Live Poker vs. Online Poker

Live poker and online poker are both the same game at heart but there are plenty of differences between the venues. Some people argue that online poker is the best while others argue that live poker is the best. There’s really no way to determine which format is the “best” because that term is so relative. Instead, we’ll just list the differences here and let you decide for yourself.

Online poker allows multi-tabling

One of online poker’s greatest benefits is the fact that multi-tabling is possible. Many poker players can play upwards of eight tables at a time and significantly increase their hourly earning rates while doing so. Multi-tabling lowers a poker player’s win rate at each table because less time can be taken to gather reads and make decisions at each table. Pure volume makes up for that drawback, however, and results in a higher overall hourly win rate.

Live poker is a more social game

One of the greatest advantages live poker holds over online poker is that live poker is a much more social game. Online poker is a solitary activity but live poker gives players an opportunity to talk to other people, crack jokes and have a more enjoyable experience. Although intangible, the social aspect of live poker is an important advantage.

Online poker tables get more hands per hour

Online poker tables get about 60-70 hands per hour while live poker tables average about 30 hands per hour. Live poker tables take longer because everything must be done manually – the dealing, shuffling, collecting of bets, counting of the pot, etc. In online poker, those things are all handled instantly by the computer.

Live poker games are softer

Live poker games attract more fish than online poker sites. This is probably because live poker rooms tend to be located in touristy areas and around casinos. Plus, many older, casual players don’t trust online poker and only play live. Online poker players tend to be more serious about the game and spend more time reading up on poker strategy. Whatever the reason is, nearly everyone agrees that live poker games are softer.

Online poker rooms offer more game types

Online poker rooms are able to offer many more game types because it costs nothing to open up new tables. Online poker sites don’t have to find and train a dealer for every table they want to open up. On top of that, online poker sites have many more players logged in and can sustain the games.

For example, online poker rooms offer many heads up tables. Live poker rooms rarely facilitate heads up matches because those games require an entire dealer and table be devoted to just two players. It’s uneconomical for live poker rooms to offer so many options.

Live poker games allow for physical reads

In live poker, you get to look your opponents in the eye and watch their every move for information about their hands. Live poker tells are overrated but it still helps to be able to see your opponents face to face and get an idea of their emotional state, playing style and the occasional tell. There is more information available in live poker than in online poker.

Online poker is convenient

Online poker requires nothing more than for you to crawl out of bed, plop down in your chair and turn on the computer. If you can manage that much, you can play online poker any time of day or night without having to get up, get dressed and drive to the nearest casino. Online poker is especially convenient for people who don’t live near a live casino or poker room.

Live poker doesn’t suffer from software defects

It’s the bubble of a major tournament and you have a medium-sized chip stack and AK in the hole. You push all-in and a loose player with a big stack calls. He flips over a pair of deuces and it’s basically a coin flip. Just as the flop is about to be dealt, you get a message on your screen that says “Attempting to reestablish connection: please wait…”

You’ll never have to experience that with live poker. Online poker usually works just fine but you never know when a computer crash is around the next corner or if a squirrel decides to play on the wrong power lines down the street.

Online dealers never make mistakes

Online poker dealers are 100% automated and aren’t prone to the same mistakes that humans make. With an online dealer, you’ll never experience misdeals or miscounted pots. Live dealers usually do a pretty good job but they are only human. If you don’t live near a major casino, the quality of live dealers can be quite hit and miss.