The differences between online poker and live poker

If you are new to poker, or toying with the idea of giving it a go for the first time, some of you may struggle with this question, so firstly let's define them both.

Online poker is easy enough to explain of course, it's exactly what it says. Live poker sometimes called "B&M" (bricks and mortar) takes place in casinos and cardrooms.

Live Poker

To play live poker, you will need to be a member of the venue. That's easy enough to arrange, and is free. You will need to produce credible ID, usually passport or driving licence, and a utility bill.

Dress code is generally smart casual, though the interpretation of "smart" varies considerably. You certainly don't need to wear a suit and tie, equally, turning up in a string vest and carpet slippers is not going to cut much ice.

Live tournament poker at any given venue usually consists of one event, with a defined starting time. If you enter the tournament and bust early, that's it, your poker is finished for the evening. The nature of tournament poker means you may bust out in the first 5 minutes, or you may be there until 3 or 4am. 

They do run cash games, of course, but if you are new to poker, these are not to be recommended until you have a little more experience of the game, as it can, potentially, get expensive if you are wet behind the ears. Sit and Go's are, generally speaking, not available in live venues.

All live poker venues in the UK need to be properly licensed, and most of them are, though there are still a few dodgy spielers around. Until you know what you are doing, stick to the established brands, the household names. Almost every major town and city has at least one licensed venue, and the big cities all have 10 or more.

If you are lucky enough (or good enough…) to win, or secure a return, you can be paid in cash at the venue, or you can elect to be paid by Bank Transfer or cheque, whatever suits you best.

Please remember that whilst poker is mostly populated by good, decent people, it's a money game, and a gambling game, and so it attracts more than its share of undesirables. NEVER lend anyone money in a casino, never ever, as the chances are you won't see it again.

Finally, it's a wonderfully social game, where, by virtue of a random draw, you are seated with 8 or 9 others who you may not have ever met in your life. By applying good social etiquette, you'll soon have a table full of new acquaintances, and the evening will fly by. "Good social etiquette?" Just the basics. Say "hi" to everyone, make eye contact, and smile. Smiling is the most underestimated social ice-breaker known to man.

Would I recommend live poker? Oh yes, without a doubt, it is just about the most enjoyable pastime you could ever imagine. Is it always convenient though? In truth, no, that is not always the case, and not by a long chalk.

Online Poker

Same game, same rules, but, in so many ways, completely different. 

First up, you need to sign up to an online poker room. In doing so, you can usually enjoy a sign up bonus which you can use as seed money to get started.

All online poker sites in the UK are regulated by the UK Gaming Commission. If you stick to the big well-known brands, your money is completely safe, and the game will be run properly. Do NOT sign up to an unregulated site. If you are unsure, all regulated poker sites state their Gaming Commission License number prominently.

What to play? Well first up, until you get a feel for the game, all sites offer "play money" and "freerolls." Play these for a week or two, and you'll soon get the idea.  

Now you are ready to play, you will have a bewildering array of different formats available, including MTT's (Multi-Table Tournaments), Cash games, and Sit and Go's, the latter being simple, one table tournaments, which commence as soon as one table is full.

Which should you play as a newcomer? Your money will last longer if you try and stick to low variance games - Sit and Go's, and Cash games. Tournament poker is hugely exciting, but it is high variance, and whilst you CAN win big, you will not do so very often.

The real beauty of online poker - apart from the sheer convenience of playing from home at any time of the day or night, 7 days per week - is the ability to "multi-table" - that is, play several games at the same time. This is called multi-tabling.

Is that more expensive? Counter intuitively, quite the opposite - by multi tabling, you REDUCE variance. You also play better, too, or should do. Poker can be very boring, as you should be folding most hands pre-flop, and many players just limp into pots because they are bored. These guys will all lose money. By playing several tables at the same time, your focus and concentration is sharper, and it's easier to fold those bad hands. Obviously, you should reduce your stakes as appropriate so as to allow you to play more games.

How many tables should you play at the same time? It varies from player to player. Many players seem to think it is difficult, and dare not try, but it is easy, it just requires a little practice. Most of us play 3 or 4 tables at the same time, though some of the serious crew play 10, 15, 20 or more.

You can "tile" your tables in such a way as to see all of them at the same time, and once you have got your tables tiled, you are good to go.

What happens when you bust an online MTT or SNG? Easy - just register for another, they go non-stop, back to back, 24/7. And that is exactly why online poker is the absolute nuts.

So there you go, you are all set now. Think about it first, make your decision, put aside a set amount of money that you can afford to lose, and never exceed that. It is very important to gamble responsibly, and poker sites don't want or need their player to go bust, that benefits neither party.

Poker might just be the greatest game ever, whether you pay it live, or online. And if you and I bump into each other at a table sometime soon and we might - we are going to have a fun evening - we are. The ONLY reason we should be playing poker is to enjoy ourselves. Never forget that.

Good luck.