Here I am, battling the change of pace from live play to online play. Originally, I was a Foxwoods regular as it was a very easy journy from school in Providence, RI to a very nice poker room.

Now school is over, and I'm back home in NJ, about 2 hours from AC or Foxwoods. I've done the drive a few times and it wears me out. I play poorly because of it, and dropping a few hundred for the hotel room isn't great for the bankroll. So I decided to start going and playing online.

Traditionally, I'm a Tight and varied preflop and post flop player. I love my suited connectors and all pocket pairs. I can wait out cold decks as long as it takes and generally trust my reads.

I've found my online play doesn't match my live play in terms of consistency of reads, betting patterns of my own and other players, and my patience factor has gone down. I've started multi-tabling to keep myself stimulated, but my quality of play tends to drop a little.

One of my questions for everyone is this: While playing online, its it more profitable to play strict premium hands and develop a tight grind-it-out playing style? Or have you guys had more success playing the agressor? I know these questions are based upon the type of player you are, but I can switch into either gear depending on which is the more profitable online style.

I'm sure my reads will develop as I play more and start gathering a feel for betting patterns. I appreciate any advice. Thanks!

I've never been able to play online profitably, but I am a winner playing live. Sometimes you just can't do both.

In reality, the two are WORLDS apart, imo.

Easy answer: Don't play online

Figure out what type of game you prefer and then play to your table and opponents. Basically, select tables that play to your strengths. If you prefer the first style, find tables with stats that benefit it. If you prefer to run your opponents over, try to find table stats that cater to that.

Also, be aware that 1/2 NL live is a lot "easier" than 1/2 NL online, so consider playing at smaller stakes than you normally would.

Watching my successful live friend play online poker, I had this as advice:

1. Stop limping every pot.
2. Don't play SCs out of position
3. Play low stakes because you're probably playing worse players live than is comparable online.
4. Don't commit more than 10% of your stack pf with a low PP.
5. Stop limp calling every hand.
6. Figure out if you can read people's soul online (like you do live) before you "trust your reads" in a crazy way.
7. Reads online consist of betting patterns, timing tells, and your opponents ranges based on position (and stakes).
8. Take notes on ^

I dunno what to say about online being more boring, more hands = more "fun" IMO.

Very helpful advice. I'm going to print this one out to refer to while playing online. It seems like the grind is going to be a better style espcially with the more hands perhour than live.

this actually makes me feel better for some reason - I've had an absolute nightmare time playing online but live I am in the black. I think for me I just like the interaction and being able to see/read a person.

get cardrunners or some other online training site, should help make your transition much easier