Why Live Poker is Better

I will be playing a live poker tournament in a few hours.  I don't do that very often.  I have money on two poker sites, so I have an online bankroll.  I had a big live downswing and I don't have a strong bankroll for live games.  I wanted the majority of my play hours to be live, but it hasn't worked out that way.  Until I can grind my bankroll back up I have to be very careful with my tournament selection, only playing those with a structure that best plays to my strengths.  If that means only playing live once or twice a month, so be it.

Live poker is fun because it's a different experience every time, with a different mix of players every time.

I have played in lots of different poker rooms in different cities all over Michigan.  I have played in a Masonic Temple and in a Catholic church.  I have played in bars, restaurants and bowling alleys and in a standalone poker room in a strip mall.  I've played against people young enough to be my grandchildren and old enough to be my father.

I play against men and women, highly educated people and high-school dropouts, geniuses and those with below average IQs.  Poker accepts every race or type or kind that you can imagine.  Most are at least reasonably nice nice people--but not all.

Sometimes there will be an obnoxious drunk at my table.  There are gentlemen and there are men who like to stare at breasts (and to be fair, women who enjoy displaying them.). About a month ago I knocked a guy out of a tournament and he spent two minutes yelling that I was the worst player in the room.

If you can't deal with that, you're playing the wrong game.  If you are a champion of diversity, enter a live poker tournament and you'll be right at home.

Poker is the ultimate meritocracy.  My age doesn't matter as long as I'm at least 18 (21 in some casinos.)  My resume doesn't matter.  My education or income doesn't matter.  Either I cash or I don't, and usually only 10-15% of the players cash.  Live poker tournaments don't give participation trophies.

Playing online just isn't the same.  You don't see or talk to anyone.  When I played on PokerStars I described live poker as more fun because, "I'm playing against a real person, not an avatar from Uzbekistan."*  I often spend over an hour playing an online SNG with no one typing anything in the chat box.

One more thing.  If I want to cash out after an online win I have to jump thought a lot of hoops.  The site on which I play is not located in the United States.  Getting money out involves foreign banks, payment processors, and sometimes issues with US credit cards or banks.  The first time you cash out you have to send a bunch of paperwork to prove that you are who you say you are and that you live where you say you live.  Receiving the money can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks.**

If I cash for $500 in my tournament tonight, all I have to do is walk over to a table and pick up an envelope which contains the cash.


Next Post: Why Online Poker is Better

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*PokerStars at that time accepted players from all over the world.  I really did have someone from Uzbekistan at one of my tables.

**The main site on which I play, Americas Cardroom, has some very quick payout methods, for example, money sent to your special debit card--but the fees are significant.  On the other hand, I can ask for one free paper check a month (minimum $100) to be mailed and it's free, but it can be a week or more before I receive it.