| The differences between online poker and more | | | | particularly for the new player and just is |
| traditional poker table games are sometimes | | | | not that inviting for the beginner. They are |
| not as obvious as they may seem. | | | | apt to feel out of their league, and, if |
| | | | others at the table have more experience or |
| Unlike sitting down at a poker table with | | | | are strangers, they are apt to feel |
| friends, online poker has an added dimension | | | | intimidated. |
| these days. There is a lot of pressure from | | | | |
| many quarters to make online poker illegal, | | | | The online poker experience is quite |
| particularly in the United States. You will | | | | different. There is an anonymity which |
| almost always know if the table game you are | | | | protects the psyche of the "newbie". They can |
| playing is in an area where poker is legal, | | | | watch games as long as they want before |
| but it is getting harder to know if this is | | | | actually taking part. Additionally, most |
| true about poker played online. | | | | online venues will have tutorials and |
| | | | practice games for beginners that help ease |
| In spite of these gray areas, millions in the | | | | the learning process. Sometimes the main site |
| U. S. and around the world regularly enjoy | | | | will actually have a completely separate site |
| participating in online poker games from the | | | | set up strictly for the beginner. Another |
| comfort of their own homes. Just to give this | | | | helper for the beginner is that online games |
| some perspective, in 2005, the revenue from | | | | tend to have buttons labeled for the various |
| online poker was reported to be in the | | | | actions and often include on-screen prompts |
| vicinity of $200 million. | | | | for the appropriate action. |
| | | | |
| Not only is online poker generating huge | | | | Internet poker sites also offer a range of |
| amounts of revenue and creating new | | | | limits so that the beginning player can |
| millionaires, among players, site owners, and | | | | actually start betting pennies. Not only is |
| affiliates of poker sites, but, due to its | | | | the betting easy, but so is the access. |
| pervasive influence, the appeal of poker in | | | | Unlike a table game, an online game can be |
| general is growing. The public is not only | | | | found 24 hours a day from anywhere in the |
| gaining knowledge about poker, but is showing | | | | world that there is a computer and an |
| an interest in all things poker. From the | | | | Internet connection. |
| tables to the chips at the table, to the | | | | |
| people who play at the tables, poker is huge. | | | | There are, however, two drawbacks to playing |
| | | | online, particularly if one's goal is to |
| Poker players such as Chris Ferguson (Jesus), | | | | eventually participate in the highly |
| Annie Duke, and her brother Howard Lederer | | | | televised poker tournaments occupying more |
| (The Professor), and Hoyt Corkins (The | | | | prime time slots on TV. First, there is the |
| Alabama Cowboy), to name a few, had never | | | | hurdle of actually sitting and playing at the |
| been heard of by the public a few months ago. | | | | table itself. No amount of online preparation |
| Now they are celebrities in their own right. | | | | can duplicate or offset the first few times |
| Even people who have been celebrities, such | | | | you find yourself in a chair across from a |
| as Jennifer Tilly, Ben Affleck, and Mimi | | | | Doyle Brunson, Chris Moneymaker, or Daniel |
| Rogers have traded in the bright lights of | | | | Negreanu. |
| Hollywood for the green felt of the poker | | | | |
| table - at least on occasion. | | | | Second, although it IS possible, it is |
| | | | exceedingly difficult to bluff at an online |
| While many of these famous people play in | | | | poker game and even harder to learn how to |
| tournaments sitting at the table with the | | | | read your opponents. |
| celebrities of poker, most mortals enter the | | | | |
| poker arena via online poker websites such as | | | | Look on the bright side, however. It IS easy |
| partypoker.com, pokerstars.com, or | | | | to learn basic poker skills and improve your |
| | | | technique online, and you won't have to worry |
| Sitting at a poker table can be intimidating, | | | | about your poker face! |