Why I love online poker . . .

[Turning Stone Pro]

I really should be getting back to work, but a quick story.

Over the weekend, I went to a local casino to play some live poker, after several months of straight online play. I wanted to get out of the house, away from the office, away from the computer, and see some old friends.

I heard a story (I did not see any of this first-hand) that two regular players had been "barred for life", in that there was an incident where a regular player dropped a wallet on the floor and several thousand dollars was taken out of it, and the wallet returned to the floor. The fellow that dropped the wallet is a likeable, friendly, higher limit player who loves action and is a pleasure to play against.

This information bothered me, big time. I then began to notice the cramped setting of the poker room, the noise, the obnoxious players, the slow dealers, etc.

I love the fact I can turn on the computer and play poker whenever I want, for any stakes, in an honest game, day or nite, I can chat if I want or I can turn the sound off, I can speak with good friends met over the years, and joke around with obnoxious on-liners if I care to.

If you had told me even 10 years ago that such a revolutionary concept would be possible, I'd have said you were crazy.

Thanks for allowing me to vent . . .

TSP

[bugstud]

you forgot the part where you're sitting next to a guy that smells like 1999

[mostsmooth]

dont always assume the online game is "honest"

[Steve Giufre]

Hey Joe,

I just heard that story yesterday. The way I understand it, he was really going bad in poker, and he had also taken a real beating booking sports bets. I guess he shut that down owing some people in that room a lot of money. It's really amazing what people are willing to do when things go bad. Definitely a little bit depressing.

[MicroBob]

The whole wallet thing doesn't bother me that much....I mean, the same thing is just as likely to happen in a non-casino environment too (although not with as much money involved).


I agree with the rest of your post though...including bugstud's addition about sitting next to people who smell.
Obviously getting in more than a snail's 30-35 hands an hour is a plus too.


Live play is okay for kicks sometimes...but factor in the long waiting-lists and everything else and it's kind of annoying.
At least the tables are non-smoking now (where I play at least).



I reserve the right to change my mind at any time on this by the way and come back here and say 'live play with a bunch of drunks is fun...sitting at home clicking buttons all day sucks.'

But...for now (and the past several months)...I'm in the 'live play is boring and annoying....online play is convenient and easy' camp.

[DcifrThs]

i commend you on your point of view.

its a far cry from your initial view that "online poker is rigged and im never playing again."

-Barron

[Reef]

[ QUOTE ]
dont always assume the online game is "honest"

[/ QUOTE ]

I would actually be even more inclined to think there is collusion/cheating online

[Ponks]

I agree. And I'd hate to have to carry around all that cash to play. I don't think I've had had more then $200 in my wallet before and i dont think id like to carry around a couple thousand.

Ponks

[Klepton]

after a burnout of online play i like to go to commerce ot remind me why i enjoy online play so much...

after about 7 requests for setups in 30 minutes, i remember why i block chat

[flair1239]

Just playing small stakes this is especially true (for me anyways). There is nothing more annoying, than being stared down for 30 seconds by some 18 year old in sunglasses and a baseball cap as he agonises over whether to call a $6 check-raise. Add to that the inevitable annoying jack-ass who says "that's what I put you on" at every showdown win or lose.

Not saying that these people are ot profitable to play against, just rather not have to deal with them on a personal level.

That said me and my girlfriend play live occasionally as a cheaper alternative to going to a bar.

[bugstud]

[ QUOTE ]
I agree. And I'd hate to have to carry around all that cash to play. I don't think I've had had more then $200 in my wallet before and i dont think id like to carry around a couple thousand.

Ponks

[/ QUOTE ]

But think about how much fun it is carrying out 6 racks of red...

[Accident]

[ QUOTE ]
Add to that the inevitable annoying jack-ass who says "that's what I put you on" at every showdown win or lose.



[/ QUOTE ]
What is up w/that anyway. These idiots are almost NEVER right. I never show my cards and this guy at our games always says, "I put you on a pocket pair" or whatever. He has only gotten it right once in 6 months and he is very smug about it, like he's got me read. I think tomorrow night I'm gonna bet him a side pot on the spot for $20 he is wrong. Maybe that will finally shut him up.
A /images/graemlins/club.gif

[casinogosain]

Why fix his inability to read you?

-Ash

[SinCityGuy]

[ QUOTE ]
I love the fact I can turn on the computer and play poker whenever I want, for any stakes, in an honest game,

[/ QUOTE ]

How about all of those aces that show up on the turn?

[bdk3clash]

[ QUOTE ]
dont always assume the online game is "honest"

[/ QUOTE ]
Please elaborate.

[Bob T.]

Waiting lists.
30-35 hands per hour.
Dealer errors.
Dealers soliciting tips.
Getting slowrolled.

Live poker is an occasional diversion for me. When I'm playing for real, I would rather be online.

[mostsmooth]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
dont always assume the online game is "honest"

[/ QUOTE ]
Please elaborate.

[/ QUOTE ]
you know damn well online is rigged
ok seriously, you dont think there are people cheating online?
wouldnt you agree theres more cheating online than in a casino?

[bukkrukk]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
dont always assume the online game is "honest"

[/ QUOTE ]
Please elaborate.

[/ QUOTE ]


[/ QUOTE ]

Oh, please don´t.

[bdk3clash]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
dont always assume the online game is "honest"

[/ QUOTE ]
Please elaborate.

[/ QUOTE ]
you know damn well online is rigged
ok seriously, you dont think there are people cheating online?
wouldnt you agree theres more cheating online than in a casino?

[/ QUOTE ]
There's more of everything going on online than in a casino. In terms of frequency, I'd guess there's more casual collusion going on online than in a casino, but if I'm being cheated then the people cheating me aren't very good at it.

[mostsmooth]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
dont always assume the online game is "honest"

[/ QUOTE ]
Please elaborate.

[/ QUOTE ]
you know damn well online is rigged
ok seriously, you dont think there are people cheating online?
wouldnt you agree theres more cheating online than in a casino?

[/ QUOTE ]
There's more of everything going on online than in a casino. In terms of frequency, I'd guess there's more casual collusion going on online than in a casino, but if I'm being cheated then the people cheating me aren't very good at it.

[/ QUOTE ]
could be , but youd have to believe the online game is less honest overall

[bdk3clash]

[ QUOTE ]
...but youd have to believe the online game is less honest overall

[/ QUOTE ]
Again, could you elaborate? The only dishonest play I can think of online is collusion. Are you implying there's anything else going on?

[mostsmooth]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
...but youd have to believe the online game is less honest overall

[/ QUOTE ]
Again, could you elaborate? The only dishonest play I can think of online is collusion. Are you implying there's anything else going on?

[/ QUOTE ]
other than it being rigged? no /images/graemlins/cool.gif

[colgin]

[ QUOTE ]
Live poker is an occasional diversion for me. When I'm playing for real, I would rather be online.

[/ QUOTE ]

These are my exact sentiments on the topic.

[colgin]

[ QUOTE ]
but if I'm being cheated then the people cheating me aren't very good at it.

[/ QUOTE ]

I hate to think just how much more I would be making online if I weren't being cheated by the donks.

[bdk3clash]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Live poker is an occasional diversion for me. When I'm playing for real, I would rather be online.

[/ QUOTE ]

These are my exact sentiments on the topic.

[/ QUOTE ]
Me three. Live play accounts for such a small percentage of the hands I play that I don't worry too much about anything other than enjoying myself and playing well anymore.

EDIT: And oh yeah, thanks for posting comments (and presumably reading) PokerFilter.org!