Live poker and online poker are similar, but different. It’s not like comparing chess to checkers, but it’s different enough that you’ll want to approach your study of the game differently depending on which variety of the game you’re playing. The truth is that both formats have their advantages and disadvantages.
1.The game is faster online, with more hands per hour.
2.The game is more anonymous online.
3.It’s easier to multi-table online; multi-tabling live is much tougher at higher limits where you need to pay more attention to each hand.
4.Online players tend to be less social than live players — after all, they’re sitting alone in their apartment clicking buttons rather than sitting around a table with others talking about life and exchanging banter.
5.The social aspect of poker is easier for some people than for others. Some people just aren’t very good at small talk, and if that’s you it’s probably better if your poker involvement is limited to playing on your computer in your bedroom wearing sweatpants at 3am rather than showing up at the local casino and struggling with social interactions while trying to play cards as well (assuming this is not your strong suit).
Casual players are likely to prefer live poker while more serious-minded players might be drawn more toward online poker. But that doesn’t mean one form is better than the other — ultimately it comes down to personal preferences such as where and when you like to play and how much time you want to spend doing so.
The best way to get better at online poker is to play it with real money on the line. But you can still study the game even when you can’t or don’t want to play for cash. Many poker sites offer free games where you can practice.
