I moved from live poker to online in the UK - here's what nobody tells you about the transition
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@livedealer_fan Played £1/2 and £2/5 live, now grinding £1/2 online with some £2/5 mixed in. The jump in difficulty is significant.
Here's something I calculated recently - if your live win rate is R_live (big blinds per hour) and online you can play V times more volume, your online win rate needs to be at least R_online = (R_live × H_live) / H_online where H represents hourly volume. For me: 8bb/hour live × 25 hands/hour = 200bb total. Online at 200 hands/hour, I need 1bb/hour minimum to match live income. But the reality is online win rates are typically 30-50% of live rates due to tougher competition.
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This thread is gold. Making notes for when I eventually make this transition. Currently only playing live monthly tournaments but cash games online seem more profitable if you can handle the grind.
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@poker_pete_uk Your math checks out but misses the emotional factor. Online downswings feel more brutal because you experience them faster. Lost £400 in 45 minutes online vs £400 over 6 hours live - same money but completely different psychological impact.
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The tracking software aspect is huge too. Live players aren't used to having every decision analyzed post-session. PokerTracker and Hold'em Manager become essential but the data can be overwhelming at first.
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Different perspective here - moved from live to online 5 years ago, now moved back to live. Online poker became too mechanical for me. Felt like work rather than a game. The human element in live poker is irreplaceable imo.
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@roulette_rob Interesting take. I've found online forces you to become a better technical player though. When you can't rely on physical tells, you really have to understand ranges, bet sizing, frequencies. Made me a much stronger player when I occasionally play live now.
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One thing not mentioned - the rake structure differences. Online rake caps are usually lower but taken more frequently due to volume. Live games often have higher caps but less hands per hour. Need to factor this into win rate calculations.
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@mike_bet Spot on. PokerStars rake at £1/2 is 5% capped at £3, but you're paying it 200+ times per hour vs maybe 25 times live. Adds up fast.
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The learning curve is steeper online but the skill development is accelerated. Took me about 6 months to feel comfortable, 12 months to become properly profitable. Now I can't imagine going back to live poker full time - too slow and frankly too easy.
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@james_uk That's exactly where I am now. The transition period is rough but the skill development has been incredible. Still miss the social aspects of live play, but the convenience and volume online offers is hard to beat.
Anyone thinking of making this switch - start small, be patient, and prepare for a steep learning curve. It's worth it in the long run.