If you love nothing more than a competitive game of Texas Hold’em or Omaha Hi-low, you might be tempted to try your hand at playing poker online.
While it might lack the glamor and atmosphere of a real casino, it is possible you could use your anonymity and quiet surroundings to your advantage when playing on your desktop computer, laptop or smartphone.
Here are the biggest benefits of playing poker online.
Caption: Man using a smartphone
A Wider Game Selection
It doesn’t matter if a luxurious casino is located directly on your doorstep, the chances are you will be limited to a number of games you will be able to play at the venue. Unfortunately, a small number of gaming options could lead to a smaller amount of fun.
However, the internet places every poker game imaginable at your fingertips, as you can visit different online casinos to find a game that compliments your preference. It can, therefore, be an ideal option for those who are serious about learning and playing poker.
An Inability to Read Your Poker Tell
It is likely you will monitor your opponents during a game to identify their tells and capitalize on this knowledge – and they will do the exact same thing to you. For example, they might monitor how you physically move when making a bet, hold your cards, breathe or talk, which could provide them with an insight into whether you have a winning hand.
However, when you play online, your opponents will be unable to monitor your body language, which they could have otherwise exploited. Your invisibility could, therefore, provide you with a greater advantage during a game and increase your likelihood of securing the winning hand.
For those who eventually make the move to start playing live poker, there are some handy tips that could help to improve the strategy and the competition, such as the importance of protecting your cards and maintaining your focus.
A Lower Rake to Suit Your Budget
Most casinos feature high stakes poker rooms, which could end up costing you a considerable sum during your visit if you fail to secure a winning hand. However, you can find many low stakes poker rooms online to suit smaller budgets, and there are even micro-stakes rooms that offer betting limits of $.10 per bet.
If you are new to poker, you can start off small to familiarize yourself with the game and boost your confidence. You can then venture into high roller rooms once you have a firm understanding of the rules.
Photo by David Guyler / CC-BY-2.0
Caption: Commuting
Greater Convenience
There is no reason to dress up to the nines when visiting an online casino.
Plus, since you can play on any internet-enabled device, you can enjoy a fun game of poker at home or on-the-go. For example, you could test your skills on the commute to work, enjoy a hand on your lunch break, or you could pass the time when relaxing on vacation.
Playing at your leisure like this could help you to relax and unwind after a long, hard day and you will not need to shower and dress up to enjoy a competitive game. However, you must avoid spending more than you can afford to lose, which will ensure it remains a fun pastime.
Take Notes on Your Opponents
It wouldn’t be possible to write detailed notes about your opponents at a real casino. However, once you enter an online poker room you can make brief notes on other poker players, which could help you to understand their playing style. You can then use this knowledge to secure the best hand at a table.
You also can keep the notes to hand, so you can refer to them when you spot a common screen name in the future and adjust your play to match their passive style, or intense gameplay.
So, if you want to play a game in comfort, hide your tells and spend an amount that complements your budget and bankroll, you should seriously consider playing poker online.