Online Poker Vs. Live Poker Where to Learn the Game

When it comes to card games, few are as popular as poker, and televised tournaments such as the World Series of Poker have helped bring the game into the mainstream. Each year, millions of new people take up poker, either as a hobby or because they'd like to win money. While it's possible to win money from poker if you're successful, it often takes a lot of practice and experience to get to that point.

There are two main ways to play poker, both of which involve the same game but have some key differences. Online poker is poker played at online poker sites against other opponents from around the world. On the other hand, live games are the traditional way to play, where you sit at a table against other players in a poker room or casino. Online poker games are much more accessible, which is one of the reasons why it's become more popular. However, many people prefer live play as it's more personal, and you can read opponents better.

Learning to Play Poker

However you prefer to play, you're going to need to learn the game before you get started. Luckily, poker is a very popular game, and plenty of resources are available. You can find books, online articles, videos, and even full courses on how to play poker. Many of these resources will focus on online poker, but the same strategies can often be used in live games too. One thing to note is that you can pay to take courses, but the quality of free resources is high enough that this isn't necessary. That said, an online course may be easier and will have all the information you need in one place, which is helpful for a lot of beginners.

When you learn how to play, it's important to consider the game you want to learn. There are many different variations of poker, all of which have different rules. The most popular form of poker that's played in poker rooms and online is Texas Hold' Em, but you can often find Omaha Poker and Casino Hold' Em too. As a beginner, it's best to start out with Texas Hold' Em, as more resources and guides are available. Be sure to learn the basic rules before jumping to advanced strategy, and make sure you understand all of the rules.

Once you're confident you know the rules of the game, you can jump into a game. However, you probably shouldn't be looking to play with real money just yet. Your first few games will almost certainly result in losses unless you get lucky, so it's best to play a freeroll game or to play some demo poker. However, playing the game and seeing the rules in action will help you understand things better and set you up for the next step.

While you may understand the rules of poker, you're still a long way off from mastering the game. This is where practice, study, and even more practice will help. As your play, you should also be analyzing your game and your opponents' game. The best way to do this is through tracking software, which lets you watch back your game and see all of the moves made. Many poker sites will provide these stats, and it's a great way of correcting your mistakes. Unfortunately, you can't do this at live games, but you should still try to implement what you've learned through studying.

Is it Better to Learn Online or in Live Games?

It's a personal preference whether you enjoy live or online poker better. However, each has its own advantages and disadvantages when it comes to learning how to play.

Online Play

Online play offers the advantage of being more convenient for most players, as you can log into your poker site account and start playing whenever you like. Additionally, you can join multiple tables at once, which gives you the chance to play through a high number of hands. Once you get a bit more experienced, you could be playing hundreds of hands an hour. This gives you more practice and a better chance of developing your play as well as making money.

A lot of people find learning poker online better, as you can play more hands and use tracking software. This software lets you analyze your moves after the game, allowing you to see where you went wrong. It's an important training tool for all poker players, and it will give you insights into how your opponents play too.

However, despite the advantages of learning online, the competition online tends to be much tougher. Even when playing low-stakes games and freeroll tournaments, you're likely going to be up against players that have a lot of experience. Many people treat online poker as a job, grinding low-stakes tables and playing at multiple tables to maximize their earnings.This can pose a problem for beginners, as you'll be playing against tougher opposition a lot.

Live Play

Live play is slower, and you'll need to travel to a casino or poker room to play, which makes it less convenient. You'll also play fewer hands, averaging between 30-40 per hour. This means there's less opportunity to learn and gain experience, but the overall experience is often more enjoyable. A lot of people learn better when they're having fun, and playing in person is usually a lot of fun.

Aside from being more fun, live games allow you to improve your perception of your opponents. Being able to read your opponents is a major part of poker, and you'll have a lot more information when you're sitting at the same table as them. This is a big advantage and also helps to prepare you for higher-stakes games.

Generally speaking, live poker opponents will play less aggressively and will be loose in how they play. This allows you to gain experience with different strategies, improving your overall games and helping you learn more. One other downside of live games is that the rake can be higher, but as your win percentage is likely to be higher too, it often balances itself out.

Final Thoughts

If you're serious about playing poker, learning the game is an ongoing process. You should always be studying and learning from your games, and it's a good idea to get as much as possible from each session. Live and online games offer a different experience, and if you want to really master poker, you should aim to play both. You can get a lot more out of online play in a shorter time, but you shouldn't overlook how important live game experience can be.