Why live players moved online
When card rooms closed during the Covid-19 pandemic, many live players moved online for the first time. Card rooms have long since reopened, but plenty of players stayed online or now play both. The switch isn't automatic: online poker looks the same, but it plays differently.
1. Get used to the speed
A live table deals roughly 25–35 hands an hour. Online, a single table can deal 60–100. That means:
- More decisions, so tiredness sets in faster.
- Results swing faster in both directions.
- Bad habits cost more money in less time.
Start with one table and take regular breaks.
2. Replace physical tells with betting tells
You can't see faces online, but you can see:
- Bet sizes: many players bet big with strong hands and small with weak ones.
- Frequency: someone who raises every orbit isn't always strong.
- Timing: an instant check often shows weakness; a long pause then a big bet often shows strength.
- Position habits: players often open far more hands on the button.
Use the notes feature to record what you see.
3. Expect more aggression
Online players tend to raise and re-raise more than live players. Calling too much with medium hands gets expensive. Tighten up out of position and fight back with your strong hands.
4. Adjust your bet sizing
Live games often feature big raises. Online, standard opening raises are smaller, around 2.5 times the big blind. Copying live sizing makes your play predictable and costly.
5. Use online-only tools
- Hand histories to review mistakes.
- Session statistics to track results.
- Table selection to find softer games.
6. Protect your focus
At home it's easy to watch TV or check your phone between hands. Treat online sessions like sitting at a real table: no distractions, clear limits.
Live vs online at a glance
| Live poker | Online poker |
|---|---|
| 25–35 hands per hour | 60–100 per table |
| Physical tells | Betting and timing tells |
| Bigger raises common | Smaller, standard raises |
| Memory only | Notes and hand histories |
Next, learn the most common online leaks in delete these mistakes from your online poker.