Live poker online is a fresh and exciting addition to the world of poker. It brings together the best of both worlds – you can play against real opponents while being able to chat with them during the game via an avatar chosen by you, virtual presents and a variety of chat options. All of this makes the experience more realistic and exciting, putting your nerves to the test while trying to trick your opponents with clever bluffing.
One of the biggest challenges facing live players switching to online poker is adjusting to the pace. With automated shuffling, dealing and faster decision times, online poker moves much quicker than live games. In fact, you can expect to see twice as many hands per hour in online play compared to a live table.
This faster pace also results in more bad beats, which can make the game feel more volatile. While you can’t avoid bad beats, you can reduce the frequency of them by focusing on your hand range and playing solid defense.
Another big difference between live and online poker is that it’s often easier to read your opponents. Online, a player’s betting patterns, body language and table talk are all telling signs that can give away their hand. In live poker, however, this information is more difficult to obtain, particularly at short-handed tables.
Despite this, there are still plenty of ways to improve your reading skills at the live tables. For example, you can use bet sizing to pick up tells and save money on bluffs by opening for less than they’re calling. In addition, live players don’t tend to play as tight-aggressively as their online counterparts. This can leave you open to a wide array of exploitive plays at the live tables, including limping with weak hands and squeezing on draw-heavy boards.
One final tip for those making the switch from live to online poker is to become familiar with your opponents’ tendencies through tracking software and other tools. Using these tools will allow you to review your wins and losses, analyze your opponents’ betting patterns and adjust your own strategy accordingly. This will help you play a more structured and +EV game long-term. It will also ensure you don’t make any major mistakes that would be costly in a live game.