Functional software without gimicky graphics - If you play poker for any length of time, you need to be in a poker room with easy-on-the-eye graphics. Bright graphics and irksome sounds may seem interesting to start with, but can just become grating and annoying as time goes by. Good poker rooms make it easy for you to find the information you need and have few irrelevant distractions. Poker rooms vary as regards the features they include. Some features I regard as essential, however, are the ability to play at two or more tables at once and the ability to make electronic notes about your opponents.

Good banking facilities - Most sites, as you would expect, make it easy for you to deposit money and most generally also provide a good range of withdrawal options. When you visit a site, it is worth checking out what options are available to ensure there is one which is convenient for you. Some sites allow you to deposit and withdraw money using your debit card. You can then withdraw money directly to your bank account - quickly, simply and without charges. Others favour internet payment sites such as Neteller. With a Neteller account, for example,you can get a prepaid card and then be able to withdraw your winnings at cash machines or use the card in shops or online. If other options are not available, many sites will simply mail you a cheque!

Freerolls and Raked Hands Tournaments - Many poker rooms offer freeroll tournaments. These are simply free to enter tournments which nevertheless have real prize money. Some successful poker players have never deposited money - they simply won money in freeroll tournaments and went on from there! Some tournaments, despite being free to enter, may have certain qualification requirements. For example, you might qualify by playing a certain number of qualifying hands ("raked hands") in cash games. Alternatively, you may qualify by accumulating "player points" of some kind - points awarded for playing in cash games. These "raked hands tournaments" are usually far better value that normal freerolls because, firstly, the prize money is more generous and, secondly, there are fewer people who qualify to enter the tournaments.

A word about sign-up bonuses: Many poker sites will offer you "free chips" when you first deposit money at their site. These are sometimes a good deal. However, there will always be terms and conditions attached. Usually, your bonus chips will only be released or become available for withdrawal once you have played a certain number of hands or have bet a certain amount of money. It is often worth taking up these free chip offers - but read the small print - some sites have offers which are not as generous as they appear!