Internet poker is quickly becoming the fast growing online game in the world. It is played by lawyers, military members, soccer moms, firefighters, plumbers, and doctors. The game boasts of players that try the game for entertainment, and individuals who have made it a profession. Computer companies and businesses have also joined into the action offering poker forums, training websites, poker software, and strategy blogs. It is rather obvious to see the game online is totally different than games played in a casino.

When you play cards online the game is very fast paced. You will be seeing so many more hands in an hour than what you will see in a live game. Through seeing such a vast array of card possibilities it makes people believe more bad beats happen and the game is "rigged".

Since the online game is so accessible for anyone it is easy for the casual player to decide and play. They don’t have to worry about making mistakes in front of a dealer or peers and it gives them an opportunity to play the cards as if it were a computer game. They are not overly familiar with the game and they are willing to "gamble" more than the seasoned player.

There are also new games constantly starting online. This also means that people are more willing to take chances. If they lose, a new game is just a click away. Whereas, if you play in a casino, you will tend to be conservative since it might be the only tournament of the day. Once again when people are taking more chances, more bad beats are bound to happen.

This is one of the biggest differences between online and live play. You’re seeing so many cards dealt per hour against average to below average players, bad beats are bound to happen. They are not afraid to lose because another game is always starting. They don’t have to face that long walk of shame or be embarrassed by the bad plays they make. You can not let this bother you; it will affect your game and ultimately affect your bankroll.

When you play online poker it is impossible to pick up physical tells like you can at a live game. You have to figure out players tendency by determining how they bet with big hands or drawing hands. Sometimes players wait a long time until they make a bet. What you need to figure out, does the player make this play because they are trying to make it look like they are thinking or do they have a powerful hand? The great aspect of playing virtually, is that you can take and save notes on players. It is highly recommended as you notice a players tendency you make a note, since you could probably play that individual again.

Probably the biggest difference between playing online or live is the use of poker software. These programs can make any player better. You can calculate odds that will instantly give you the percentages of winning a hand, which will essentially tell you if a player should continue to chase draws. There is also software available that will tell you what range of cards you should go all in with based on your chip stack and the blinds. Players statistics are also tracked online and readily available. The information can give you insight on how the player approaches the game and the amount of experience they have.

Playing poker offers a great opportunity to make new friends, challenge your mind, and win some money. Now that the game has expanded to an online environment the amount of friends you can gain rapidly increases because your playing with individuals that share the same goals.