He plays poker online

By David McClary

I had only been sitting for a few hands of 1-2 No-limit at the Seneca Niagara Casino when I started hearing about Brad. Brad (his name has been changed to protect the drunk and foolish) and his pal had been playing and drinking for several hours. Bradπs stack suggested he was up several hundred dollars. Judging from the rebuy I saw, at least some of this came from his buddy. This may have been on purpose, but that is the subject for another article.

After only four hands, I looked down to see Jacks. I raised my usual five times the big blind and only Brad came along for the ride. The angels really began to sing in the background when the flop came with a ten and two babies. I bet the pot and the real show began. Brad spent some time quietly studying his options. His pal, however, started in with what I learned was some kind of mantra. ≥Donπt you know who this is? This is Brad. He plays online!≤ Brad called after careful consideration. When a blank came on the turn I pushed all in. As Brad pondered what to do, his trusty sidekick repeated the ≥He plays online≤ mantra. Brad called and showed his Ten with an Ace. My Jacks held up on the river, and I was off to a pleasant start.

As the game wore on, I grew more annoyed with Bradπs wingman. Just about any time a player put Brad to the test his pal would drop in the ≥Online≤ reference. Once Brad and his buddy finally quit, the player to my left and I started venting our frustration. I remarked that I play online upwards of 20 hours per week but would never think to brag about it. The guy then went on to ask me about online poker and our discussion grew to involve several other players. In total, three of the remaining players had never played in an online card room for real money. I was astonished. I assumed most of the people taking the time to play in a public card room would be all over the Internet ones.

If you are thinking about trying online poker, I would encourage you to do so. Online games have some major advantages over the brick and mortar card room. The best is limits. Most online rooms spread games as low as 25 cents or 50 cents. Because they have lower operating expense, they offer limits that would bankrupt a conventional room. These limits allow novice players to learn on the cheap and build a bankroll.

All online card rooms offer table stats. This allows you to see things like average pot size and percentage of players seeing the flop before you sit down. These stats let you pick only tables that are tailor made to your playing style. At lower limits, there may be dozens of tables at any site. There is no excuse for playing at less than optimal conditions when you know how the average hand will play out before you sit down.

Since you can pick the best tables, multiple tables are a great online option. Why play $2 or $4 at one good table when you can play $1 or $2 at two good tables. I would discourage a total novice from playing at more than one table, but a tight player can fold most hands at several tables just as easily as one. By seeing more hands you can develop as card players that much faster. You can even work on several versions of poker at once. This will make you a more well-rounded player and lets you get exposure to games like High-Low Stud or Omaha that are increasingly difficult to find in brick and mortar card rooms.

The final significant advantage is convenience. If you only have an hour, itπs not worth the drive or hassle to play in a live game. Online however, you can get into three or four games after only a few minutes wait. Whatπs more, if you hit big a few times after the first few hands, you donπt need to listen to people grumble if you pick up and leave with their money right away.

One warning that all online players should heed is to watch out for cheaters. Giving details of cheating schemes will only teach more cheaters how to operate. Letπs just say you should avoid big money (above $5 or 10) poker online. You should avoid big money no-limit poker at all costs.

If you want to improve your game, I hope that you try online poker. Itπs the best way to get thousands of hands of experience without thousands of dollars in losses.