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So what’s the difference?

I'm sure there was more than a hint of sarcasm involved when I was asked to write this article outlining both the similarities and differences between online poker and land-based poker play, writes Roy Brindley.

Ironically, despite having landed numerous tournaments within the casino enviroment, "disastrous" would be the best description of my online poker record.

However, not one to duck a challenge, I will indeed offer some of the pros and cons of either discipline as I see it.

Counting the costs

Firstly, let's take all the obvious factors out of the equation, such as travel expenses and hotel costs.

I would have easily spent in excess of $12,000 during 2005 simply travelling to festival events and getting a bed for the night. There are also table charges, rake and tips to consider. It has to be said there is a massive gulf between the extortionate five percent rake taken from all pots at numerous continental casinos and the relative pittance drawn from winning pots online.

Thankfully, it seems tournament registration fees in both spheres are comparable but you are expected to tip in both cash games and competitions at all casino venues outside of the UK. $8,000 would be a conservative estimate on my annual tips based on an average of two nights cash play weekly and some tournament "hand back" ranging from $50 to $500 a go.

Integrity

There are integrity questions too. Obviously nobody plays online poker if they have doubts about the randomness of the cards whilst the trustee software ensures that split pots are indeed split ultra-quickly and correctly.

There is no suggestion of anything untoward in any live poker game anywhere but human error can, and often does, happen.

I have seen hole cards accidentally swiped by the dealer and poker players incorrectly declaring a "winning" hand, resulting in their opponent throwing their cards into the muck.

Only then do we find out that they are holding QT instead of the required QJ (for a straight say) but, by then, as the only person holding cards, the Queen-high hand has to be declared the winner.

Back to basics

With most of the distinguishing features cleared up, let's look at the basics of the game of poker.

"But poker is poker", I hear you cry. Wrong I declare. My viewpoint is that basic online poker play and traditional brick and mortar strategies are a million miles apart.

Here's an example. After I tentatively downloaded ladbrokespoker.com one of the earliest hands I can recall watching aghast featured a player going "all-in" as the first person to act pre-flop for around $140 in a $1-$2 cash game.

I laughed until the pee ran down to my ankles. Who is going to call that thought I? Only someone with Aces or Kings, otherwise the raiser is going to successfully collect a princely $3 in blinds.

However, the result was an immediate call by a player holding AK and then by a third player holding AQ. Amazingly it transpired the initial all in raiser was holding the AA! I was left baffled. I had never seen play like this in my life.

Firstly, the player with the Aces completely over bets his hand and faces the prospect of winning just $3 with hole cards that are a massive favourite against anything.

Secondly, he is called by someone holding AK - which many would see as a complete and unnecessary gamble in a cash game scenario.

Finally the poker player holding AQ, did he stop to give any consideration to what hands he was up against? It took me the whole of six months to figure it out

The bet was indeed outrageous and so who could have predicted what a monster hand our friend with the Aces had.

It subsequently became apparent that numerous online poker players will happily call for this sum (and considerably more) holding any pair over 9s and/or the likes of AK, especially if this is the biggest hand they have seen in some time.

So, what a wonderful scenario and what a great move. All your money in pre-flop with by far the best of it, but what an unconventional way of achieving it.

Would it be employed or pay dividends at a poker table full of battle-hardened poker players in a live game? Quite simply, No!

Inexperience

Next, dare I say it, and due to a constant stream of new online poker players, we have those that are simply dangerous through inexperience.

Let me explain My playbook, and that of most experienced poker players, does not consider playing any Ace-high hand in an early-to-mid position unless the kicker is a Ten or greater.

So, when playing online poker and delivering a sizeable raise with AK I only expect to be called with an opponent holding a big pair or an Ace with a similarly big kicker.

On more than one occesion, under these circumstances, I have called sizeable bets on an A23 or A35 flop expecting to be miles in front, only to discover I have walked into something like A3.

Yes, you want people to call you holding A3 against your AK and, over a period of time, you will be a big winner but beats like this, and the indelible mental scars they leave, can have serious repercussions on your long term game.

Body Language

Over betting and unpredictable play apart, there is that good old chestnut "The Tell". Now, don't get carried away on this one too much as we are not at the movies with Teddy KGB munching on his cookies.

But, in face-to-face battle you will simply remember characters, recall the way these people play and how they reacted to certain situations in the past.

Obviously body language and mannerisms also increase your chances of interpreting your opponent's hands and you are not going to see those through your monitor either.

Out of interest, in a sizeable tournament, I would say you can differentiate the sharks from the shrimps at a ten seater table in about two hours. You know, those that play too many hands and call and raise with weak hands compared to those that are solid and don't get involved unless they are holding something very sweet.

Regularly updated player notes are vital for online poker play and are the biggest helping hand you have but, once again, how can you keep tabs on the hundreds of new players that arrive in cyberspace each month?

Finally, in an online multi-table tournament with tables breaking oh so frequently, are you sat at one table long enough to get some idea of your opponents skill level, attitude and plays? I very much doubt it.

The figures

While we talk about figures: The massive increase of online poker players has sadly not been mirrored at the casinos and card rooms around the world, with the World Series of Poker being a rare exception. That said, I don't believe the online boom has had a detrimental affect - far from it.

In my preferred enviroment, the European Poker trail, there are a hard-core forty or so players that you will play alongside often enough to understand their game and poker strategy fully.

There are another fifty or so you can expect to see with some frequency and so you will have an insight to their playing style. It's kind of like the top one hundred snooker or tennis players - we all meet at sometime or other and acknowledge good safety players apposed to fast servers (pardon the pun).

As for cyberspace, there's no disputing I can log in at anytime and find in the region of 5,000 poker players at a host of poker tables featuring varying stakes, game types and styles.

There are always games to suit with no travelling and associated costs. You can learn plenty, enjoy the anonymity online poker offers and win a lot of money for miniscule stakes.

The choice is yours.

Roy “THEBOY” Brindley


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