Why Play Poker On-line?

Why Play Poker On-line? -


Are you considering giving on-line gaming, poker to


be exact, a, try? In this author's opinion the pros far


outweigh the cons; here are several of many


reasons why you may tend to agree.


There are numerous reasons to play poker,


specifically Texas Holdem, on-line. Having played


both the old fashioned way (brick and mortar) and


the more high tech option I find that for the first


time in all my 45 years actually embracing


technology.


If one plays any form of poker for camaraderie, fun


or just plain human contact then perhaps virtual play


is not the best option. If sheer competition, playing


a lot of hands, testing your skill level and hopefully


earning a little coin is the goal then on-line play


should be considered second to none.


Probably the most obvious reason to give online


poker a try, and by try I mean at least 30 days of


serious play at whatever level you feel most


comfortable; not one minimum deposit session


where you make a bad call lose your roll, stomp your


little feet never to return, would be the


convenience.


All that's required is a relatively current computer


and an internet connection (please don't play with


dial-up).


If you'd rather not clean up you can play, if you


scare people in public you can play, if you are


agoraphobic you can still play.


In short you can always find a game on-line, 24


hours a day seven days a week. Nothing beats the


feeling of cleaning fish at three o'clock in the


morning staring at your screen in your underwear.


Always remember to keep plenty of snacks and your


energy drink of choice close at hand if you plan on a


long session.


Many players are under the impression that it is a


major disadvantage not being able to see your


opponent.


I wholeheartedly disagree and let me tell you why.


Not only is not having to see your opponent a plus,


not having to listen to them is at least as much of


an advantage. Wah, no more tells. If that's the case


then I'll gladly call you a waaahmbulance.


If you have been playing Texas Holdem for any


length of time you should realize that tells are not as


important as once thought.


Sure the concept made Mike Caro rich. Yes I


purchased his overpriced door stop as did many


others.


Individuals, myself included, play poker in patterns,


even the top professionals, but that's another article


for another time.


One last thought on anonymity, on-line no one can


see you sweat. If you don't handle your bad beats


well or just overreact when you get outdrawn on


the river then consider the internet a godsend.


Playing Texas Holdem, or any other form of poker


for that matter on line can be a real time saver. If


there is only time for a couple of hands, there is no


car to drive, no plane to catch, even the walk to


the poker room, sometimes in inclement weather,


becomes a thing of the past.


There are so many options and places to play on-line


that you never have to wait to play, unless of


course you come across a live game where the fish


outnumber the sharks and it thus becomes


profitable to get on the list. Even if you do put


yourself on a waiting list there is always another


game to play in the interim.


Nothing makes dinner at the computer taste quite


so good as cracking someone's pocket aces or the


often held onto big slick with the mere click of a


mouse.


In Las Vegas or any other poker Mecca around the


globe if you don't care for the game or even the


card room you're in then it's "these feet were made


for walking". On-line a new game is only a click


away.


Texas Holdem not working at the moment? Just


click and you are now seated at a virtual 7 card stud


table or Omaha, even Pineapple (whatever that is)


or any number of poker games situated all over the


web. (Need to find a site? Try


http://OneStopHoldem.com ).



Many sites offer blackjack and other popular casino


games when you're ready for a change of pace or


are perhaps looking for a way to kill time while


waiting to win your seat at the next World Series of


Poker main event.


Finding the stakes you want when you want them is


another consideration as to the superiority of on-line


play.



Let's get personal.



On my last trip to Las Vegas (June 2006), I made a


conscious decision to play Holdem at downtown


casinos exclusively to gather review material for


http://OneStopHoldem.com, a website for which I


am a major contributor.



If your game of chance is something other than $1/


$2 no limit Texas Holdem or $2/$4 limit Texas


Holdem please don't hold your breath in downtown


Las Vegas.


Omaha, what's Omaha? Forget playing Omaha hi/lo


split with pot limit on the river or any other pot limit


game for that matter and don't ask for a kill game


either unless you like being disappointed.


My apologies and thank you for allowing me to vent,


this is obviously a whole other article.


Where were we? Oh yes, on line you can play for


pennies or dollars, really big dollars, just be realistic as


to your bankroll and skill level.



Also, if you happen to suffer a bad beat or have a


less than optimal run of cards you can always drop


down a level and build your bankroll and composure


back up at a pace you find comfortable.


Faster game play is what attracts many of us to on-


line play. More hands per hour, at least twice as


many, equates to a greater potential for wins and


profits.



Who can say no to that?


Many poker sites offer turbo or otherwise


accelerated games in which every player involved


must make their decisions somewhere in the ten


seconds or less range.


A few sites even offer the option of play on up to


four tables simultaneously, a feature which may be


considered both enticing and scary.


By the way if you decide to give multi table play a


go please be sure your game is up to speed and you


are in the proper mind set with no distractions.


The final point up for discussion, but by no means


the last, would be the ease of record keeping on-


line.


Most sites offer hand histories as well as records of


tournaments played. Detailed accounts of all financial


transactions, hopefully leaning towards the


withdrawal end of the spectrum, are readily


available.


Many sites also offer note taking and player tracking


to assist in keeping tabs on you fellow poker


enthusiasts.


All this adds up to a fairly accurate method of not


only dissecting but also analyzing one's play.



To sum things up if you are not currently playing


poker on-line, consider giving it a try. If you do


decide to play for money please do so responsibly


and never with money which should be reserved for


the necessities of life.
Author Name: Louis Lopez
L. Jon Lopez is the cofounder and primary contributor for the website http://OneStopHoldem.com . Any and all comments can be directed to LJonLopez@OneStopHoldem.com. We welcome your comments on all things poker.