online vs. B&M

First of all, I want to say that this post is _NOT_ one of the endless paranoid attacks on online websites, accusing them of rigging games, installing bots, or manipulating cards. I have read most of the accusations made along these lines, the evidence for and against (mostly against), and the endless "discussions" that follow, and I don't find any real credence in any of the conspiracy theories.


The issue I want to raise is the differing nature between online vs. B&M rooms, and whether certain individuals, because of experience, comfortableness, or most importantly psychological and/or analytic predispositions, might consistently do better in one environment vs. the other. It seems that each environment may suit people with slightly differing characteristics.


Of course, this is not to say that basic skills, basic experience, and good thinking won't form the major factor of success in either. But beyond this, could these factors come into play.


My own experience is this. I began initially, when I knew little or nothing of poker, on low limits online. I didn't do very well. I got some experience, read a little, and eventually played less online and more at a local B&M casino. My game improved a lot, both at the low limits online, and at the cardroom.


Now, I have gone back to online after not playing online for several months, and although I'm doing much better than when first learning, I don't do as well, and my swings are more dramatic. I know that a lot of this may be due to unusually poor players at the live games I've played in, or unusually good players online (paradise, btw).


This wouldn't surprise me. But, I've also noticed that I _PLAY_ differently online, when I really pay attention to my thought processes, psychology, and decisions that I make. In short, I believe I play much more loosely online, playing more hands, and playing farther than I would at B&M (e.g. ridiculous crying calls). I seem to play more impulsively, and that's the best way to put it. It's very ironic, but I actually seem to get _MORE_ impatient online than at a live game. Also, I find it easier to get mentally distracted online. I find it a lot easier to focus on the game sitting at the table. Finally, I go on tilt at what seems like a rate that's 2 or 3 times as often as I do at the table. And when I _do_ go on tilt online, it's worse than at the table. (Meaning, I'm sure there are many times I'm on tilt at the table, when I don't even realize I'm on tilt, but there's no doubt online.)


My point is not to whine and moan about online poker. Again, to be clear, I see these issues as related to individual personal characteristics and skills, and not something "rigged" or "fixed" about online websites. I'm sure many people have psychological and personal characteristics that make online play _ideal_ for them. I'm beginning to think I'm not one of them, is all. To be honest, my best explanation for myself is that my own psychology is simply much more sensitive to impulsivity and being easily distracted in certain environments, and I know many things about myself that would confirm this. Even the simple difference between clicking a button and physically handling chips in one's hands or physically seeing them on a table provides enough of a cushion to stifle the impulsivity and make better decisions.


I was wondering if anyone had thought along these lines, of individual psychology, personality types, and skills, and their relation to the choice of online vs. B&M play.


(BTW, I am posting this on both the B&M and internet boards.)

A big difference is the low limits. Online has microlimits of .50-1 and B&M's low limit are often 4-8 or 3-6. So if you go into a casino and play 3-6, you will often be against drinking gambling people having a good time who don't mind losing a few bucks at a poker table.


Online 3-6 is the 4th step up the limits ladder and although still beatable, have players who have spreadsheets on their opponents and programs that tell them statistical data about their opponents. In addition, some B&M higher limit players don't play as high online due to trust issues.


I believe there is not much foul play online, but I know that it exists. Stories of collusion and bots are not always rants from disgruntled losers. The only question is how much is it costing you.


If I had a cardroom in my area I would never play online. I feel more comfortable at higher limits live and can play longer live without getting tired. For many of us online is the only game in town and we take the good with the bad.

I didn't answer the question...I was playing online...people who can think fast without missing anything, like a blitz chess player, will probably prefer online more than live.


People who have a good feel for people and can interpret body language and those who just like to be in a social environment will prefer B&M.


Also I would like to point out that winning online players usually do good at a B&M game while the opposite is not always true. I don't have any numbers ,but have read so many posts by winning B&M players who get roughed up online and not a single online winner who has complained of never winning live.

Excellent post.

You might be doing worse online because I think at equal limits online is generally much tougher. PP 5/10 is a lot tougher than a typical B&M 5/10, IMHO.

The tilting comments ring true with me. I think it's a lot easier to lose it at home with no one watching than to make an ass of yourself in public. I can usually keep my composure at a real table, whereas I'm more likely to scream "you f-ing suckout" and slam my fist down at a screen where no one can see me.

Contrary to your experience, I find myself more patient online than B&M. Maybe because I know the next hand is 1 minute away. In a casino, it's easy (if you're playing properly tight) to throw away every hand for over an hour. I get bored and tempted to limp in with what I know I should toss just to get some action.

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I can completely relate to what you are posting here. After 25 hours a week for 3 months this summer playing 10-20 to 20-40, I won at a rate of nearly one big bet an hour. However, since I started playing online with paradise, I am probably a 5000 dollar loser. I have also been a little quick to throw the blame anywhere but on myself, but I also find myself being trapped with a lot more marginal hands online than I would in a live game. I guess sometimes we have to take a close look at our play and make the nessassary corrections.