This is much more difficult in a casino. It’s also considered bad etiquette to leave a table when you’re winning big quickly; online, on the other hand, it’s easy to leave, put the money in the bank and start over at a new table. Another big advantage is that i can choose when i want to play. If i’m at home and i’m playing two hands and i’m like, you know what, forget it! I can stop. The same goes for when i’m hungry, tired, drunk, exhausted, angry, or sad. You can’t do the same to the game say in the casino, because i already have so much time.
The amount of money – when i play online i don’t sit down at a table, but in a casino it’s pretty normal for me to have play right away. The pressure is much greater when a larger percentage of your money is in the game. The last time i was at the casino, i folded hands that i would have called online because i would have run out of money if i lost. Playing online also means i have access to all my money. In the casinos i only play with the money i brought with me and having enough money is almost as important as being a good player.
Recognizing emotions – playing online casino game has taught me to recognize certain emotions in my fellow players (tells), but i don’t need to recognize online social situations. While my knowledge of poker theory, how to play the cards, and how to recognize emotions online has expanded rapidly, my understanding of how to recognize emotions in live games has not increased in fact, it has rather decreased. The online gaming experience also brings advantages and disadvantages when transferred to a live game.
In a live game i can deduce a lot more from the face and behavior, whereas when playing on the computer i don’t need a poker face. On the other hand, i have less possibilities to draw conclusions from statements and behavior because i’m used to being alone and in play calm.
Patience and time management – as i mentioned before, online games progress much faster than live games. Online i can also play two tables simultaneously which keeps me in action all the time. If someone is used to action all the time and then plays in the casino where there is often a deadlock, they can end up playing loose and trying things to force that does not exist. This can lead to poker suicide and lost sessions.
