Shadow6969
Rock Star
Bronze Level
Do you think online poker removes the psychological edge?
austral
Rock Star
Platinum Level
In online poker, aspects such as patience, discipline, reading betting patterns, and emotional control without physical cues tend to prevail.
In live poker, interpersonal psychology is used (reading tells and table presence).
I believe that combining skills from both worlds is necessary to maximize performance.
In live poker, interpersonal psychology is used (reading tells and table presence).
I believe that combining skills from both worlds is necessary to maximize performance.
Kasztor007
Rock Star
Platinum Level
I don’t think online poker removes the psychological edge, it just transforms it.
In cash games, you have to mentally reset after every single hand.
The real edge is focus, discipline, and the ability to maintain decision quality over time.
In cash games, you have to mentally reset after every single hand.
The real edge is focus, discipline, and the ability to maintain decision quality over time.
dompoker
Legend
Platinum Level
I think it's the same, because I've run into some online players, who increase the stakes and then they increase, they make you withdraw psychologically, some of them show their cards and they don't have a good hand.
SPANKYSN
Legend
Loyaler
Getting a read on opponents online is more difficult, but not impossible. Speed of decision making, betting patterns still give clues.
Goggelheimer
Legend
Platinum Level
Online poker definitely changes the psychological landscape, but it doesn’t erase the psychological edge — it just transforms it.
Research shows that while players lose access to physical tells, they gain new ways to read opponents through betting patterns, timing, and emotional swings like “tilt”.
Studies on online gambling also highlight that self‑control, stress, and impulsivity still strongly influence decision‑making, even without face‑to‑face interaction.
In other words, psychology remains a major factor — it simply shifts from body language to behavioral data.
So the psychological edge is still there, just expressed differently.
But to people who know about this it is very easy to change these online tells to their advantage.
Online you don't need scarfs, sunglasses, hoodies, face masks, botox injections (to hide facial micro movements) to mask physical tells that are also founded in psychlogical reactions of human bodies.
Sources: MDPI, Springer, University of Bristol Research Portal, IRep - Nottingham Trent University, Wiley Online Library
Research shows that while players lose access to physical tells, they gain new ways to read opponents through betting patterns, timing, and emotional swings like “tilt”.
Studies on online gambling also highlight that self‑control, stress, and impulsivity still strongly influence decision‑making, even without face‑to‑face interaction.
In other words, psychology remains a major factor — it simply shifts from body language to behavioral data.
So the psychological edge is still there, just expressed differently.
But to people who know about this it is very easy to change these online tells to their advantage.
Online you don't need scarfs, sunglasses, hoodies, face masks, botox injections (to hide facial micro movements) to mask physical tells that are also founded in psychlogical reactions of human bodies.
Sources: MDPI, Springer, University of Bristol Research Portal, IRep - Nottingham Trent University, Wiley Online Library
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Leandro6803
Visionary
Platinum Level
There are certainly differences between online and live poker, especially in reading your opponent. In live poker, the reading is more rudimentary, relying on expressions and gestures, while online poker is aided by software and player statistics such as VPIP, open raise, and hand frequency.
machinm19
Visionary
Platinum Level
I still find online poker to be a psychological game, all depends on the opponents I guess.
Obviously it’s a lot easier to play the game online but it’s still tough and good players are able to play mind games regardless of where they play poker.
Obviously it’s a lot easier to play the game online but it’s still tough and good players are able to play mind games regardless of where they play poker.
tuitui
Rock Star
Platinum Level
It certainly is more about mathematical probabilities and thinking about ranges. Psychological aspect does not dissappear totally, it kind of changes form.
But I have to say I many times wonder if the things I'm observing on opponents online are real or just result of my imagination. Usually I create some kind of image about them according to their avatar picture and nick and I know with that I probably go very wrong at least.
But I have to say I many times wonder if the things I'm observing on opponents online are real or just result of my imagination. Usually I create some kind of image about them according to their avatar picture and nick and I know with that I probably go very wrong at least.