Casinoportalen.com has spoken
to a poker player playing on the Internet using the name “pokerguy”.
We met him for a small chat about advantages and disadvantages
of changing from the familiar real-life table to mouse and
computer screen.
Casinoportalen.com: what is the difference between playing poker
on the Internet compared to playing poker in an actual casino?
Pokerguy: Most online poker player think they can use the
same strategy as when playing offline poker. It all comes down
to playing two “down cards”, five “community
cards” and a game of up to nine opponents. There are
however a number of significant differences, which quickly
teach you to adjust your game a little for online play.
One obvious difference is the often shorter game sessions
as an online poker player. Here you can sit down at one table
to play a few rounds and then shift to another table to continue
your game there, if that is what you are in the mood for. Playing
offline you don’t have that option, as you often play
against the same opponents for several hours at a time – even
up to 8-10 hours in a row, if the game is good. That rarely
happens in online poker.
When playing online, your opponents rarely have the time to
learn your tricks and get an impression of you. That means
that the chances to bluff your way to victory are smaller.
When playing offline you can often make you opponents believe
that you are bluffing by seeming “loose” giving
you greater advantages, but that is not always the game on
the Internet.
When playing on the net, it is necessary to vary your play.
In my experience it is not always the smartest to do the things
you would normally do playing offline. In online poker it is
better to play more straightforward and not to worry so much
about what the other players think of you. You rarely have
the time to get a picture of your opponent and to learn to
read their weaknesses when you play online.
Casinoportalen.com: Can poker on the Internet
ever come near the real-life poker atmosphere, as we normally
know it?
Pokerguy: When playing poker on the Internet you play against
names not faces. You cannot eyeball the others to see, whether
they are trying to bluff. For most parts you miss the psychological
part of the game when playing on the net. That is in many ways
an advantage. But in reality I think there are more ways to
bluff on the Internet than offline. I think that is because
onliners don’t have to worry about showing emotions or
facial expressions when playing bad or bluffing. You can hide
behind the screen and let the sweat drip at home, where no
one can see you. In the real world, you cannot bluff to the
same extent, when you have to face your opponents. In that
case you need a true poker face and only few have ones.
Casinoportalen.com: What else do you need to be aware of?
Pokerguy: I have to be careful not to generalize, but online
players have a tendency to be more calculative than offliners.
This is significant to your strategy in two ways: first of
all, you cannot assume that your opponents are bluffing the
whole time and you cannot evaluate them visually. You have
to call and raise more aggressively to get an impression of
your opponents and you have to sense, what type of player is
sitting at the other end of the line. Second of all, online
players call more often. Even when they actually have a weak
hand.
Casinoportalen.com: can you say that offline poker is more
intense?
Pokerguy: I don’t think you can put it like that. If
so, it is in another way. It’s true that many online
poker players often check their emails, watch TV, talk on the
phone or do other things while playing. That way they are more
distracted. And that means that they do not always see a weakness
or any other important information. This is the reason why
you can play more straightforward on the Internet. It might
be that your opponents don’t catch on to your traps,
because they are writing emails or chatting. So your ability
to concentrate is still the decisive factor when it comes to
your success in the game. Having said that I must admit that
I also check whether there is an email from the guys once in
a while.
But in my experience it is better to play straightforward
when playing online poker. You cannot be sure that the other
players catch on to your signals in the same way as when playing
live poker. Bluff less and protect yourself against the opponents
that try to win every round. Then you are better off playing
online.
Casinoportalen.com: Thank you for your time. See you at the
poker tables!
Pokerguy: You’re welcome. We will.
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