Top 10 Reasons Why Live Poker Is Better Than Online Poker (part 1 of 2)

For anyone who knows me it comes as no surprise that I prefer live poker to online poker, and in this article I will go over some of the reasons why I’d rather play in a brick & mortar card-room, as opposed to the virtual poker tables of the Internet.

1.      Live Poker is more social

The only interaction you’re likely to get playing online poker is in the chat-box with some teenager calling everyone “donkeys” or from a single, middle-aged, guy hitting on an attractive avatar. Live poker gives you the opportunity to actually have some human interaction, which is rapidly fading from society.

2.      Live poker players are less likely to be educated

To play online poker you have to jump through a few hoops just to deposit money on an online poker site -more if you happen to live in a locale where online poker is not entirely legal. Additionally, online players are on the site just to play poker, there is no other reason for them to log into their account. This makes online poker players more likely to be “poker players” and not just some random person who wandered over to a poker table in the casino. Live poker attracts all sorts of players; perhaps the blackjack games are 3-deep and they don’t feel like waiting for a spot; maybe the wife is at the spa and they’re tired of wandering around; maybe they’re at the casino to catch a show and now don’t know what to do with themselves. Whatever the reason, it’s more likely participants in live poker came to the casino for something other than a game of poker.

3.      Online Poker requires a lot of paperwork and data study

With tracking software, instant hand histories, and sites selling databases of hands online poker has turned into a competition of who is willing to do more work AWAY from the poker tables. Contrast this with live poker where your reads are solely based on how good your memory is and you can see that live poker favors discipline and a feel for the game, where online poker favors data collection.

4.      There are fewer distractions playing live

Online poker players have to deal with a number of distractions: People, kids, the television, and browsing the Internet are just a few of the distractions that online poker players have to deal with. Live poker players only have to worry about the game itself, and with more to be done -physically looking at cards and mucking them, as well as stacking and betting poker chips-it’s much harder to be distracted.

5.      Online poker players are rewarded for tight play

The rewards system online poker sites use -deposit bonuses, VIP Programs, and most importantly rakeback-are designed to reward high-volume players whether they win, lose or break-even. Break-even type players can make a very good living playing online poker simply through their rewards! Players can utilize a strategy that would doom them to long-term failure in a live poker game -where there isn’t any rakeback, players need to tip, and the rake is typically larger-which has caused a new segment of poker players to be born: The Bonus Whores. These players play a super-tight/aggressive style that basically kills action, and if you happen to have three or four of these players in your game you’re not going to win much money.