Online/Live/Math/Feel

[Voltron87]

This is a question about my game I've been thinking about for a long time.

How much more math/ probability is involved in online poker versus live BM play (particularly NL)? How much more "feel"/ playing the player is involved in live NL?

I have been debating dropping live or OL play entirely and only doing one.

It seems like online play involves a lot more showdowns, more draws against your hand, while live NL has fewer showdowns. Online has less player specific moves and it is harder to read an opponent (old or young, tight/weak, their mood).


What proportion of online play is math (running a hand X times until you come ahead) and what is reading the player? I have a strong feeling that online (sngs especially) does not suit my strengths as much as live, but it is ridiculously convienient (poof... in my bank account). Any thoughts?

[LokiV]

Does your girlfriend ever tell you that you don't understand her feelings? Do you usually know when anyone is *slightly* upset/confused/evading you etc. etc.?

No? Your 'reads' in live play are probably fictious and all in your head. Start looking at betting patterns and derive patterns from it. People are extremely patterned. You should be able to tell if an online player is tight or weak in a few orbits -- whether or not they're young or old isn't that important.

[TStoneMBD]

ignore lokiv's reply. B&M play is significantly different than online play. getting reads on players is very prevalent in live play, while mathematics, betting patterns and player statistics are more relevant for online. tells are very overrated, but it is difficult to understand what a person is thinking when you cant look into his eyes.

[BusterStacks]

if you play mostly by feel, you will mostly lose money.