Probably the greatest advantage with online poker is the speed and accessibility. Online poker is a lot quicker than offline poker. The deals are super quick and no misdeals and such occur. Another advantage is the option of playing at multiple tables in order to get more action in the same amount of playing time as playing at one table. In addition, when playing online, it is always possible to find a game to your liking and you can play 24 hours a day from anywhere in the world, as well as from the comfort of your own home. The availability of poker variations and games is also much greater.
Beginners have the chance to play, watch and learn the game in the comfort of their own home. Online you can play for real money at stakes that are much lower than what is possible in a real casino, like $0.05/$0.10 Limit Texas Hold'em. The quickest way to learn poker is actually to read up on basic strategy and play at micro-limits online. You do not have to spend more than maybe $20 in total even if you lose consistently for weeks. When you are starting to get it right, it is time to greet your friends at your home game!
The expert players have a very clear economical benefit by playing online. You can play about 10-15 times more hands per hour online with multiple tables and the rake (see Avoid paying high rake and tournament fees below) is significantly lower at the higher limits. Important is also the great selection of the exact desired type of games (like for instance loose $5/$10 No-Limit Texas Hold'em) and not having to drag their feet to the smoke-filled local poker room with tougher opposition every other day.
The major advantage with playing poker offline is that it is much more of a social game. Also, if you are a real high stakes player you will find few of these games online. Meeting your opponents face-to-face is often much more enjoyable and stimulating than sitting alone in front of your computer. It is also easier to remain focused and observe your opponents when you can see them. As well, your ability to read your opponents' minds is increased since you can see when they are feeling restless, if they are affected by a " bad beat" , if they are in a good/bad mood, etc. In addition, it is easier to remember their actions when you are able to connect them to a physical person. If you are skilled at spotting physical tells in your opponents, you will find more opportunities to do so when playing offline.
All in all, the game will feel more " real" when you have the cards in your hand and the chips are stacked in front of you. Even if you are an experienced online poker player, you may find that you are quite nervous when you play in a live poker room for the first time. For many regular online players it is a very welcome break to play in a bricks-and-mortar poker room once in a while, to not grow tired of the less social online games.
End Of Advantages with Online Poker |
