GGPOKER

Are Online Games Harder?

A lot of solid live poker players struggle online. Not because the game is different — Texas Hold’em is Texas Hold’em — but because the environment is. No physical tells to read, a faster clock, an unfamiliar interface, and the strange psychological distance that comes from clicking buttons instead of handling chips. These things trip up players who’d have no problem at a live table.

The good news is these are all adjustable. These ten tips will help you translate your live game to the online tables.

10. LEARN THE INTERFACE:

When you sit down at your home game or at a casino, you know where your chips are, how to raise or fold, how to interact with the other players or dealer. When you join an online table, these things are not as instinctive. With buttons and pictures everywhere, it can be mind-boggling. One thing that every online poker player should do is spend some time learning the interface. Sit out for a couple of hands and familiarize yourself with the buttons. Find out how the raise buttons work, and more importantly, where they are. Discover the chat options.

9. COMFORTABLE STAKES:

When you set up a home game with your friends, you play at stakes that are comfortable for everyone. When you go to your local poker room, you sit at a table that fits in your budget. The same logic applies to online poker. You should always play at stakes in your comfort zone and when first starting, play at a lower level. Playing in your comfort zone will make it easier for you to concentrate on the game.

8. ONE TABLE AT A TIME:

There is a lot to see and process when playing poker online and when you are new, it can be a bit overwhelming. Playing just one table at a time can help prevent some sensory overload allowing you to concentrate on making the right call. Just because the option to play at multiple tables is there, does not mean you should.

7. BE SELECTIVE:

You will see a lot more hands playing poker online. No downtime while the cards are being shuffled and dealt. No waiting while everyone takes a bathroom break and no idle chatter or raucous laughter to distract the table from the game. When playing live poker you will see between 25-30 hands per hour. When playing online, you will see between 75-100 hands per hour. With hands coming at you three times as fast, the tendency to get frustrated with a lengthy dry spell will increase causing you to make bad decisions. The best players know this is just a part of the game. Don’t play marginal hands just because you haven’t seen a good hand in a while.

6. POSITION:

Just like at the live tables, your position at the online poker table is important. You need to learn how your seat affects the decision making process. And how your opponent’s seat should affect theirs. Make sure you pay attention to where the button is during the hand, particularly if you are playing multiple tables. Mistaking early position for late position when holding a marginal hand can save you a re-buy.

5. BE AGGRESSIVE:

When you play poker live, you have the benefit of being able to see and read your opponent. When online, that advantage is lost. Finding a way to regain an advantage over your opponent is necessary. Playing aggressively with your hands is one way to do this. When playing live, we partially disassociate with the money because we are using chips to represent bets. When we are online, this disassociation is even greater because our only interaction is with a mouse and keyboard; there is no physical interaction with any form of funds. As this separation increases, people become braver and more liberal with their bankrolls. Make them pay. Aggressively defend your blinds and your big hands.

4. BLUFFING ONLINE:

Bluffing online is vastly different from playing live. When you are live, you can see your opponent, chat with them, pick up on their various nuances all to make a decision. When you are online, the only information you have is the bets and betting history. Learning to use this to your advantage — to tell a story about your hand that’s different from what you actually have — is key to being a successful online poker player.

3. REVIEW YOUR HANDS:

During any session, you will have hands that you question your choices. When you are playing live, it is almost impossible to review the hands as people either don’t remember what they had or are unwilling to talk about it. When you are playing online you have the advantage of tracking your hands through software like PokerCraft on GGPoker. This software allows you to look at your hands and your choices, giving you an idea on what you could have done differently. Should you have bet more on the turn, did the opponent give some information that you missed.

 

2. GOOD ENVIRONMENT:

When you are sitting at a live table, you are aware of the game, paying attention to the other players, carrying on casual conversations; all the things needed to keep your mind active. If you need food or drink, someone will be around to get it for you, so even when you are not in the hand, you are still watching the game and learning about your opponents. When you are playing online poker, without these extra stimuli, your mind will wander. Whether it is streaming a video or checking email, leaving the computer to get a drink or some food, these non-game related distractions will cause you to make foolish mistakes. To alleviate the issue, before playing, get yourself set up. Have a water bottle handy. Set up your snacks. Empty your bladder. Make sure you are well rested.

Daniel Negreanu talks about Mastering Emotions

1. PATIENCE:

Poker is a game of patience but playing online poker can feel rushed. With a clock that will time you out in 30 seconds or less, the overwhelming nature of poker sites, the massive number of buttons…there is a lot to process and not a lot of time. To be successful, you need to stop. Do not rush yourself. Take your time. Fold if you are unsure, it is better to lose a small hand, than rush a decision and lose your entire bankroll.

 

---

About the Author: Maury Orton is a poker writer and editor contributing to GGPoker. He focuses on clear, reliable explanations of the game, drawing on years of experience in online poker media and digital publishing.