Online versus Offline

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. 

 

Interview with Pokerguy

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.