live casino play vs online play (cash game)

[buckeyes77]

Hi, I've almost exclusively played holdem live at the local casinos in my area. However, I want to try out some online poker. Could anyone who has good experience in both environments tell me what the most fundamental differences between the two are? I assume there would be a bit more loose play online than live (although I've sat at some insane tables in live casinos). I want to just an idea of the most general differences before I test the waters online.

I play a very tight game live and really only make moves once I've sat at the table long enough to get some patterns of the others' play and style. Will my style work in the online setting?

Thanks a lot for your help and sorry in advance if these questions seem basic/lame.

[miaowmiaowchowface]

online is a lot harder and tighter. A good rule of thumb is a live game = ~1/5 of the stakes online... some people say otherwise (1/10)but i don't know.

[LeeG]

Online people will be playing multiple tables almost always. They will often be using software to help predict your play. They will be able to see every hand you've ever played if they were at the table (via poker tracker or whatever). They will also be less anxious to play marginal hands since they are not sitting there twiddling their thumbs.

Also, consider that at a casino, 1/2NL is about as low as it goes limit wise since they need to pay for the space and for dealers. As such, there is a much larger grouping of players at the 1/2 levels in casinos. Online, people can spread out to lower limits that is more in line with their skill level. This is where the 'online vs live' apparent skill levels mostly come from.

Having played quite a lot both live and online, I much prefer live. Playing online with tracking software improved my game tremendously though. Done properly, it is like having a coach showing you your bad habits.

[jimmer]

I prefer online play.

I have a really busy life, so don't have the time to visit casino's regularly. Quite often when I do visit I don't enjoy the experience. Sometimes the seats are too cramped or uncomfortable, the other players are not welcoming or just grumpy and it takes me ages to get a beer.

When I play online, I sit in my own chair in my own house, listening to the music I like, eating my own food and drinking my own beer.

I play a very tight game live and really only make moves once I've sat at the table long enough to get some patterns of the others' play and style. Will my style work in the online setting?

This is a big advantage online. When I'm playing cash, I usually watch the table for (sometimes upto) an hour first. Within this time I make notes on the other players, learn the flow of the table and even wait for the right seat, next the the right player to maximise my chances of success. Of course, when you have noticed something you can then go through the previous hand history to confirm if your theories are correct. Also if you want to watch 4+ tables at a time you can easily do this as well and then choose the most favoriatable.

online is a lot harder and tighter. A good rule of thumb is a live game = ~1/5 of the stakes online... some people say otherwise (1/10)but i don't know.

Yeah I'm not sure on the stats either, but I would deffinately agree with this. If you are usually playing 1/2NL in the casino, I would probably start on the $0.10/$0.25 max online.

A couple of extra things to bare in mind;
Whenever I play a on a new pokersite or one I haven't played on for a while, I always just play an hour on the $0.01/$0.02 tables just re-confirm the settings, table layouts etc etc. So, you might want to try this.

Also, depending on the type of person you are you my find it really easy to loose loads if you are not good with your bankroll. I have one mate who plays a good game, but every now and then, comes back from the pub drunk and looses the lot in a few hours. I have another one that when he looses just goes on major tilt and because there are so many tables and games, the temptation to chaise his losses is just too great.

I'm sure I can think of another 100 pro's and con's, I guess my advice would be to put a few $$$ in one of the major sites (Pokerstars or fulltilt) and try it.

[mortaleclipse]

ITs all real opinion what you may like better. Some enjoy the comfort of their own home and some enjoy the social aspect of live play. The major plus for online is the convience factor that you can play whenever you desire.
Im a live fan personally, the feal of the chips with the actual pots brewing is a intense fealing that I only get at the tables.
Making a desposit of a couple hundred bucks on a major site like Poker stars or Full tilt should give you a good feal of what you will enjoy. Online I would agree can be alittle tighter, players can be alot more trickier imo.

[martinheino20]

The last few years have seen online gambling become one of the biggest and most successful enterprises on the planet. With that has come many technological advancements in software as well as increasingly efficient and user friendly systems. There are so many advantages to online gambling compared to land-based casinos although the choice is very much a personal one. For those who haven't tried it yet, here are just a few benefits of choosing to gamble online.

* Convenience
* Variety of Games
* Bonuses
* Play for Free
* Security

The popularity and success of online gambling is probably one of the best ways to measure its many advantages. Players have found that in many ways the online methods are just as enjoyable as those found in land-based casino (spam removed), while being infinitely more convenient and far less intimidating. If you have never played online before take your time and look around. There is sure to be something to suit your taste and style.

[Isaac Mikel]

Online play is shit.

Grinding online is harder than it is live because it's just so boring; and if you're not making a living doing it, you ask yourself "What the f*ck am I doing? Why am I sitting here, folding for an hour, for $1?"

Another thing that annoys me is the amount of chat going on at the table, because there is none. I try to start conversation now and again, but all I get is a 1 word answer, or if I ask anything about their game then I'm simply ignored.

A small thing that gets to me is the fact that there is no one there to comfort you when you take a bad beat. I always apologise when I suck out, but it doesn't work both ways. No one acknwoledges it.

I don't use any third party software to help me, because I think it's worse for your game than good. You don't even have to think. You just read what the computer tells you and take an educated guess at what the player is trying to do.

The only saving grace, for what is otherwise a cesspool, is the amount of games going and the variety of limits. There aren't many games going where I'm from, and I'm only just starting to poke my head around at homes games, so if I want to play regular games then I have to play online. It's not as hard on the wallet either, so that's another plus.

[miaowmiaowchowface]

Online play is shit.

Grinding online is harder than it is live because it's just so boring; and if you're not making a living doing it, you ask yourself "What the f*ck am I doing? Why am I sitting here, folding for an hour, for $1?"

Another thing that annoys me is the amount of chat going on at the table, because there is none. I try to start conversation now and again, but all I get is a 1 word answer, or if I ask anything about their game then I'm simply ignored.

A small thing that gets to me is the fact that there is no one there to comfort you when you take a bad beat. I always apologise when I suck out, but it doesn't work both ways. No one acknwoledges it.

I don't use any third party software to help me, because I think it's worse for your game than good. You don't even have to think. You just read what the computer tells you and take an educated guess at what the player is trying to do.

The only saving grace, for what is otherwise a cesspool, is the amount of games going and the variety of limits. There aren't many games going where I'm from, and I'm only just starting to poke my head around at homes games, so if I want to play regular games then I have to play online. It's not as hard on the wallet either, so that's another plus.

its not so boring when you start making hundreds an hour tbh

you have a long way to go though...

first step is acknowledging that you have to start somewhere

and also that noone gives a f*ck about your bad beats

[Isaac Mikel]

its not so boring when you start making hundreds an hour tbh

you have a long way to go though...

first step is acknowledging that you have to start somewhere

and also that noone gives a f*ck about your bad beats

Like I said, it's boring unless you're making a living doing it.

And also, I care about my bad beats. It's just common courtesy to acknowledge that your luck was in and their luck was not. Well, that's just what I've gathered from live. The players online are probably too busy finding out how I often I raise from the button.

[miaowmiaowchowface]

oh lol figured you wanted to be a winning player or something, my bad

[Felting]

Try substituting the word variance for the word luck. It will bring a much sharper understanding of the game of poker when you fully grasp why.