3 questions for anyone who knows

I hear on-line games are harder to beat than regular casino poker games.


I hear there is some collusion in on-line games


my questions:


1: take paradise for example, mostly all of the good players will gravitate to the highest levels correct. If this is so, are the lower limit games like 3-6 and 4-8 harder to beat than regular casino poker games?


I wouldn't think so, not only because of that, but I would think that even if the games are a little harder it would even out because of the fact that the rake isn't as high and there is no dealer to tip.


2: If there is collusion on line wouldn't the cheaters also gravitate to the highest levels? Would this make the lower limits safer?


3: In regular casino poker games there are "peak" hours like from 6-midnight where the games are more lively. Is this a factor in on-line games considering players from all over the world in different time zones are competing?


thanks in advance,


Ryan

1. $3-6 and $4-8 are much tougher than B&M games


2. I've seen little collusion online.


3. The peak hours are a little wider, due to the 3 time zones in the USA, but there are slow hours late at night. The wad of internet poker players are USA players.


MS Sunshine

a 3/6 game online is generally much tougher than a 3/6 casino game, but they are still very beatable. players generally play lower limits online than live, so in these games you are facing many regular 5/10 and 10/20 players. i play lower limits online because the speed of play allows me to get the same earn with less variance. the quality of players also varies alot from site to site. i play 10/20 on a few, while no higher than 5/10 on others.


of course there are cheaters out there, but i rarely concern myself with it when playing. simply leave a game if you suspect collusion and if you have a concern with specific players report them to support.


there are definately peak hours to play, just like casino games, but i can usually find a good game any time (playing with the housewives in the afternoon can be quite profitable, but i have to turn off the chat box:)). for me, game selection is a chief concern so i check many sites for what i think is the best game.

1: B&M games are easier IMO even with the rake and the dealer toke. There has been some discussion on the quality of players online and live. That depends on where you play, each day might be different. For lack of argument sake, let's just say they are equal in playing skills. New players are easier to get a read on live due to face, body language, playing pattern and table stakes. Also what they say, how they talk, how they handle their checks and many others.


Online opponents can only be based on their immediate actions, playing patterns and table stakes.


Now that doesn't mean B&M casino games are more profitable. Due to more hands being played online, it is possible for your hourly rate to be higher online even though the games actually may be tougher. This depends upon the player.


2: No, it wouldn't. Where there are people doing things, being legal, illegal, moral or immoral; for hundreds or thousands; there will also be those doing the same for smaller amounts.


However, I have not run into any blatant examples to support ongoing collusion online.


3: I live in the central time zone. Games are fewer in the morning and as the day goes by more games are spread. They begin to decrease again after midnight into the wee morning hours. I haven't really noticed any difference in the quality of players in comparison to the time of day.


KC50

Online poker is much harder to beat than Casino poker.


Tom D

KC50,


From the name and the reference to central time zone, I assume you are in Kansas City? Small world, so am I. Do you ever play live? I've spent a lot of nights playing at Station/Ameristar; I'm a great big bald headed guy playing 3/6 4/8 most of the time. What do you think of those games?


Good luck all,


Fitz

"Online poker is much harder to beat than Casino poker."


um, no it's not. for winning players, online poker is much more profitable than casino play. not only are the games faster but the convienence, low cost of playing and the ability to play more than one game at a time all add to the profit margin.

i agree that new players are easier to get a read on in live play, but online offers the advantage of keeping accurate records of all players you've ever played against. not to mention tracking your own play hand for hand, which is not possible in live play.

Excellent point, I forgot about that!


Especially now that at least 2-3 sites have that feature built in. I used to enter info into a player profile d-base. Now it's right there at the table.


KC50

1. I don't think online games are much harder to beat, if at all. The players are just as bad, the only thing you miss out on is the absolute gambler that wanders over from the craps table to burn $400 at poker over the course of an hour.


2. I've seen clear collusion at low levels


3. There are definitely peak time, most players are american. at paradise it doesn't matter too much since there are so many players but everywhere else it does.

My win rate at 2-4 online is much higher than playing 4-8 (or that horrible 1-4-8-8 structure) at Vegas casinos. In addition to the factors you listed, here's another one:


typical 2-4 online: You open-raise early with A's, you get the ideal 1 to 3 callers. They chase you all the way, most of the time you take down a nice pot, occasionally you get beat, but you had fun doing it.


typical 4-8 Vegas casino: You open-raise early with A's, you win the blinds, and you're miserable doing it.

1. Paradise is possibly cheating. You can't beat the harder games, no compensation.


2. There are cheats on every level, but if you are an expert regular you can avoid most of it. If you keep your eyes open, do some hard study about the subject and play expertly and hard, you should easily be able to break even in the long run.


3. It matters what time you are playing. When the looser part of the West starts playing the games get better, and when the Europe is playing pot limit and no limit, you shouldn't - just the opposite with limit games.


The Novice

email me...


KC50


KC50poker@hotmail.com