What have you learned playing poker on-line?

thats true when i did make a good run from 10 to 1300 i was playing on the desktop downstairs in my basement but when i started playing on my laptop ive been really inconsistant because im usually watching television while playing.

Wally, This applies to live games too. You have to watch the game even if you have folded your card, try to put other players on hands and watch for significant raise/check-raise/all-in/behavirour on dry/wet boards etc. Game is very interesting if I try to read hands and study betting pattern.

I have learned that the poker world (Cardschat people excepted) is full of loud mouths who cry constantly when they suffer a bad beat. They always seem to be at my table. I wonder why?

I've learned that a hand is never safe, even if there is one or two outs against it.

Nothing but ^%@(*#$^@*)&^$*&@^*$(%^(^$%@(&(@^%$(@^$@*&$%@*&$@* *****

Yes, I agree that you need to be disciplined at home. Can't be watching tv, making food, checking email, etc., all of which I've done, but I do notice that when I've done that, I haven't won much.

Another thing I've learned playing online is players are much more aggresive online vs. live.

We must be at the same tables. I've started keeping chat off.

I actually need background distractions. Otherwise I over think and don't play nearly as well.

MrFold, I only play live game, but thinking of entering the online world. Do you have any specific reasons to not play online? Is this due to personal reasons (Lack of time, possible issues of spending too much time at the expense of work/personal life) or poker reasons (more fish in live games, you have better skills)?

Thanks.

The temptation to play multiple games is great but makes it tough to keep track of what the other players are like

I have learnt that there are dickheads that play and call with any 2 cards all the way to the river and then hit some miracle card to complete a 4 card flush or some straight after I have flopped a set or trips.

Poker is all about focus. Attitude is a big part of that. Discipline to not let a bad run or a river beat effect your game. All of these things are a work in progress.

I personally agree with yourguynow.
Most players on this forum will tell you that Multi tabling is a natural progression in the learning curve. I have tried but failed misserably.



1 Exercise before you start a possible marathon session

2. Take your phone off the hook, switch off mobile.

3. Do not play with children or grandchildren running around.

4. Make sure your wife/spouses natural needs have been seen to.

5. If you are a Tournament player, don’t play cash games after bad beats.

6. Never play for more than 2% of your bank roll

7. If you hit pocket Aces early in $1 - $5 multi table tournament, then bet at least 10 x BB, because 3 x BB seems to be a magnet for all to call.

8. Never berate bad plays using the chat box; it would be nice if the villain continued to make bad plays.

9. You take on the table bully and hit a great flop, let him hang himself, they generally do at $1 - $5 tournaments. If he hits runner, runner, so what, damned annoying, but these things can happen.

10. Check reraising is a good way for you to cheaply chase a flush or straight in future hands.

11. Beware an Ace on the flop versus your pocket Ks Qs Js or Ts, the many donks that play online will not give up their Ace Rag.

12. Trips are always a possibility; never assume your top pair Ace kicker is definitely winning.

13. Steal, Steal, and Steal from the Small stacks near the bubble especially the ones that take an age for every decision.

14. If you have an ave stack near the bubble reraise the stealer (he is playing like I would) allin with any 2 cards, 9/10 times you will take the pot down. Even the Big Stacks don’t want to give half their chips away.

15. Most important of all, don't become obsessed and forget to spend quality time with your family and friends.

I have probably learned 1,000 other things, quite honestly the list is endless.

Ive learned to get a decent internet connection... i reached a final table twice and was DC both times...

jacksprat (http://www.cardschat.com/members/jacksprat/), Thanks for the impressive list. Keep them coming.

It's tough not getting distracted, I have my 2 son's and the wife, daughter and grandson. Unless my son's are at school I get no peace to play my hobby.

LOL.....

Your AA and KK are not safe when someone has QQ or JJ.....

All your points are true - just one added thought:

I'm playing multitables to get more volume (and to prevent getting bored in a MTT)

but when I switch back to one table (for CC-games and other important ones)

I can see that the thousands of hands I played before and the now focused approach on the single game almost give me x-ray vision.

One thing I've learned is that playing NL Hold 'Em, Stud 8, Stud, Razz, and Omaha 8 all at the same time is a bad idea.

perhaps you're getting it in bad?

What have I learned??.... you can play at micro levels for as long as you choose to, & know that you'll rarely be able to use anything much beyond level1 thinking on the tables because the vast majority of the players aren't capable of going beyond that. Most won't put you on a range of hands & most will use their own play/thinking for a benchmark to evaluate what you're doing (ie. you check-raise the turn... they're thinking.. "oh.. he's making a move... I callzzz with my gutter").
Online micro players play for a variety of reasons.... the majority don't seem to be playing to win.
In Micro limits you can play uber tight in mutlitable SNG play, showing down only the nuts or near nuts, or big pairs like AA KK & QQ and still have a guy flat call your 4bet cuz he's got a suited facecard out of position.
.... the list goes on but am pretty sure you're getting the general idea of what I've learned in micro levels.. Oh yah, another thing I've learned is, playing micro levels for extended periods of time is an extended waste of time (if your goal is to become a better player).

I learned that if I throw one of my slippers as hard as I can, it won't go through the screen door.

I learned that if I throw my hat as hard as I can, my shoulder will hurt afterwards.

How to lay down big hands.

That I suck at online poker! No, seriously, I am terrible.

I've learned that I should not play with distractions. I have distractions 99.9% of the time when I play; I still do it. Sigh...

I've gained important experience much faster than I would have in live play and I believe that experience has made me a much better live player though!

What I've learned from online poker is that I really, really needed this forum...my online game has improved tremendously since I joined CC last month...very grateful I stumbled into it (googling for reviews on Spade Club of all things ).

I had joined some other poker forums but only lurked, did not participate...CC just 'felt' more friendly to me (& it is! ). I am learning so many, many things here...& someday I may even be dangerous (& no longer a nit ).

Very good advice in this thread.
My favorite is laying down big hands though- its very important and hard to do

Focus, focus, focus. When I'm focused on the game, I win. When I'm not, I lose. Oh, and that I'm easily distracted and lose focus a lot!

-Dave

Thanks to all of the reply's, I have realized that I have way too many distractions when I am playing. The last two times I played with no distractions, I have done well.

My son turns 2 in a month, he is a distraction to say the least. Last night he was in bed early and I ended up 2nd out of 160.

The last time he did that, ended up final table as well making a decent cut.

Looks like I need to grind when the time is right, stop betting on sports and only play when poker has my undevided attention

What I've learned from playing poker online is that math is no longer an exact science.

love it.

I've confirmed for myself, that the table image is very important, especially when you are in position!

That the worst hands wins more times then the best hands ~Sigh~

Ive learned (or maybe not since here I am) not to read this forum so much when im playing.

very good thread. intresting to read wat different people have learnt...
well, i have learnt many things but most important thing was, "poker is actually playing with peoples mind but not with peoples cards"