Online Poker Vs. Real Life Poker : Poker Strategies, Theories, and Tactics

Informative article for those interested in poker

There are a number of little differences that need to be adjusted to going from casino (real life) poker, and online poker on sites such as Party Poker. Its a fact that people act differently online than they would in real life, in most aspects, and it is a fact that people play a different game online than they would in a casino. Here are some strategies and observations I've come across that I think apply to most online poker rooms.

PLAYERS ONLINE WILL CALL YOU MORE

Some psychology and usability aspects come into play here. Usability wise it is simply easier for a player to click on "Call" as opposed to reaching into their stack, counting the chips out, and pushing them across the table. Psychologically, we tend to feel a sense of boldness online, because we are in the comfort of our own homes rather than under the scrutiny of others in a casino. Calling up chasing that straight or flush and getting caught, whereas embarrassing in a casino setting, does not seem so bad online because nobody knows who you are. Sure people will mouth off online, but it just isn't nearly as significant through a computer screen.

DEFENDING AGAINST CONSTANT CALLERS

Simply put, it is impossible. You are going to be drawn on more than normal and will get rivered by many more callers. Your variance will be greater in internet poker as opposed
to in a casino ( especially in low limit internet poker ). The only defense is to realize you are still playing proper poker as long as you keep punishing others on the draw. It is usually much more prudent to check-call the river with many callers on the river with you, because it just raises the chances that someone has a two pair or better.

SPOT PEOPLES TELLS BY THERE BETTING / CHECKING / CALLING SPEED

Some people think you shouldn't pay attention to how long it takes to perform an action because sometimes it can be the modem speed, not paying attention, or something else. Although this is true in some cases, in my opinion, it is a major tell that should be incorporated into your online strategy. Better players, usually playing higher limits, probably don't give off a lot of these, but most low limit players inadvertently do so.

Long pause, followed by a raise:
The most common tell of most players. The irony of this player strategy is that they are giving up their tell by employing it. The logic behind it is pure strength, because people usually only do it when there is a straight or flush draw on the table. You bet, your opponent waits 20 seconds or so then re raises you. Usually he thinks he is beat anyways and makes this raise hoping you don't had the draw and will be scared off by the possibility that he does. Don't fall for this. Sometimes the player will legitimately think you are bluffing and raise you, but most of the time it is the other way around.

Automatic / Instant Raise
A raise that happens so fast that the user had to have had the "bet/raise all" button checked before play even came to him. Once and awhile it is a crazy or a bluffer, but most of the time it is a player excited about an excellent hand. It should always raise a big warning sign, and you should probably either fold, or check-call down if you have a good hand.

Fast calls to your bet
Usually when someone is chasing you with a mediocre hand, trying to call you down quick and scare you from betting next round. They are chasing the river and want to see it for cheap.
If they really did have a strong hand they would be raising or check-raising. In this case if you have the strength you should continue to bet down the river, and if you don't it could be a great bluff able situation.

BET CONSISTENTLY!

It would be great it poker were just spotting other peoples mistakes, but make sure you yourself are not making any mistakes and giving tells without knowing it. A good idea is to take about 10 seconds before making an action, a set time, and use that amount of time no matter what you want to do. You can auto fold if it is pre-flop but in any other case always try to take the same amount of time between actions.

BETTING TELLS

In internet it is much easier to get involved in no limit play than it is in a real casino. The reason is that no limit has usually been reserved for really high stakes players or for tournament play. As such, many new and weak players are unfamiliar with what amounts to bet in no limit poker. Since no limit poker is the most popular form of internet poker, where players can play small limits at a whim, there will be some giveaways to their games.

Small bets in no limit (aka: weak hand)
This applies to casino poker as well as internet poker, but especially apparent online, when people play no limit with a slider bar. For example a measly $50 bet, on say a $500 pot. *More often than not*, this is a tell of a weak holding. Usually mid to bottom pair is the case. When this happens often a lot of players fold and the bettor with scoop up the small pot. Usually if it comes down to you and him this is a great time to check-raise and steal the pot, even if you have nothing.

Massive all in bets compared with actual pot value
This is usually reserved to very weak players and sometimes a tricky player in the early stages of a tourney. For a tight weak player usually they wait to get an AA or KK and push all in no matter what the actual pot is. Loose weak players will usually go all in no matter what poker pair they get. Most good players won't pull this type of stunt because it increases variance too much.

Unless you have a strong hand yourself, its a good idea to drop your hand when this happens. Why call a maniac who may or may not have a great hand, do not get involved, unless you
possibly have an AA or KK yourself. If a player is constantly going all in on the other hand, if you can be patient enough to wait for a good hand, call him down if your in a good position to go heads-up.

PLAYER CHAT

There will always be people chatting it up in a poker game, whether it's casino poker or internet poker. From my personal observation, most solid players don't do a lot of talking. That said, you can often hear many of the TOP players doing a lot of talking, but that is because they are in their own league and are probably trying to wrestle some information from you or are comfortable talking and playing at once.

I find that most people who talk in game regularly aren't good players. However, this isn't the internet poker tip I want to focus on. A tell that happens both in casinos and on the internet is when someone who is *usually* quiet begins bantering or talking. They don't have to say much, just like "I'm bluffing" or "I guess I'll bet" or something to that extent. From a psychological viewpoint, when you're truly bluffing, you're probably a bit nervous and scared and your heart is racing a little bit. Most people in this situation are not in the mood for talking and are just praying for the other person to fold. So when the shy, quiet guy is suddenly so relaxed that is able to talk to the table, it tells me he is NOT worried. From deduction, there only one reason he's not worried - because he's got the nuts or something like it.

Now, big disclaimer that this is my general observations from both real life poker and internet poker. This tell spotting strategy works most of the time for me. I've folded a few winners to it before, but I've had positive net gain on it so far from what I can tell. Your mileage may vary.

DON'T BE TRICKY IN LOW LIMIT INTERNET POKER

Normally, you can't even be that tricky in a 3/6 game in real life, but with internet poker, it's almost worthless to try and be creative in any of the low-limit tables. Up against an entire field of opponents who are willing to call you down, bluffing and other methods of deception will go right over the heads of your opponents. Your opponents are likely willing to showdown with down mid pair, low pair and sometimes even Ace high against you, so you will get caught with your pants down more often than not if you're not careful. The best defense against tricky players in low-limit games is to just check-call questionable hands (but please hold some strength if you call).

Thanks for good and useful article

Paulenas wrote:Thanks for good and useful article

Agree with you Worth to read that one

in my oppinion the last part about bluffing was the best advice, it's impossible to bluff on the internet.

well written, ty.

Good article, last part about bluf is best of all parts/

Thanks for good article

RussianGuy wrote:Informative article for those interested in poker

There are a number of little differences that need to be adjusted to going from casino (real life) poker, and online poker on sites such as Party Poker. Its a fact that people act differently online than they would in real life, in most aspects, and it is a fact that people play a different game online than they would in a casino. Here are some strategies and observations I've come across that I think apply to most online poker rooms.

PLAYERS ONLINE WILL CALL YOU MORE

Some psychology and usability aspects come into play here. Usability wise it is simply easier for a player to click on "Call" as opposed to reaching into their stack, counting the chips out, and pushing them across the table. Psychologically, we tend to feel a sense of boldness online, because we are in the comfort of our own homes rather than under the scrutiny of others in a casino. Calling up chasing that straight or flush and getting caught, whereas embarrassing in a casino setting, does not seem so bad online because nobody knows who you are. Sure people will mouth off online, but it just isn't nearly as significant through a computer screen.

DEFENDING AGAINST CONSTANT CALLERS

Simply put, it is impossible. You are going to be drawn on more than normal and will get rivered by many more callers. Your variance will be greater in internet poker as opposed
to in a casino ( especially in low limit internet poker ). The only defense is to realize you are still playing proper poker as long as you keep punishing others on the draw. It is usually much more prudent to check-call the river with many callers on the river with you, because it just raises the chances that someone has a two pair or better.

SPOT PEOPLES TELLS BY THERE BETTING / CHECKING / CALLING SPEED

Some people think you shouldn't pay attention to how long it takes to perform an action because sometimes it can be the modem speed, not paying attention, or something else. Although this is true in some cases, in my opinion, it is a major tell that should be incorporated into your online strategy. Better players, usually playing higher limits, probably don't give off a lot of these, but most low limit players inadvertently do so.

Long pause, followed by a raise:
The most common tell of most players. The irony of this player strategy is that they are giving up their tell by employing it. The logic behind it is pure strength, because people usually only do it when there is a straight or flush draw on the table. You bet, your opponent waits 20 seconds or so then re raises you. Usually he thinks he is beat anyways and makes this raise hoping you don't had the draw and will be scared off by the possibility that he does. Don't fall for this. Sometimes the player will legitimately think you are bluffing and raise you, but most of the time it is the other way around.

Automatic / Instant Raise
A raise that happens so fast that the user had to have had the "bet/raise all" button checked before play even came to him. Once and awhile it is a crazy or a bluffer, but most of the time it is a player excited about an excellent hand. It should always raise a big warning sign, and you should probably either fold, or check-call down if you have a good hand.

Fast calls to your bet
Usually when someone is chasing you with a mediocre hand, trying to call you down quick and scare you from betting next round. They are chasing the river and want to see it for cheap.
If they really did have a strong hand they would be raising or check-raising. In this case if you have the strength you should continue to bet down the river, and if you don't it could be a great bluff able situation.

BET CONSISTENTLY!

It would be great it poker were just spotting other peoples mistakes, but make sure you yourself are not making any mistakes and giving tells without knowing it. A good idea is to take about 10 seconds before making an action, a set time, and use that amount of time no matter what you want to do. You can auto fold if it is pre-flop but in any other case always try to take the same amount of time between actions.

BETTING TELLS

In internet it is much easier to get involved in no limit play than it is in a real casino. The reason is that no limit has usually been reserved for really high stakes players or for tournament play. As such, many new and weak players are unfamiliar with what amounts to bet in no limit poker. Since no limit poker is the most popular form of internet poker, where players can play small limits at a whim, there will be some giveaways to their games.

Small bets in no limit (aka: weak hand)
This applies to casino poker as well as internet poker, but especially apparent online, when people play no limit with a slider bar. For example a measly $50 bet, on say a $500 pot. *More often than not*, this is a tell of a weak holding. Usually mid to bottom pair is the case. When this happens often a lot of players fold and the bettor with scoop up the small pot. Usually if it comes down to you and him this is a great time to check-raise and steal the pot, even if you have nothing.

Massive all in bets compared with actual pot value
This is usually reserved to very weak players and sometimes a tricky player in the early stages of a tourney. For a tight weak player usually they wait to get an AA or KK and push all in no matter what the actual pot is. Loose weak players will usually go all in no matter what poker pair they get. Most good players won't pull this type of stunt because it increases variance too much.

Unless you have a strong hand yourself, its a good idea to drop your hand when this happens. Why call a maniac who may or may not have a great hand, do not get involved, unless you
possibly have an AA or KK yourself. If a player is constantly going all in on the other hand, if you can be patient enough to wait for a good hand, call him down if your in a good position to go heads-up.

PLAYER CHAT

There will always be people chatting it up in a poker game, whether it's casino poker or internet poker. From my personal observation, most solid players don't do a lot of talking. That said, you can often hear many of the TOP players doing a lot of talking, but that is because they are in their own league and are probably trying to wrestle some information from you or are comfortable talking and playing at once.

I find that most people who talk in game regularly aren't good players. However, this isn't the internet poker tip I want to focus on. A tell that happens both in casinos and on the internet is when someone who is *usually* quiet begins bantering or talking. They don't have to say much, just like "I'm bluffing" or "I guess I'll bet" or something to that extent. From a psychological viewpoint, when you're truly bluffing, you're probably a bit nervous and scared and your heart is racing a little bit. Most people in this situation are not in the mood for talking and are just praying for the other person to fold. So when the shy, quiet guy is suddenly so relaxed that is able to talk to the table, it tells me he is NOT worried. From deduction, there only one reason he's not worried - because he's got the nuts or something like it.

Now, big disclaimer that this is my general observations from both real life poker and internet poker. This tell spotting strategy works most of the time for me. I've folded a few winners to it before, but I've had positive net gain on it so far from what I can tell. Your mileage may vary.

DON'T BE TRICKY IN LOW LIMIT INTERNET POKER

Normally, you can't even be that tricky in a 3/6 game in real life, but with internet poker, it's almost worthless to try and be creative in any of the low-limit tables. Up against an entire field of opponents who are willing to call you down, bluffing and other methods of deception will go right over the heads of your opponents. Your opponents are likely willing to showdown with down mid pair, low pair and sometimes even Ace high against you, so you will get caught with your pants down more often than not if you're not careful. The best defense against tricky players in low-limit games is to just check-call questionable hands (but please hold some strength if you call).

hi dear, thanking you for giving us well instruction , which keep importance at the time of playing and from today i will not miss any chance. with guidence of yours

thanks for giving us ideas of playing .we will take care of your ideas and consider you after winning the game/