This article is mostly aimed at those people who have only ever played their poker on a computer, or indeed a laptop. What I’m trying to say is there are big differences. First is the speed of the internet; in comparison to a live game, it’s light speed. O.K. slight exaggeration, but I hope you get the point. While you’re sat in the comfort of your living room (or wherever), and just casually click away your chips, for yet another call; I am suggesting that if you was at a table playing a whole lot slower, you would probably fold your hand. Or, with a bit of luck, raise it. Do you see where I’m going with this? Also, there is the fact of live, (in the flesh) people talking to you. Not just typing wp in the chat a whole hand later. Believe me, this makes a big difference, just take a look at how the likes of Mike Matusow or Tony G, to see the effect that this has on an opponent. Some people go on tilt simply because someone gave them a few choice words, in a chat box. How do you think these people would fare in a live situation? I’m willing to wager, that they’d do badly. I realise that I’m making it sound as if the internet players would not stand a chance, of course this isn’t true; and many have proved that. However, if you don’t take into consideration, the big differences between the two, you will undoubtedly lose. There are some things that go the opposite way, of course. There is the fact that you could be sat in bed playing, if the whim so took you. You could have a whole stack of information on your opponents, at arms lengths, to flip through. This is not exactly a viable option in a casino poker room. If you do a bluff in a casino, you have got to have the look and coolness to pull it off. Do a bluff on your computer and you could actually yell out loud, FOLD, and if they do give a big high five. As I’ve already mentioned about how you would have to keep your cool, this is also the case, even if you actually have a hand. You have to then work out how to extricate the maximum amount of chips from at least one or more at your table. All of this has to be done without giving away the strength of your hand. You want them to think that you have got a hand, but their hand is better. So, you have to pick up your chips (no shaking allowed) place them in the centre, then just sit there as if you may lose. The way poker is, except for certain hands, you could still lose. But, I don’t want to confuse you too much. That may have occurred already. I have not mentioned the fact that a lot of players watch the television, or play four or five games at a time. You could watch the television in a casino, but unless you’ve got big arms, and only play blackjack; you can only play one game at a time. I personally think that you should only play one game at a time, anyway. I’ve tried playing several tables at once, and I find it virtually impossible to concentrate on what the other players are doing, as you’re constantly nipping from one to the other. It’s not for me. Yes, I do prefer live play, but if that’s not available, this is clearly the best thing.