Online poker has taken over the world but many people still enjoy playing live poker too. It is possible to play both online and live poker at the same time but there are differences between the two formats that need to be considered.
The first difference between the two is that live poker is much slower than online. It takes longer for the dealer to deal and count chips and players are limited to just one table at a time. This means you will be lucky to play 30 hands per hour in live poker whereas online it is quite easy to get over 100 hands per hour.
This slow pace makes the game more prone to short-term variance. Players that make the wrong decisions with a hand frequently experience bad luck and can have big losses. This can cause them to change their strategy and move away from a tight-aggressive approach. Those that do adjust well to the slower pace often end up winning a lot more money than their counterparts online.
Another difference is that live poker is a more social experience and there will be some interaction with the other players at the table as well as the dealers and wait staff. This can be a great way to meet new people but it is also an extra pressure that can affect some players who prefer to keep their poker sessions as private as possible.
Live games will usually be played in a casino or card room and players will be expected to tip the dealers and waitstaff. This can add up to a substantial additional cost that needs to be factored into your game plan when deciding on whether to play live or online poker.
Lastly, the fact that you can’t multi-table when playing live poker will significantly reduce the amount of hands you are able to log. This can be a problem when trying to analyse your own performance as it is important to get a large sample size when comparing your results.
If you’re looking to play live poker but are unsure how to make the transition then you should consider getting some coaching from a pro who can help you to adapt to the different styles of play. This can help you to avoid the mistakes that are made by inexperienced live players and save a lot of money on learning through trial and error. Depending on your budget it may be worth investing in a coach even if you’re already a good online player. Having someone to discuss strategy and hand histories with can really speed up the process of making the switch from online to live poker. In some cases this can be a worthwhile investment that will pay for itself in a very short period of time.