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How to move from online to live poker games – the 7 rules to switching

• 30.06.2025 7:31 pm
• Helen
• 0 Comments

After becoming the master of online poker, you decide that maybe it is time you moved to live poker games and see if they are as juicy as they are said to be. You are the master of online poker so you expect no major changes.

It is actually very true that live poker games are juicy, but you need to get the basic concepts in order for you to be the winner you are in online poker. There are a few changes that you must adjust to in order to make it in live poker. They include:

• Live games are much slower

In live games, you should expect to play slow games, and you are confined to one table, and the game will take longer. In online poker, you can get as many as eighty hands in one hour but in live poker, you will be lucky if you got even 30. This means that in live games, there are also more folds as well as boredom.

But you should use your free time to read your opponents. This will give the advantage in case you end up in a hand with these opponents when you have reads on them.

• Expect softer average tables

The reason average tables are softer is to somehow make up for the slow games. In live $5/$10 games and lower, the average table constitutes of 2 true fish, 2 gamblers, and 4 regulars who are super tight as well as a possible 2 great players, which hopefully includes you.

This combination is softer as there are fishy players, as well as regular players who are very predictable. Some of these regulars are so up tight that you can guarantee that each time they raise, it is either the nuts AA or the KK. These are the kind of players who would be mauled in online poker. The only reason they will survive is the presence of a lot of fish.

In live poker, it is easy to keep wait on the nuts, bet for value against the fish as well as make a raise on the regulars while pushing them around. In case they push you back, simply fold and you have an easy game.

• Expect loose passive Live games

If you are used to online 6 max arena, you will be surprised at how loose passive live games can be.  During online games, you can profit from shoving or calling for a bet with AK at preflop from any position, but this in live games will land you AA to KK and you will be dead before you know it.

Betting light 3 is not so popular in live games. In live games, reraises from most players are mostly for value. You need to watch your opponent and you will be surprised they may go a whole game session without any 3 bet. There are players who will opt to play on the flop poker by flat calling AK and QQ.

In case you often land AK during the pre flop deep stacks live game of over 100bb, then you have a lot of work to do if you are to win at all. You need to limp as much as you can to secure a win. After the pre flop, the game becomes even more passive. Instead of raising draws, most players will simply call with the hope of hitting. In live poker, players will also play slow with monsters instead of building a big pot. They will also miss on clear river bets for value.

• Expect a lot of pre-flop limping in live games

With connection to number three above, there is rampant pre flop limping in live poker games. In online poker, limping is a way of telling the fish in the game but I live poker this is not the case. This is because every player in live poker limps a whole lot. Trying to separate every time a player limps will land you to taking way flops of 4- as well as 5- on regular basis.

You need to know that live poker players prefer seeing the flop regularly. In stead of iso raising off the button with a hand like , you are better off seeing a 6 way flop.

• In live poker expect multi way contests for the pot 

In online poker, it is always heads up to the flop for almost ninety percent of the pots. In live poker however, your average on pot is normally 2 or maybe 3 handed. This is because, the more the players, as it is in live poker, the more the chances that one player has a true hand.

You need to place continuation bets at lesser times as the pre flop is raised. You will also require having a better hand on average if you are to win in the case of a showdown.

• Expect deeper live games

In order for you to be a winner in online poker, you mast definitely had to master the play of deep stacks that are over 100bb. In live poker, it is possible for you to find yourself as deep as 200bb and even more. This happens more often that not. You simply have to play your game.

It can be hard to adjust playing your deep stack game, and you will most probably play hands where, if your stacks are 100bb deep, you will be happier if you got it all in at the flop. While 300bb stacks deep are no longer of any profit.

If you decide to call, then you would be expected to also call big bets on the river and turn too.

• Always play your game

Regardless of whether you are playing live or online games, you still maintain the same objective, which is to make your opponent to fold before there is a showdown or hold the best hand in case of showdown.

It is therefore important to keep an eye on your opponent's playing habits at the same time playing your type of game. Remember you are privileged as you are accustomed to tougher online games, it will surprise you on how easy it is in live games.