Online poker has long been the primary game in the iGaming space, but live poker is growing in popularity and gaining a foothold on the internet. Many players are making the transition to playing live poker from their home computers, and it’s important that they understand the differences between online and live play before jumping in. There are several key adjustments that need to be made, including understanding the one chip rule, calculating the pot size, adapting to a slower pace, and being aware of live tells.
The number of hands per hour is much lower in live poker compared to online play. This is primarily due to the fact that it takes much longer for a dealer to shuffle and deal cards, as well as count chips. In addition, live players tend to chat more and showboat more, which can slow the game down even further.
A player’s bet sizing is also a big tell in live poker. They may make a big bet to signal their strength, or they might not call a small bet from a weak player. In both cases, this information can be exploited and can lead to good reads. In addition, a player’s body language and table talk can give away clues about their hand.
Another big difference is the amount of multiway pots in a live game. While online poker is known for its high variance, live games often feature more multiway pots, which can add up quickly. This is largely because many players in live poker have loose-passive styles, which result in more multiway pots and softer games.
It’s crucial that players who are switching from online to live poker adjust their strategy accordingly. For example, it’s important to use a tight-aggressive style against weaker players and raise when you have a strong hand. However, it’s also a good idea to balance this with limping and trapping weaker opponents, especially in pre-flop situations.
Finally, it’s important to be aware of live tells in order to avoid being bluffed out by your opponent. It’s easy to pick up on a player’s tells by studying their behavior, and they can be as subtle as shaking hands or staring at the wall. The best way to study an opponent’s tells is by watching them at a table and taking notes on their body language, betting patterns, and bet sizing.
Lastly, it’s important to note that it’s very hard to get a meaningful sample size when playing live poker. Getting 100k hands is nearly impossible in live, and it would take an average of 10hrs/day for a full year to reach that number. As a result, it’s extremely important to use software like PokerTracker to track your results and analyze your stats. This can help you identify leaks and improve your overall win rate. Fortunately, there are now numerous live poker sites that offer this feature.