Better (greater edge) on-line than in B&M???

[Mcbrag]

The typical online player is tougher because he has access to all the various databases. When the online player who is used to seeing the details of the players he is playing against can no longer see these details in a live game he is basically playing blind. Unless he is used to live play, he may now experience moments of extreme uncertainty which may now lead to physical tells on his part which his more experienced live opponents may be able to exploit.

[Optisizer]

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The typical online player is tougher because he has access to all the various databases. When the online player who is used to seeing the details of the players he is playing against can no longer see these details in a live game he is basically playing blind. Unless he is used to live play, he may now experience moments of extreme uncertainty which may now lead to physical tells on his part which his more experienced live opponents may be able to exploit.

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Makes sense. So it depends on the tools you are used to using, whether internal / mental or external superimposed on your screen. When you don't have them at your disposal you're like a fish out of water so to speak (no other similarities intended). After all there is no substitute for practice and repetition to create confidence and skill is there...

[sfgiants]

Hardly an expert here, but I would imagine it is more difficult playing aggressive live when you know your opponent can stare you down for some time.

[El_Hombre_Grande]

I play half online and half live. They are almost completely different games, and my guess is that someone who is less successful live than online 1) gives off easy tells 2) for social reasons cools aggression 3) Spews chips when a moron hits two pair playing 4-7s, or most likely 4) does nor adjust his game well to the fact that a substantial minority of live players think middle pair is the nuts. Online, folding a good but not great hand to a big bet in NL is usually winning poker. Live, oftentimes not.

[Cold Deck x]

No one can fold live. Can't really make any moves. If you get hand you can win big pots but you have to wait forever.

[antisocialgrace]

I love these old-time B&M props who dis the game of online grinders.

Would you rather play against someone who has logged 50k hands or 500k hands?

[schnukums]

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The typical online player is tougher because he has access to all the various databases. When the online player who is used to seeing the details of the players he is playing against can no longer see these details in a live game he is basically playing blind.

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When playing live you cannot fall back on any calculators telling you what is best to do and now you have to make your own reads by watching each player carefully instead of pulling up some tracking software. Tells become a whole new game as opposed to just watching betting patterns.

[El_Hombre_Grande]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
The typical online player is tougher because he has access to all the various databases. When the online player who is used to seeing the details of the players he is playing against can no longer see these details in a live game he is basically playing blind.

[/ QUOTE ]
When playing live you cannot fall back on any calculators telling you what is best to do and now you have to make your own reads by watching each player carefully instead of pulling up some tracking software. Tells become a whole new game as opposed to just watching betting patterns.

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The usefulness of tells is grossly exaggerated. While somewhat useful, and sometimes important, B&M poker is not dominated by tells. it is most definitely still a game of betting tendencies, hand reading, bluffs, semi-bluffs, position, pot/implied odds, cards and aggression. The main distinction is the opponents are generally far looser and far more passive at the same betting levels. Tells simply offer one additional way to narrow a hand range, just like solid poker tracker stats on a player can often tell you that he likely didnt play 97s under the gun.

This "I see their soul" stuff is BS.

[Pancho]

I read often that the average B&M player/game is worse than online players/games, but never actually read thoughts on why.

So Can some more experienced players in both online and B&M explain a little why they think B&M games are better/ why the average B&M player is worse than the average online player?

Thx

[plexiq]

Im not terribly experienced Online OR B&M, but here are my thoughts on this anyway [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

B&M, many people just play "for fun", and enjoy the social aspect of the game while having a drink etc. And you will see quite a few gamblers at the poker tables, taking a break from their usual slot games or roulette.

As online poker is lacking the social aspects of B&M, players are generally "more focused" on the game. They play because they want to win. And another aspect that makes online games much tougher is multitabling. While the weak "causal" gamers usually play 1-2 tables at most, good players will often have 6++ tables open. So, even if we had the same distribution of fishes & sharks online, you are more likely to run into the sharks, due to multitabling.