I think it's pretty common knowledge that it's a long-term deal. I used to play online, and got frustrated like you, mainly because of bad beats and things like that. But as you said, if you know what you are doing in the long run, you will come out ahead. I didnt have the time or desire to play 8 games at once for hours on end. The problem nowadays is that most of the people on there have a better understanding of the game, so it just becomes such a grind.
Maybe you do have all the luck. I consider myself not too bad a player, I consistently win money at live cash games in Casinos. But everytime I play online, I got wiped out. I've never seen many bad beats in live games while online, it happens all the time. I think either my opponents use some kind of programs to cheat, or the system is rigged. Right now I just avoid playing online, if I really want to play, I just drive to Casinos.
you get in 10-20 times as many hands online than you do live. of course you're gonna also have more bad beats. i have losing sessions online just like i do live, but i'm still way ahead.
Yeah that's the big difference. You have to play the odds properly. If you're a casual player, you have a good chance of getting boned online. I used to play all the time and just won on brute force numbers. Honestly, I just memorized the statistics of each hand and then just instinctively played. I didn't even think or bother trying to read how opponents were playing. After playing enough games I always made money. But it was a grind then and probably is much worse now so I won't even bother trying that again.
While I prefer a live game, I've played a lot of online poker, and even been involved in helping create an online poker site years ago (metropolis poker, no defunct due to cash deposit troubles and shallow pockets). While I don't believe they are crooked, there are, like in anything, people who look to take advantage. They eventually get caught or weeded out, but you can't say that it doesn't happen. That said, tournament play is a bit safer, especially the larger ones, as people are seated randomly across so many tables. As for playing for real money online these days, I know you can... I just haven't in a while. I've seen the eChecks thing on Full Tilt and on Poker stars... but have never done it. in the past I had just transferred funds to my account, no biggie. Also, from what I understand, you can use a prepaid "gift" visa card to deposit funds in many cases... though I haven't tried it. Regarding bad beats online... two factors.... one, if you play in the crap limit or next to nothing entry games, you'll see a lot of donk in there, and they will play 2 7 off etc. all the time, and obviously this presents problems for those that know how to play. Problem is, there is a neverending line of these donks, so it doesn't run "thin' after a while. You never know. Two, you play an incredibly large amount of hands in a short time... you're bound to see the gamut and then some regarding all types of beats/hands, whatever. That said, if you play well, and stick to the math, you'll win in the long run just like real poker, just expect a bumpy and irritating road as it is often, to quote VoodooPope quoting from Tombstone, 'like playing with my brother's kids".
