Online poker offers full tables, big tournament guarantees and cash games running around the clock, and plenty of live players are curious about making the jump. Today we have a few tips for live poker players looking to make the transition to online poker.
You might think a game of poker is the same whether it's played live or in one of the many online poker rooms. In fact, there are many differences between the two. In this article we discuss some of those differences and how a live player can make the transition to online poker and be successful.
Differences Between Live Poker and Online Poker
Online Games Are Tougher
One of the main differences between online and live poker is the level of difficulty. For the most part, online games are much tougher than live games. A winning live $1/$2 cash game player would most likely be a losing player in $1/$2 games online. The same goes for a winning live tournament player who plays $500 events and below: that player would probably not fare too well in $200–$500 tournaments online.
Online cash games are often played 6-max or heads-up, which makes them more aggressive because players have more incentive to fight for pots. Multi-way pots are common in live cash games but much less so online, especially at higher stakes. If you haven't played online cash games before, be cautious, as they can be much tougher than a full-ring game.
Use of Poker Software
Another major difference between live and online poker is software. In a live setting there is really no software that can accurately track all of your opponents' play. Online, there are many programs that track your play and your opponents', displaying relevant stats on screen during the hand. These programs are known as HUDs (heads-up displays), and while not everyone agrees with them, they are part of the game today.
Some people say HUDs are the reason they lose, and that simply isn't true. HUDs are just another tool some players use to help with their decisions. You still have to know how to interpret the data and when, and when not, to use it. That said, if you are going to take online poker seriously, you would be doing yourself a favor by using a HUD, so you have information about your opponents and can track your own play.
If you would prefer to play at a room that limits HUD use, we recommend Ignition (opens in a new tab), Bovada (opens in a new tab) or SportsBetting.
Faster Pace
Because there is no live dealer and players act by pressing a button, online games move much faster than live games. Live, you may see 30 hands per hour at the high end, whereas online games can deal 120 or more hands per hour. If you start playing multiple tables at once (known as multi-tabling), you could see 600 or more hands per hour.
One benefit of playing more hands per hour is volume, which will increase your winnings provided you are a winning player. This can be crucial for tournament players, who can go from playing one live tournament a day to playing 20 or more in a single day online.
The downside of playing so many more hands is that you will run into more bad beats and suckouts. It's important to understand that this only appears to be the case because you are playing more hands than you would live. In a typical live cash game you may see 100 hands in a four-hour session, whereas six-tabling online you might see 600 hands in a single hour, or 2,400 hands in the same four hours. You are seeing far more hands online, so you will see more bad beats, and because the human mind remembers the times we got sucked out on and forgets the times we didn't, it can feel like we are taking more bad beats than normal. Remember that this isn't true; it's simply a result of the number of hands we are seeing.
Tips on How You Can Adjust to Online Poker Games
Invest in a HUD and Tracking Software
Using a HUD isn't necessary to win at online poker, but it can and will help you if used properly. It lets you identify player types and how they play. You can load your HUD with as many stats as you want, but we recommend starting with a basic HUD that shows simple preflop stats such as VPIP, PFR, 3-bet and fold to 3-bet, plus a couple of postflop stats such as c-bet, fold to c-bet and aggression factor if you like. More advanced, specific stats only become useful with a large sample size and a solid understanding of the game. If you make decisions based on your HUD alone, you are losing money.
Another benefit of a HUD and tracking software is that you can track your own game and progress, which is crucial for players who want to study and improve. PokerTracker (opens in a new tab) and Holdem Manager (opens in a new tab) are two of the most widely used programs; they track all of your play and give you all sorts of statistics about it.
If you plan to multi-table, you may also want a program that offers hotkeys and a way to manage your table layout. Hotkeys let you assign an action to a single key: for example, "C" to call, "F" to fold and "R" to raise. You can usually set predetermined bet sizes too, based on the size of the pot or a number of big blinds. It's also a good idea to set up layouts that arrange your tables in a way that works for you. Some players like to tile all their tables, while others prefer to stack them so that only the tables needing action are visible.
We recommend Table Tamer or Stack and Tile for hotkeys and layout management.
Start Out With Only One or Two Tables
If you have never played online poker before, we recommend starting with only one or two tables. That gives you time to get used to the software, the pace of the game and the other differences of online poker. Some players play 24 tables or more at once, but most agree that the optimal number is between four and eight for experienced players, and no more than one or two for players new to online poker. If you play too many tables, you won't be able to give each one your full focus, and that will cost you money in the long run.
Once you get the hang of online poker and want to add tables, we recommend adding them one at a time, and only if you are currently playing well and winning. If you are a losing player, adding tables will just help you lose faster.
Prepare for Your Session
If you want to take poker seriously, you should prepare for each session. That goes for both live and online games, but it can be a little more important online. If you are a tournament player planning a full day of online tournaments, have everything ready in advance, as you will most likely only get a five-minute break every hour. Keep plenty of water on hand, have meals prepared, and have anything else you may need throughout the day. Cash game players have more freedom, since they can come and go as they please, but they should still have water and anything else they need close by.
It's also a good idea to set goals for the session. These could be based on a new strategy you have recently learned, or simply the goal of thinking through each hand and making the best decision you can. Remind yourself of your session goals during breaks.
The next step before your session is to get into a poker state of mind. You can do this by going over some hands, reviewing your preflop ranges or even watching a training video. This tells your brain it's time to get serious and play poker.
Another great thing to do before a session is to calm your mind with meditation. Many elite pros practice meditation and say it helps their poker tremendously, including Ike Haxton, Fedor Holz, BenCB and many others. If it works for them, it can work for you, and it can take as little as five minutes.
The final thing to do before your session is to eliminate distractions. If you want to be successful at poker, you need to pay attention to the game, not to what is happening on social media. Some players find this easier than others. If you struggle with it, we recommend switching your phone off completely and leaving it in another room. If you get distracted on your computer, install a program like Cold Turkey that lets you block websites, or even your web browser, so you can't visit distracting sites. If you live with roommates or a partner, ask them to respect your time and not disturb you while you play.
High-stakes tournament crusher €urop€an has said that when he plays, he has nothing open except the tables he is playing, not even music. That keeps him distraction-free so he can make the best decision in every spot.
Be Prepared for Horrible Play and Bad Beats
We have already discussed how it can seem like you are taking more bad beats online, and it's important to remember that this is only because you are playing many more hands than you would live. Many players can't accept this and blame the sites for being rigged or other players for cheating. Don't be that player. Understand that it's part of playing online; the sooner you accept it, the better off you will be. If you use software to track your play, it's easy to look back and confirm that you are not actually taking more bad beats online than you would live.
You should also be prepared to see some of the worst poker you have ever seen. Something about sitting behind a computer screen clicking buttons lets some people play terrible poker. In a live setting they might play better because they would be embarrassed in front of other players who can see and judge their play. Online, they are just another screen name with no embarrassment to fear.
Playing online can also feel like you're not playing for real money, since it's just a number on the screen, and that can cause players to play worse. Be careful of this yourself: it's easy to play poorly when you stop relating the numbers on the screen to real money, especially if you are playing with money that isn't very meaningful to you.
Final Thoughts for Live Players Moving to Online Poker
If you have never played online poker, or have very little experience, don't be put off: even as a newcomer you will find plenty of weaker players online. You just need to be aware of the differences between online and live poker covered in this article.
If you are unsure where to play, see our in-depth guide to the best online poker sites for US players.
If you want to take your game to the next level with advanced poker training, we also have an in-depth guide to the best poker training sites.