Internet Poker
Concepts Review
Several characteristics unique to online games versus live games require that you
make small adjustments to strategy:
-
Short playing sessions: Players move in and out of games a lot more than
they do in a live game, so you are rarely playing the same opponents for a
very long time.
- A virtual environment: Players tend to be more deceptive and tricky on the
Internet where there is no face-to-face interaction, and betting and raising is
just a mouse click away.
- Internet distractions: Opponents are not as observant playing on the Internet
as they are in live games.
Table image is not as important online as in a live poker game since players are
easily distracted and move in and out of games a lot; there fore, generally play a
more straightforward tight game online than you would in a live game.
One of the unique features of the Internet is the tremendous selection of different
sites and games.
There are many criteria to evaluate when choosing a site: financial security, site
security, software, games, limits, traffic, tournaments, type of players/games,
customer support, promotions, and rake.
There are three main criteria in choosing a game:
-
Percentage of players playing the flop
- Average size of the pot
- Knowledge of opponents
Internet tells all relate to the speed at which an opponent bets:
-
A delay followed by a check often indicates weakness.
- A delay followed by a bet often indicates strength.
- An instantaneous bet/raise on the turn or river usually indicates strength.
- An instantaneous check usually indicates weakness.
- A quick check usually indicates weakness, but beware if the player check-
raises.
High-limit games are generally tight and aggressive. Strategies for these types of
games include:
-
Raising preflop from good position to gain control over the hand
- Raising preflop with high cards and medium pairs to drive out opponents
- Folding middle suited connectors and small pairs most of the time
- Using semi-bluffs as a main arsenal of your play on the flop and turn
Low-limit games are generally loose and passive. Strategies include:
-
Raising preflop with premium hands that stand up well against multiple
opponents
- Raising less often with borderline hands when you are first in preflop
- Playing suited connectors and pairs more often, especially from late position
- Playing a straight forward game with few bluffs and semi-bluffs
In general, the better players have larger stacks and the weaker players have
smaller stacks for several reasons:
-
The better players generally win, so they tend to have a large bankroll.
- The weaker players generally lose, so it is natural that their bankrolls are
often small.
- Many weak players who play small limits will sometimes jump up a limit to try
their luck, and usually don't have an adequate bankroll for the limit they are
playing.
Avoid playing with a stack so small that you cannot get full value out of a big hand.
Playing multiple tables is a great advantage for good players who are able to
increase their overall hourly earn rate; however, there are also several
disadvantages:
-
You can sometimes make mistakes by hitting the wrong button.
- It is more difficult to evaluate your opponents.
- You will experience greater variances by playing two tables at the same time.
There are three types of record keeping that I find helpful:
-
Earnings results:At a minimum, you should record your gain/loss and time
played for each poker session.
- Player analysis:Since you will be playing hundreds and even thou sands of
different opponents, it is to your advantage to record notes on your
opponents and their various playing styles.
- Hand analysis:Recording the results of various hands and the strategies
you employed can help you better evaluate your individual play.
Deposit bonuses are a great way for low-limit players to build a bankroll so that they
can move to higher limits more quickly.
Tournament strategy requires that you make adjustments to your regular ring game.
Collusion and cheating occurs on the Internet; however, it also occurs in live
games. In a casino, you have to overcome the rake, parking, gas, meals, and most
importantly tips, to make your session profitable. On the Internet, you have to
overcome the rake and some collusion that might be taking place.
A major concern in playing online is the reputation and financial stability of the site
Playing poker on the Internet for a living has some great benefits:
-
You can work your own hours.
- You are your own boss
- You can take as much vacation as you like.
- You can work wherever you want in the world.
- You can work in your underwear, lol.
Downsides to playing professionally include:
-
The fun and thrill of playing poker is not quite the same as when you play
part-time.
- There are no paid vacations.
- American citizens must pay full FICA and Medicare.
- You must pay for medical and dental insurance.
- Gambling income is taxable in the United States just like regular income,
even if you play part-time.
- You will have an unstable income each month, with the risk of actually losing
money during a month.
Poker is a fun game, but it is even more fun when you win. The more you study the
game, the more you should win. Even if you only play a few hours a week, it makes
sense to spend a little extra time away from the game to further improve your game.
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