Online poker has become hugely popular with the internet producing players who have gone on to conquer real life poker tournaments and allowing people to figure out how to play poker in the comfort of their own homes. Obviously poker88 can find benefits to playing poker from your home, but additionally, there are some downsides that may not obviously become apparent and the differences between true to life poker and online poker can often be significant.
Pros of Online Poker
The first big benefit of online poker is it offers unrivalled variety compared 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 is available to play if you try the right place. This is something few players actually take full advantage of, but switching up the game you play each and every time will enhance your playing style and your poker knowledge in general. You can even perform ‘multi-tabling’, having multiple game windows running simultaneously to instantly boost the hourly winnings you take home from online tables.The next advantage is the lower cost buy-ins and the lower rake rates which internet casinos take from each game. Because there are no croupiers, security or buildings to maintain it is a lot cheaper to play poker online, with some tiny minimum bets plus some sites even offering free poker games that may serve as an invaluable learning resource. Finally there’s the conveninence that playing online affords over true to life poker. You can play in your dressing gown, it is possible to play dressed as a Storm Trooper, it is possible to play first thing each morning or last thing during the night and you don’t need to pay for casino drinks or food whilst you’re playing, which mount up if 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 initial negative side of online poker is the speed at which hands are played. Because there’s no delay in dealing or sorting out bets you’ll receive through a game much quicker, so it’s easier to lose money quickly, especially if you’re a beginner. The speed can also contribute to a few other issues. Firstly it’ll be a lot harder to follow what’s going on in a game, like following the folds and keep a tabs on the prior actions on the table as you are able to do in real life, as some people fold instantaneously or have their computers do it for them automatically in certain situations. This form of fast play can also lead to a simplified, mechanical and ultimately boring poker lifestyle, which in the end is more likely to result in a habit forming gambling problem. The second most apparent issue is the lack of physical connection with other players, meaning it is a lot harder to out-bluff an opponent or observe any tells that will let you know when a player is bluffing. This can make high risk bets a lot riskier than they would be in real life. It’s very hard to recreate the feel of a poker table online, while some companies do try and do this more than others.