Lesson 4
Online vs. Live Tournaments
Same game, completely different environment.
Online Tournaments
- Speed: Very fast. You see 3x-4x more hands per hour.
- Comfort: Play from home, no travel costs.
- HUDs: You can use software to track opponents.
- Tells: Based on betting timing (Timing Tells).
Live Tournaments
- Social: You can talk to opponents, get information.
- Physical Tells: Shaking hands, heavy breathing, eye movement.
- Slow: Manual dealing is slow. Patience is critical.
- Analysis: No software allowed. Mental math only.
Key Takeaways
- • Online is for grinding volume and math.
- • Live is for psychology and patience.
- • Don't expect to play as many hands live as you do online.
⚠️ Common Mistakes
- • Getting bored live and playing trash hands.
- • Assuming online players are bluffing as much as live players (online fields are often tougher/more GTO).
Worked Example
A player stares at you intensely after betting.
In a live game, this is a potential tell (often strength masquerading as intimidation). Online, you have zero visual info.
Knowledge Check
Test your understanding to complete this lesson.
Question 1 of 5