Differences between online and offline poker

27.02.2008

What ever anyone says, online poker is not ‘just like being in a casino but in the comfort of your own home’. There are some definite differences between the online and offline gaming experience; here are a few.

Not being able to view body language and read reactions of you opponents is a big difference. Instead, the online player must learn to read other tell tale signs that he might otherwise not notice such as, quickness of play, utilization of check boxes or auto play facilities, speed of reactions, and even the chat facility which can both give an insight into an opponent’s psychology, confidence etc, but can also be used by the more cunning of online players to psyche out opponents.

Play is much faster in online casinos than in land based casinos. This is a feature that is generally considered to be a positive but it does have negative qualities about it also, making it over all not better or worse but rather just different. In an offline casino cards need to be physically collect, shuffled, and dealt; croupiers need to switch; drinks need to be ordered; chips counted and collected; and of course auto play is a non-option for an offline casino. All of these not so time consuming activities in the course of an hour add up to an average of 60 hands per hour. A land based casino will play on average 30 hands of poker an hour whilst an online sister may see nearly 100 in the same space of time, and once you think how long it takes for cards to be dealt or shuffled even by the fastest of croupier it becomes a little less extraordinary to believe this fact. In terms of game play the supporters say that more is better; more games for your time. There are drawbacks also though; you may find a bankroll disappearing quicker in an online casino than in a land based casino. Many also feel that the slightly slower pace of a casino, it’s ambience and it’s rhythm, contribute as much to the entertainment as the game itself.

The number of tables that you can play at any one time is pretty much uncontestable at an offline casino; you can only be in one place at one time, therefore you can only play at one table at a time. Not true for the online casino. 10 tables on the go at one time is possible online. Like the speed of play, this could go one of either ways; you see it as more for less or as a quicker way of diminishing your bankroll.

Free-play and tutorials are one of the biggest advantages of online poker; as are forums, chat rooms, chat facilities and blogs. It is only within the cyber community that a complete novice can rub shoulders with and benefit from the expertise of connoisseur players. Online casinos offer novices something that no land based casino will ever offer; the opportunity to learn at one’s own pace and at no cost to oneself.