|
6) Total Recall is Available
Most players after playing a long poker session can't remember the details of previously played hands. They don't have a clue as to what the player sitting to your right played on the 18th hand of the game. Online poker rooms record and keep track of all that happened during a game. You can use this historical data to find out such things as: what cards you had in the 11th hand, how many chips where in the big stack, what was said on chat, and which player called the pre-flop raise on a given hand. In the real world, information like that is lost each time the cards are mucked and shuffled.
Players can improve their own play by placing their own information into one of several programs that analyze playing tendencies and use the information provided to better their play. The information gained on your opponents can also be analyzed in an attempt to spot patterns in their play and notes can be made for later use in the event that you play against them at another time.
Online players can make notes on those they play against; do they check often, raise often, fold often, see every flop, call every bet. When/if you play these players again you can reference your notes on them to quickly refresh your memory as to their playing tendencies.
Online players can track everything, and keep records of anything they feel will improve their chances of winning.
7) Tournaments
Casino tournaments are fun. Players enjoy the competition and the social aspect involved when at the next break they do some recapping with other players during the buffet. A banquet room full of animated tournament poker players does create quite an exciting buzz.
Those fortunate enough to make it to the final tournament table get a chance to play before an audience and are in the spotlight for as long as their chips hold out. As well as knowing they are good and/or lucky enough to survive to this point they have the knowledge that they have earned a share of the prize money by placing this well in the tournament. When the number of players is reduced to two or three the first place prize money is often placed on the table with great fanfare for all in attendance to see.
Online poker tournaments are different. Because the players are at home there is an informal atmosphere and the tournament itself is run differently. At the large multi-table casino tournaments you have to physically show up, the registration is fixed and the start time is set. Online players can play whenever they want to by joining a "Sit and Go" tournament that begins when every seat at the table is filled. These tournaments start whenever enough people interested in playing right now can fill a table, there is no set starting time.
Online poker rooms attract players looking to play tournament poker from every corner of the world. Because the players don't have to physically gather anywhere online poker rooms can host more tournaments than the average brick and mortar poker room. The prize pools for online poker tournaments and land-based tournaments are similar, so the only real difference between the two is tournament atmosphere and player convenience.
8) Bonuses and Comps
Most online poker rooms welcome new players by topping up their first chip purchase with a few free chips. A new player bonus is not common practice in the offline poker world, and I've never gotten free chips at any home game either.
Re-deposit bonuses to existing players are commonly offered by online poker rooms.
Many online poker rooms have comp. systems in place to reward players for time spent playing at their room. A comp. reward could be anything from paying the entry fee for a player appreciation tournament to tangible bonuses of merchandise or cash. The computing power in an online poker room enables them to track your playing time anywhere in the room and decide if you are eligible for a comp. bonus.
|
