April 15th 2011, which has become known as ‘Black Friday’ to the United States poker playing community, changed the poker landscape for the foreseeable future. The Department of Justice’s crackdown on the top online poker sites and the subsequent barring of American play caused more than a ripple through the legions of United States poker players. Well, there is always live play for Americans and the positives and negatives of each format will be the focus of this article. Players who are new to live public cardrooms will need to make adjustments.
I realize that many poker players regularly played both internet and live poker but there is an enormous contingent of online poker players who have rarely or never played in live public games for a variety of reasons. These reasons would include being underage, not having a live venue in their geographic area, feeling uncomfortable playing live poker and a host of other reasons. Let’s take a look at the myriad of differences which will face online poker players who must now begin playing live poker or focus their energies and bankrolls elsewhere. Some of these differences will be perceived as negatives while some, I believe, are positive.
Stakes
Online poker players who reveled in the ability to play micro stakes will not have a similar option in cardrooms across America. They will have to step up to the “Big Leagues” now which start with dollars not cents. Many will never make that step and just seek out like minded friends and set up home games for their poker outlet. Although I was referring to cash games, this same limitation applies to small stake tournaments which was a major draw for the online poker sites.
Multi-Tabling:
One game at a time in casinos and cardrooms… sorry! Many online poker players would play several tables at the same time. They learned that you could increase your profit by playing tighter/more optimally and winning more through volume while lowering risk. Some of these action junkies will absolutely hate being permitted to play just one game at a time. They will have to get used to it but there are also several positives such as studying your opponents when not involved in a hand.
Speed
Speed goes hand in hand with multi-tabling. There is no question that online poker is a lot faster in terms of hands per hour. This element has both its upsides and downsides but for players who have only played online poker, the live version will seem to move with the speed of a glacier. You will need to adapt to the slower pace and not become bored and begin to lower your starting hand values or your crossover to live play will become a costly one.
Length of sessions
One beauty of online poker is the ability to sit down and play for fifteen minutes in the comfort of your own home. While you may still play a fifteen minute session in a live venue, you need to make a conscious effort to go to the cardroom, possibly need to wait for an open seat, buy your chips and settle into your seat. Of course the flip side of this equation is that you won’t be able to find a $1.00 entry fee tournament with 10,000 players which could take a full day or longer to finish.
I realize that many poker players regularly played both internet and live poker but there is an enormous contingent of online poker players who have rarely or never played in live public games for a variety of reasons. These reasons would include being underage, not having a live venue in their geographic area, feeling uncomfortable playing live poker and a host of other reasons. Let’s take a look at the myriad of differences which will face online poker players who must now begin playing live poker or focus their energies and bankrolls elsewhere. Some of these differences will be perceived as negatives while some, I believe, are positive.
Stakes
Online poker players who reveled in the ability to play micro stakes will not have a similar option in cardrooms across America. They will have to step up to the “Big Leagues” now which start with dollars not cents. Many will never make that step and just seek out like minded friends and set up home games for their poker outlet. Although I was referring to cash games, this same limitation applies to small stake tournaments which was a major draw for the online poker sites.
Multi-Tabling:
One game at a time in casinos and cardrooms… sorry! Many online poker players would play several tables at the same time. They learned that you could increase your profit by playing tighter/more optimally and winning more through volume while lowering risk. Some of these action junkies will absolutely hate being permitted to play just one game at a time. They will have to get used to it but there are also several positives such as studying your opponents when not involved in a hand.
Speed
Speed goes hand in hand with multi-tabling. There is no question that online poker is a lot faster in terms of hands per hour. This element has both its upsides and downsides but for players who have only played online poker, the live version will seem to move with the speed of a glacier. You will need to adapt to the slower pace and not become bored and begin to lower your starting hand values or your crossover to live play will become a costly one.
Length of sessions
One beauty of online poker is the ability to sit down and play for fifteen minutes in the comfort of your own home. While you may still play a fifteen minute session in a live venue, you need to make a conscious effort to go to the cardroom, possibly need to wait for an open seat, buy your chips and settle into your seat. Of course the flip side of this equation is that you won’t be able to find a $1.00 entry fee tournament with 10,000 players which could take a full day or longer to finish.
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