Only logged-in members can vote!
→ Click here to create a Mob account which gives you access to our forum and all our free bankrolls (no deposit bonuses) → Log in to existing account!
Joined: Feb '08
Location: United Kingdom
Age: 35 (M)
Posts: 1886
They say online poker and live poker are two different animals. But good poker players are good players so being a winner live isn't too different from being a winner online, right? Well no. There is definitely a whole new skill set to master when playing live. A skill set that includes psychological games, socialising with the enemy, reading faces and bodies, disguising your emotions, picking up on tiny details and following hunches.
But other than new skills and live experience, what is it that really makes a live poker player one of the best? In other words (making the introduction look rather long and pointless) which of the above do you need most to play to play live poker?
Mobsters who don't have english as a first language feel free to ask for any definitions.
Joined: Apr '09
Location: Australia
Age: 40 (M)
Posts: 6483
Yeah, to extend on that, besides the obvious patience required in any single tournament / session. It also takes a huge amount of patience in the long run - to follow bankroll management (patience in not moving up in stakes), the patience to read articles and ultimately improve your skills. Pretty much every aspect successful playing requires patience of some sort.
Joined: Nov '08
Location: Sweden
Age: 34 (M)
Posts: 47
I would say patience, but you could always multitabling if you patience isn't your strong side Passion and confidence is pretty important aswell. Else you could burn yourself out playing poker for hours a day and just find it boring and stop play it.
Joined: Apr '11
Location: Romania
Age: 35 (M)
Posts: 6669
As it's known poker is definately a patience game, of course other things are also import when it comes to pokerpoker but patience is definately the most important!
I would also add discipline to that list, you also need that if you want to become good on this game!
Joined: Apr '09
Location: Portugal
Age: 44 (M)
Posts: 4827
In terms of skills, a good online players needs a lot of patience to good poker live. He will be used to play several tables at the same time, focusing on different gaming action, and when playing live, he will be playing one single game, with extended time in each level, which will make him play ten times slower than he's used when online. Besides skills, an online player that wants to go live for an experience, will need money, because the games are more expensive!
Joined: Feb '08
Location: United Kingdom
Age: 35 (M)
Posts: 1886
Posted by Bassets: I would say patience, but you could always multitabling if you patience isn't your strong side
I don't know how you multi-table live. I'd like to see someone try that Fakiry is right. Live poker is a lot slower but surprisingly it doesn't feel that slow to me, unless one player takes ages to make a call in which case it's most likely a huge hand and you have to respect that. In general I would say live poker seems to fly by in comparison to online. I think this is due partly to how much more exciting it is. Sometimes the repetitiveness of online poker can be a drag if you're waiting for the break or just a good hand. Because you don't go through as many hands paying live I think it's always surprising how quickly the time goes so as long as you are enjoying yourself you don't get impatient.
Joined: Mar '08
Location: United Kingdom
Age: 44 (M)
Posts: 6714
I would say courage, live is allot more of an aggressive beast, I choose this over patients as when playing live you might only get to see 20hph, you don't have time to wait, you get blinded, IMO to play live you have to let the gambler loose.
Joined: May '08
Location: Lithuania
Age: 39 (M)
Posts: 10090
i remember one guy who was dressed up in extra special suit+stylish glasses said- most important thing in playing live is your image at the tables, then shortly afterwards he lost- so guess he was wrong looking at hellmouth and tony G-spot i would say you should have a big mouth in order to be successful
Joined: Jan '11
Location: United States
Age: 60 (M)
Posts: 3361
I'm going to have to go with patience due to the fact there seems to be a push when I'm playing live versus on-line. It would seem opposite, but it seems like the hands are just are quick playing, but then again there's usually only 5 to 7 players when I'm playing live versus the 9 when playing on-line.
confidence.. if you go in scared you will never get anywhere. In a live game you need courage to put your chips in the middle with what you think is the best hand. If you are timid and run scared thwy will walk all over you.
Joined: May '12
Location: United Kingdom
Age: 38 (M)
Posts: 2064
I don't think there's any one answer to that question.... I think a mix of ALL the options are vital, if you're gonna be a successful 'bricks and mortar' player....
Online, it's really all just about patience and intuitiveness.
Joined: Jan '12
Location: Australia
Age: 30 (M)
Posts: 155
I would say Patience gut and discipline which is the biggy. Which all describes Phil ivey. Nobody on this site is as good as Phil ivey never will be and wont even come close to his level. I challenge anyone who disagrees to post their screen name.
Joined: Jan '12
Location: United Kingdom
Age: 36 (M)
Posts: 1204
Posted by Redvulture61: I would say Patience gut and discipline which is the biggy. Which all describes Phil ivey. Nobody on this site is as good as Phil ivey never will be and wont even come close to his level. I challenge anyone who disagrees to post their screen name.
I'd love for Daniel negreanu to post his screenname right now.
) is: patience.
Fakiry is right. Live 
