Online Poker - Disadvantages of Online Poker

Poker's mad genius, Mike Caro, once predicted that online poker would not only be a hit, it would also outshine live casino poker. He seems to have been partly correct. Online poker now enjoys immense popularity among gamblers around the world. But will it replace live poker? It's not the purpose of this article to answer that question. Instead, it will give some of the disadvantages that face online poker players. You will probably agree after reading this that online poker, as much fun as it is, cannot quite replace the "real" thing.

Disadvantages of Online Poker

Faceless Poker

This is the biggest disadvantage of online poker. Tells are a major feature of live casino poker that marks out superior players from mediocre ones. They make poker more than just a game. But when you play online, these tells are almost completely missing. You cannot see, hear or feel your opponents.

Of course, they cannot see you either. That's good for you since you do not have to be on your guard when playing. You can scream, shout or holler as much as you want. But that freedom comes at a heavy price. You lose that which could make you a truly great poker player in live play: the ability to read and use tells.

Looser and Loser

Because everything is just a point-and-click away and there is a timer, poker players tend to play looser online. You are far more susceptible to making hasty decisions in online poker than in a live casino. Result? You play looser poker and lose more money faster. If you're new to online poker and bring the usual amount of money you buy in with in live casinos, you'll be surprised at how quickly you run out of chips.

Also, players are more likely to bluff online than in a live casino. Why? Because their faces cannot be seen. It's easier to bluff with a 3-7 of-suit which would embarrass most sensible players at a showdown. On the other hand, it is also easier to call a bluff in online poker. A call is just a click away so why not?

Fast Forward

Online poker plays too fast for comfort for most people, especially beginners who are just learning to recognize hands. There is almost no time to ponder and analyze. You really need to read cards and think fast as lightning to stay on top of the game. Further, you will not be able to memorize which hands were played by which players at showdown.

If you have one of those "bad beats," you have no time to recover (emotionally and mentally) from the loss; the next had is being dealt before you know it. There is no break between hands in online poker. This also means it is easier to go into tilt since there are no delays holding you back when you want to go all in.

Mechanical Play

Online poker play can quickly become robotic. Point, click, point click, and so on. Without human players to talk to or observe, and no breaks between hands, online poker becomes a game of chance and routine. The lack of a human touch does that. You barely think about your moves. It becomes instinctive - automated.

Online poker is not short on merits in spite of these disadvantages. But we recommend you mix it with live casino poker so you can enjoy in one whatever you miss in the other. Poker is poker. Enjoy it in all its forms.