Live versus on-line: The mystery thickens

[jameseyb]

Just got back from Edinburgh where I took part in a £10 PL rebuy tourney with an entry field of about 40. I stuck to my game plan (max two rebuys, maybe one top-up) and made it to the final table. Much to my surprise, I was econd in chips going in to the table and, after a lot of play, made second place, netting me £270.

Now, this is the second time I have played a live game in a card room/casino and the second time I have placed in the money beating far more experienced players in the process. The last time was in London at the Gutshot where I beat a pro and managed to put Biondino into second place to turn my £20 buyin into £100. This time I turned £30 into £270, meaning that I have turned £50 into £370 in two games.

On-line is another matter. PT has been keeping my records since the end of last year and I have been steadily losing money since then, albeit at a slower rate now with the occaisional foray into wins. Hell, $25NL was bad for me and after a spate of knocks I dropped down to $10NL where I am _still_ losing money. I get more exposure to on-line games, I play more, I make the odd mistake, but I cannot honestly think of a time in either of my two live games where I made a mistake. What the hell is going on? Why am I so bad at internet play when I seem to be able to cope against live players without a problem? Has anyone else had the same problem and found a way to turn their internet form around to match their live play?

J

[biondino]

Slightly unfair of me to post since I know you, but when we've talked about poker it seems you appreciate the time to think and make decisions, and maybe online you feel too rushed? You also play a very straight bat live, but maybe online you feel the need to make more bluffs (aarrgh minraise bluffs aarrgh!) without much knowledge/experience of the best times to make them.

Perhaps tournament play simply suits your style more than ring - that would be the obvious answer to your post above, even though I don't think it's that simple.

Oh, and enough modesty - the SNG where you beat me and a pro you also beat several other players who play several levels higher than either you or I do. It was a flawless performance, for real - at some point you'll beat this block and become a truly excellent player, I have no doubt.

[jyms]

What is your mindset at the tourney? What does the little tape in your head say when dealt certain hands? What is it saying during your online sessions? What is poker tracker telling you? There is a major difference in the two games as far as your concered, what is it? Ring vs. tourney, Tagg vs. Lagg or no fear vs. survival. There is a voice in your head, I hear mine as soon as I see my starting cards, what's yours say?

[jameseyb]

I think the only way I can describe my mindset in both of these events is: "There is no way I am going to be first out", closely followed by "Right, This is costing me serious money, let's be uber-tight". That said, I can hear voices in my head too... They tell me that I should play cards the way they get played and sometimes they tell me when I am beaten but, in the case of on-line poker, I don't get the latter very much.

One hand that springs to mind was my AJs hand versus the little old lady holding KJ. Flop gave me trip aces and I pushed. She called with a pair and I knocked her out. I pushed without any hesitation and I think that might have made her think I was bluffing.

I think it could be time though. Sometimes I did take a bit more than 15/20 seconds, but not very often. Maybe it's just the impression of time... On-line _seems_ to be quicker, live can be slower. Hell, I don't know.

J

[biondino]

no "seems to be " and "can be" here. Online is AT LEAST twice as quick, and if you're multitabling it goes up in multiples.

[bantam222]

maybe you are paying better attention while play live, less distractions. When you are on-line are you on the internet while playing? Do you have people distracting you in the background?

[Miffed22001]

you might end up battling me next time in edinburgh

[jackvance]

Maybe you're better at reading people when you see them?

[Aceofone]

It could also be that the novelty of live play hasn't worn off yet. You've only had two sessions. Post back here after of couple live sessions where you don't win a pot.

[Halv]

When you are on-line are you on the internet while playing?

Question of the month.

(Yeah, I understood what you really meant. I also agree that there can be way more distractions playing online, or at least I'm more easily distracted.)

[jameseyb]

Miffed, I look forward to it!

As for the question of if I am doing other internet stuff, that's a tricky one... Most of the time I'm not. I might listen to relaxing music, but I may not, it depends how I feel and, for the most part, I'm coping with decisions on three tables more easily now.

That might actually form part of it though. When you have to make a snap choice on-line, actually having time to do all the thinking and calculations when playing live is like a luxury. Maybe I'm just not used to the extra time and so I am more relaxed, even though it didn't feel like it!

As for reads... Who knows. I was certainly able to stare people down round a table, something I would not be able to do on-line.

J