Poker continues to gain popularity, both online and live. With major sites investing heavily into advertising and celebrities playing live poker events, more and more people are being introduced to poker. But with two very different settings, internet, and cardroom, which one is better? We explain the advantages of both in this post.
Multi-Tables Online
One of the perks of playing online poker is the ability to play more than one table. Naturally, you cannot play more than one in person, but online, a player can play loads! This is a great way for an enthusiast to gain more experience and ultimately improve their win rate, provided they can multi-task!
Whilst it’s an advantage for experienced players, beginners may struggle to play more than two tables. Poker requires full concentration so if you’re new to poker, get yourself a free Texas Hold’em cheat sheet first before playing.
Social Aspect in Live Games
Poker doesn’t have to be a solitary activity. This is proven by the live poker cardrooms which generally have lots of noise and chat going on. Head into any local cardroom and you’ll hear table banter and chit-chat. This social aspect is certainly a pro in favor of live games as it enhances the poker-playing experience.
Many live players will drink socially and even have dinner in a live game too. For some older poker players who regularly play live, their poker playing is their social activity for the week. Some of them may even be poor players but if they have a good time, does it matter? Poker is a fun activity for a senior and that’s what counts.
Bonuses Online
Another perk to playing online poker is the bonuses. Granted, bonuses for poker aren’t as generous as other casinos games, but they’re better than nothing. Many major poker sites run bonuses when you sign up. They also offer something called “reload bonuses”. This is where a player gets the chance to get more money when they re-deposit. Often this is matched to a certain level. It’s a great bankroll booster and a definite advantage online poker has over live since cardrooms never offer bonuses in person.
Softer Competition in Live Play
The main benefit to playing live poker games is the overall level of opposition. It’s widely accepted that the live poker cash games and tournaments have softer competition. Perhaps its because live players get few fewer hands in per hour, so it takes longer to reach the experience that online player do. Also, people seem to have less patience playing live. There are more distractions and people want to get involved in the action. This contributes to an easier poker playing environment. As such, you can expect to generate a better overall win rate in live poker games.
You’ll frequently find people are playing raggy aces, limping into the pot or overbetting – all hallmarks of fishy play. The key to beating these types of players is to adopt a solid tight-aggressive playing style. By playing fewer hands and assertively you’ll have a maths edge on your opponents. There you have it, the pros of live poker vs online poker. Now you know them, which one do you prefer?
Featured Image Source: Pixabay
