Online Poker vs. Offline Poker

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Poker still attracts millions of individuals worldwide and it has managed to do so both in online and offline settings. The game of poker is so popular that some people have made the game of chance (or rather that of skills) their full-time job.

Online and offline poker might look like the exact same game in different settings but, whilst they have many similarities, they also differ significantly. The basic rules of the games may be the same, but the gameplay can change largely according to the setting. If you’re into poker and want to know where to play you will need to be aware that players tend to learn two different strategies and swap between the two accordingly.

In this guide, we’re going to take a closer look at the main differences between online poker and offline poker, and we’ll give you all the details to decide which of them suits you better. Expect to be able to make a better decision about your next steps in poker.

Winning Easier in Online Settings

A lot of players turn their attention to poker because of the financial potential and we get them as skills make a difference too. Players looking for options to make money will find that online platforms are a great place to increase their chances of winning. There are far more lesser skilled people found online, especially in the lower stakes cash games. Those joining land based casino tables at poker venues tend to have a good grip of the game already and face a tougher challenge. For seasoned players it shouldn’t be too difficult to find newbies or less experienced players. Make sure to look for plays that we would define as naïve including playing out of position, badly sized bets, inconsistent calls and the overall tendency to overplay hands. No need to rush it here: if you can’t find inexperienced players, they will find you.

The Same Is True For Bluffing

One of the major differences between online and offline poker is the ease at which you can bluff. In offline settings you’ve got access to all a player’s physical behaviour – every dart of their eyes, every breath they take, every movement they make. After some analysing and practising, you might be able to notice a pattern between their actions and their play. Ideally, you can capitalise on their behaviour by adapting and playing the game accordingly. Then again, the best players know how to limit or hide their physical behaviour whilst they have the skills to mislead other competitors at the table. In online or live dealer poker, tells are a much smaller part of the game. There might be some minor signs to pick up, like a player’s pattern of play, however there’s no way of watching facial expressions. At some point, this may be possible as well, but for the time being online players will need to understand the maths of poker more than those engaged in offline poker.

Learn The Maths For Online Poker

Players that test their poker skills in online settings will have some difficulties in understanding the actual maths behind the actions. This includes the need to have a strong grasp of the different probabilities in the game of poker, which means you will need to learn more about odds and expected values. This is extremely important as there is no way to use poker tells, meaning you will need to rely on probability evening out results.

Over the course of time, the odds should even out and match the probabilities you’ve worked out for yourself. This is why online players will need to have a head for maths which isn’t something obvious and requires training. If you consider yourself a player who plays on instinct rather than wanting to delve into mathematics, offline poker is your best bet. Do note that learning the maths will eventually help your offline poker game as well.

Online Poker Also Means More Analysing

Offline poker comes with the advantage that you will be able to get to know your opponents fairly quickly, especially if you play against them frequently. In online settings this becomes a lot more difficult, if not impossible, as it’s complicated to understand the personalities and playing styles behind the moves. An alternative solution is to use the available statistics in your poker client to get a better picture of all the players at the table.

You can also keep your own register of and keep notes about the different players you come across. This should definitely help if you come up against them again at some point. To really be able to get to know them, you will need to make use of poker software. This can give you loads of stats about opponents, giving you the data needed to know about their actions. Based on this information you should have a better idea of how to react in any situation. There is a huge variety of online platforms allowing this.

Lower Rakes Available in Online Poker

The rake can often significantly reduce the money won. A rake is basically the house taking their cut for the organisation of the game. This is meant to pay for their overheads as well as to get some extra money out of it. There is a much higher rake at brick and mortar venues, due to the fact that they have more costs to cover, including rent, personnel, and building costs. Online casino websites charge minimal rakes. Whilst some brick and mortar casinos can take up to 10% of the pot, online poker providers usually take a smaller percentage. The difference is that casino websites can have tens of hundreds of games running simultaneously which clearly isn’t feasible in a land based casino.

Online or Offline Poker: Which is Best for You?

There are pros and cons for both of them, however for beginning players, we would definitely say that online poker is the way to go. Online poker rooms or even tournaments give you the chance to learn the game at your own peace, without needing to invest a lot of money. Usually it is also easier to find players of your level and join a table as there are hundreds of them, giving you loads of options.

If you consider yourself a more experienced player, you should probably just opt for both. Online poker gives you the chance to play where and whenever you want. Seasoned players will also find players with limited skills. Even if you join a mid-stakes table, you’ll encounter low skilled players which gives you the flexibility to earn some extra money. The wide array of games should also excite experienced players, giving them different ways to play.

As it’s also easy to gather large groups in online settings, there are plenty of major tournaments available, known to be very lucrative. Seasoned poker players should benefit from all the offline poker options as well, as it provides them the ultimate setting to put their skills into practice. Although many people know how to play online, not all of them know how to deal with the eyes of their opponents. If you’ve got the ability to read other players’ tells you should especially consider playing online poker.

Practise Online, Execute Offline

As practice makes perfect we would even suggest practising online and finishing the job offline. This is quite a blessing for the poker minded we have to say, as you’ll need to imagine a world without online poker to understand this. For years, pretty much until early 2000, players had to face other opponents, spend money, and risk losses, in order to practise their strategy. Just think of the percentage of players that never had the chance to advance, because their bankroll didn’t allow them to. People learning poker nowadays are lucky.

As for online poker games though, it is possible to play for free at most poker platforms, and then there are the poker apps too. With these options, players can learn the rules of the game at their own pace, understand the basic info, and improve their skills accordingly — all without needing to spend money. You can then move up slowly, as you get better and your bankroll grows along. Even those who want to play traditional poker can still take advantage of online practice to freshen up their skills.

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More interesting and useful articles from the world of poker you can read in our blog. Also search for poker clubs in the country or city, get to know about upcoming poker tournaments or cash games at PokerDiscover.com

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