# Getting Started: Online

To start an Online game, first select "Poker Academy Online" from the main lobby to reach the online lobby.

Note that you must be connected to the Internet to use Poker Academy Online.

### Connecting to the Online Lobby

The first thing you must do is decide on an online username. Usernames should be less than 12 characters and can only contain letters, numbers, spaces, and decimals. Spaces at the start or end of your username are ignored.

After typing in a username, press Connect

Although you don't type in a password, the program uses the CD Key you entered after installing and makes sure each CD Key can only be used once online. Don't lend out your CD Key or you may be unable to play!

### Joining a Room

Once you are connected the Online Lobby Window will appear. This window contains a variety of information for Poker Academy Online.

> ### The Room Chooser

> The Room Chooser contains a list of all of the active rooms online. By default, all rooms are displayed, but there are tabs along the top to choose to show only certain sub-categories (limit, no-limit, tournament, and private). To sit down at a table select one of the rooms and press "Join Room", or double-click it. Selecting a room will display more information about that room below the room chooser, including what players are currently in the room.

> ### News Tab

> To keep users informed of the latest server news and events such as promotions and freerolls, the latest news is displayed in the News tab.

> ### Account Tab

> The account tab shows the status of your online bankroll. For more information on how online bankrolls work, see our section on Poker Academy Currency (PAX).

> ### Standings Tab

> All games played in the public PAX rooms are rated. The standings tab displays statistics about all players in poker academy online. Get rated and find out where you stand.

> ### Users Tab

> This lists all of the currently logged in players on Poker Academy Online. This can be helpful is seeing if a friend is logged in and where they are playing.

> ### Lobby Chat

> A public lobby chat area is provided. Players can use this to organize where to play, or to just chat about poker.

### Starting Online Play

Playing online is similar to playing against the computer opponents. For a ring game, the first step is to click on one of the empty seats that says "Select Seat" on it. You wil not be able to join a tournament that has already started or a game with ten players already seated. When joining a tournament, a registration screen appears. Click the register button to claim a seat in the tournament.

When you are seated in a room, play begins when the room creator presses the "Start Tournament" button (in the case of a tournament) or when the minimum number of players is reached (in the case of a ring game).

Have fun! For more information see the Online page.