Over the past decade, online gaming has seen nothing but staggering growth and innovation. New technologies like 5G, virtual reality, improved online security and enhanced sound and graphics have all contributed to this. It is a reminder that consumer bases are becoming ever-more interactive and addicted to technology.
However, one area in particular that stands out is the growth of online poker. As land-based casinos become less prevalent, more and more people are turning to online poker options as they offer a whole new level of experience, compared to traditional poker. From more opportunities to play against a wider variety of skilled opponents, to bigger cash prizes and in-game bonuses, it’s not hard to see why people are making the transition.
So whether you are new to the poker world or you’re learning to brush up on your online poker playing skills, below are some top tips for learning to play poker online.
Why play poker online?
While visiting a real-life casino offers a unique experience where guests can enjoy a lively atmosphere full of likeminded people, there are a number of advantages to playing poker online. These include:
Availability
Have a busy schedule? Online poker enables you to play at your own convenience as you’re not limited by opening times of a physical venue. With online casinos, games are available 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week. While you may find that more players are active at certain times, there’s no time restrictions meaning you can play whenever you feel like it.
Play at a faster pace
A live poker game will typically play 25-30 hands per hour, with players needing to put many hours into live play in order to profit from the game. However, online play is much faster with some sites dealing as many as 90 hands per hour.
More game variety
In a physical venue, players are limited to the games and tournaments that the venue is offering at any given time. In addition, that venue will be limited by the amount of space they have for multiple tables, and the number of staff available. Online poker removes these limitations, opening up a much wider variety of game play.
Ease of access
Online poker can be easily accessed compared to games at physical venues. While physical venues have limited opening hours and require players to travel to the premises, online poker can be played anywhere in the world with a wifi connection, at any time, day or night. For the modern player with many time constraints from modern life, accessibility to online poker is a huge factor.
Low stakes
Stakes offered in a live poker room often require a large bankroll, whereas online play requires a much smaller one. This makes accessing poker as a hobby or profession much easier for new players.
How to learn to play poker
For those new to online poker, the game can seem daunting, in which the player may think they have a lot to lose. One of the great things about online poker is that it’s well geared up for new players, in which there are a variety of learning resources available. Some of these include:
Poker books
Poker books are a great way to get inside the head of a professional poker player and see an insider perspective of how they experience the game. You may even pick up useful strategies that you can apply to your own game.
Practice, practice, practice
The best way to get good at a new skill is to practice and this couldn’t be truer for poker. No matter how many books you read on strategy, as soon as you’re in the game, you’ll pick up so much more information and much quicker than if you were to study for many hours beforehand.
Get good at bluffing
Bluffing can be a difficult skill to master; especially online. That being said, if done in the right way, bluffing can be an incredibly effective tool for winning a game. It’s important to consider how you use it to ensure players don’t learn to expect you to bluff.
Utilize analysis software
When learning online poker, it’s a good idea to use a software that can analyse your performance, see where your weaknesses are and offer good advice for how to work on your weaknesses.
Ensure you make key hardware updates
Considering you may be playing a poker game for a few hours, it’s important to have the right equipment at your disposal. It’s often missed, however it’s essential for ensuring your health and wellbeing when playing at a screen for long periods at a time. It’s important to keep an eye on things like if you’re getting enough eye strain breaks, having a chair that provides lumbar support and having a keyboard that’s in an optimized position for your wrists.
The increasing competition of online poker
Online poker not only moves at a much faster pace than live poker, there is a larger pool of talented players from all across the world. For this reason, it’s important to know who you’re up against and ensure you’re able to play at that level. While the stakes are not as high, it is still important to know your competition.
Overall, online poker offers so many more opportunities than live poker. So whether you’re looking to play remotely or want to expand your options, it’s worth checking out. What’s more, there are so many free online resources for learning poker, the possibilities are endless.