feel more than a very small, "Ouch! That stings!" Write down questions that you can ask yourself while playing. You are in the private comfort of your home or office, why not take advantage of that and use all tools necessary to win? My list for beginners might have the following: “What kind of hand would he need to make that bet or raise, from that position?”  “I flopped a set. How can I make the most money with it?” ”If I raise here, what kind of hand would they need to call?” Pay attention to Internet tells! If you are in early position or the first to act in a hand, take a pause before you check, and see if the players behind you go, Check, Check, very fast. If so, you know that they’ve already clicked the check option. They may have even clicked the check/fold option because they missed the flop entirely. Think that might be some valuable information? Of course! Lead at the pot if the next card doesn't seem to have helped any draws. You might win the pot right then and there, without any confrontation. Get comfortable! C’mon, kick your shoes off and put on that favorite pair of torn jeans and your old old t-shirt. Feel good! You can even wear that lucky hat that you wouldn’t be seen in on the street, right? I mean it is a lucky hat after all. And put the phone near you so you don’t have to jump up every time the darn thing rings. And what about food and drink? And what about a comfortable chair? I know a guy who takes his laptop out on his back patio and enjoys the fresh air and a nice view of the mountains as he plays. How cool is that?  C’mon, get things organized so you’re as comfortable as you can be. Stop playing when you are tired. If you’re tired, go to sleep. The Internet poker world will be there when you return. Or, what about a break for some fresh air? Or a walk around the block? Or a quick shower to wake up! Poker is all about making correct decisions, and you can’t make correct decisions if you’re tired or sleepy. Play when you are well rested and you’ll play better poker.