In current years web-based poker and particularly the Holdem variant of the casino game has come to dominate our television sets. I’m frequently asked to comment on the differences in wager on between online poker and real world rooms which I look to set out in this article.
1. Speed of web-based poker play is roughly twice that of traditional poker play. The amount of hands per hour in a land poker room would be circa 30 per hour at very best, maybe as low as twenty. Typical on-line poker casino game would see fifty to sixty fingers per hour, and anything as much as one-hundred-twenty per hour for short handed "Turbo" play.
2. Rake collected by an on-line poker room will be five percent or less of each pot whereas traditional rooms will be ten % or even higher. In this regard on-line bet on may be the far better value option. A number of countries, such as the United Kingdom have laws against the taking of rake. Instead they either charge by the hour or by the tournament. This may be the reason that Caribbean Poker is favoured over Hold em in real world gambling establishments in the UK.
3. The top quality of gambler located in a web poker room will typically be lower than that in brick and mortar rooms. There are numerous reasons for this except to really go to a traditional smoky room sitting down at a table of ten takes an element of confidence that you do not will need in a web-based poker environment. Brick and mortar gamblers are typically better in that they usually understand the casino game before playing it. By way of contrast your average online poker newbie has just watched the WPT on the Travel Channel or ESPN. The only exceptions to this that I have located occur in Sin City where you obtain the full range of extremes from holiday makers trying their hand with the most effective in the world.
Four. Web poker players can pick and opt for the time of day they play as they can play 24 hrs a day, 5 days a week and do so from the comfort of their own home. Real world gamblers must plan ahead and have to the venue at the due starting time.
5. On line poker gamblers have a lot more choice, in the number and selection of games to pick from, ranging from free bet on to cash games to tournaments of all sizes. If you would like to win a seat at the upcoming 2006 WSOP, then you need to be looking towards web based poker tournaments exactly where a far greater assortment of choices await such as satellite entries from as little as 5 dollars.
Six. Poker Tells amongst internet and real world poker play are really different. Traditional players spend extra time observing body language and voice tells through opponent questioning than they do observing time delays in between bets and bet size relative to the prospective odds of higher hands. Web Poker Tells have more to complete with timing, bet size, and table position rather than the judgement of facial expression.
7. Poker etiquette is far more disciplined in traditional poker rooms. The on line poker encounter can frequently be spoiled by drunken fools who believe they have Phil Ivey’s ability even though they clearly don’t. Catch a lucky card in a web poker room and you may perhaps find yourself on the end of a few verbal abuse (via the typed chat system). Phrases such as "you’re an idiot" and worse wouldn’t be tolerated in a land based room except go largely unchecked internet based. You usually have the possibility to turn off player chat but my preferred betting style is always to goad the offending gambler into playing on tilt (usually a uncomplicated thing to complete). One recourse you do have against abuse is to report the gambler to the pit boss and they might be either banned from chat or thrown out of the place altogether.
8. Web-based poker gives you the unique capability to play more than one home at a time. Clearly this isn’t an possibility open to real world players. I know of folks who play up to six tables simultaneously.
As you may see both environments have the potential for a truly good game of poker. Various experiences to suit diverse gambler needs. Personally I do not have a preference among the two. I value the convenience of on line wager on, but still like the interaction of a live room.