Online vs. Live Poker

Online and offline poker both have their advantages and disadvantages. This article will compare each, and help you to decide what type of poker is better for you.

Online Poker Advantages:

The first advantage of online poker is how easy it is to get started. Many players may be intimidated by a casino environment, and not know what to do once they went to a casino. Online poker makes everything extremely simple, and the learning curve is very quick.

Another advantage of online poker is that new players can play with just pennies. At a casino it isn't profitable to run a $0.01/$0.02 game, but you can find these everywhere online. This is great for new players, because they can gain experience and confidence while only risking pennies.

A third advantage of playing poker online is that you can play whenever you want. Often times players have to drive a long way to get to casinos. Instead of making a trip, you can play in your pajamas, and even in bed. Also, you can meet people from all over the world without leaving your home.

One final advantage that is important for poker professionals is multi tabling. Since you can only play one table at a casino, and the hands are dealt very slow, you don't see many hands per hour. Online you can play two, four, or even ten tables at a time with no problem.

Offline Poker Advantages:

One advantage of offline poker is the atmosphere of going to a casino. Although you can play online any time, it is a special experience to get the poker chips in your hand and to actually sit down at the felt. Plus, since you cash out right when you leave the casino, you get instant gratification for your winnings. For online play, you have to wait days while the withdrawals clear to your account.

At casinos, the social interaction is much deeper. Although you can chat just fine with the online chat box, it is nice to actually see the people you're playing against. Many great friends have been made at the casinos, and those people would have never become friends if they played against each other online.

Another great advantage of playing at a casino is getting reads on other players. If you're an experienced poker player, then you'll be able to gain an edge by actually seeing what the other players are doing, and making your decision from that.

Now that you know some advantages of online and offline play, you can make your decision about where to play. Good luck!