Online poker has become hugely popular with the internet producing players who have gone on to conquer real world poker tournaments and allowing people to learn to play poker in the comfort of their own homes. Obviously there are benefits to playing poker from home, but there are also some downsides that could not obviously become apparent and the differences between true to life poker and online poker can frequently be significant.

Pros of Online Poker

The first big advantage of online poker is it offers unrivalled variety in comparison to offline options. There are literally thousands of poker games occurring at all times of your day and night and of course every conceivable variety of poker game can be acquired to play if you look in the right place. This is something few players actually make the most of, but switching up the game you play each and every time will improve your playing style as well as your poker knowledge in general. You can even perform ‘multi-tabling’, having multiple game windows running simultaneously to instantly raise the hourly winnings you take home from online tables.The second advantage is the less expensive buy-ins and the low rake rates which internet casinos take from each game. Because there are no croupiers, security or buildings to keep it is a lot cheaper to play poker online, with some tiny minimum bets plus some sites even offering free poker games which can serve being an invaluable learning resource. Finally there’s the conveninence that playing online affords over real life poker. You can play in your dressing gown, it is possible to play dressed as a Storm Trooper, you can play first thing each morning or last thing during the night and you don’t need to purchase casino drinks or food whilst you’re playing, which mount up in the event that you venture out and play poker in true to life. You can play poker online whilst you’re performing other tasks.

Cons of Online Poker

The first negative side of internet poker is the speed of which hands are played. Because there is no delay in dealing or sorting out bets you’ll get through a game much quicker, so it’s easier to lose money quickly, particularly if you’re a beginner. The speed can also contribute to a few other issues. Firstly it will be a lot harder to follow what’s going on in a game, like following folds and keep a tabs on the prior actions up for grabs as possible do in true to life, as some individuals fold instantaneously or have their computers do it for them automatically in certain situations. This form of fast play can also result in a simplified, mechanical and ultimately boring poker lifestyle, which in the end is more likely to lead to a habit forming gambling problem. The second most obvious issue is the lack of physical connection with other players, meaning it’s a lot harder to out-bluff an opponent or observe any tells which will let you know when a player is bluffing. poker88 can make high risk bets a lot riskier than they would maintain real life. It’s very hard to recreate the feel of a poker table online, though some companies do try and do this more than others.