Playing Live Poker vs Online Poker: The Pros and Cons
Playing live poker is a very different experience than playing online poker. While the overall gameplay between both varieties of poker is the same, there are some noticeable differences between playing online and live.
The biggest difference that most players notice is the company you are playing with. If you play online, you’re likely playing in rooms with other players from all over the world. On top of that, you may also be playing against software programs as well as real people who are also only using their own software programs to complete each hand.
Play live and things are a lot different than that. You will almost always be playing against other players on one or more private tables in a room with several other people at that table. There may also be other people watching at various monitors in that area, but they are not involved in any way.
In addition to these differences, there are also some cons to consider when thinking about whether or not it makes more sense to play live or online. Keep reading this article if you want information on these pros and cons so you can make an informed decision as to which type of poker is best for your game and schedule.
Online Poker Pros
Flexibility: The most notable advantage of playing online poker is the ability to play at any time of the day or night. As long as you have a computer with internet access and a poker account, you can play poker whenever you want. This is not possible in most cases with live poker unless you are willing to travel to participate in certain events.
Some poker rooms even offer 24/7 access so that you can take part in any session that interests you. You can also choose to play on your own schedule and at a pace that works best for you. You can also set up a schedule of sessions to play every day or multiple times per week if that’s more convenient for you. Another flexibility that online poker offers is the ability to play from almost anywhere in the world.
You don’t have to be near a computer or table in order to play. This means you can play from areas with poor internet connection as well as locations where computers are not allowed to be used such as offices, libraries, or on cruise ships. If you’re worried about playing while traveling or when you’re on vacation, online poker is the perfect solution.
Live Poker Pros
Real People vs. Software: When you decide to play live, you will never have to worry about playing against a program. The other players at your table will be people just like you. There may be differences in their experience and knowledge level, but they are all trying to achieve the same thing in that moment by using their own skills to play poker.
None of these people use a computer to play. The other great thing about playing live poker is the ability to interact with other players. This can take many forms like chatting with them or watching them very closely so that you can learn from their mistakes.
Another benefit of live poker is the ability to get a better feel for your own skills if you don’t feel like you can see yourself as clearly as you want to. You can watch other players at the table and take notes on things like how they bet, play their hands, and how they interact with other players. This is something that is hard to do when playing online.
Online Poker Cons
No Real-Life Challenges: The biggest online poker con is just playing poker online. There is nothing that you are not capable of doing online that you cannot do in real life. Whether it’s handling money, playing at a high level, or making a career out of poker, the only thing that will make a difference is your own skills.
If you’re frustrated with your online poker results, you need to recognize that it’s not your online software program that is holding you back. It’s only yourself and your own personal skills. When playing online, there are no real-life challenges or goals to work toward. You can choose exactly how much effort you want to put into playing poker and whether or not you want to work toward a financial goal.
With live poker, you’re faced with challenges every day. If you want to put in your best effort, you need to schedule in time to practice your game, work on your finances, and prepare for challenges that may arise. Online poker does not offer any of these challenges.
Live Poker Cons
Bad Experience: Unlike online poker, bad experiences in live poker are more likely to happen than not. There are many factors that can impact your live poker experience and you may never encounter all of them or even think that they exist. You may always play in a good room with other players who are also respectful and helpful. All of these factors are up to chance at the time you are playing.
Your live poker experience can also be negatively impacted by many other factors. These include being in an area that is not ideal for playing poker, the cards you are dealt, how you choose to play your hands, what other players are doing at the table, or if there are delays or other issues that cause you to lose time while playing. Online poker is not nearly as likely to be affected by these factors.
Which Is Better: Online or Live?
As you can see, there are pros and cons to both types of poker. Ultimately, you need to decide which one is best for you and your personal needs. Both are great ways to enjoy poker and earn some money in the process. However, if you prefer to play from the comfort of your own home, then you may want to choose to play online. If you would rather play live, then you should ask yourself which of these pros and cons is most important to you. No matter which you choose, you will have a great time once you start playing poker!