I generally find that live games are a lot weaker. Sure, online games are often weak and bad but I'm playing at much smaller stakes. I can play stakes 10 times higher live and find players playing worse. Honestly, 5/10c limit online often plays stronger than most of the $1/$2 and even $2/$4 limit games I play live. Also, you can play more than one table at a time and get more hands even on a single table, which can help increase your patience. I'm a very patient player but I know how hard it is even for me to sit 40-50 minutes live without finding a hand or a spot to play. People who play live are usually there because they want to play cards and not sit. They've had to drive to get there, wait to be seated, and are seeing less hands. Suddenly, everything with even the slightest potential is worth playing. I've seen live hands capped pre-flop and have 8-9 players in them. It takes a lot of searching to find a game that loose online.
Do people make crazier bluffs online? I think they often do because they believe it's safer because the other person can't see how weak they look. But people still make crazy bluffs live, if less often. Live it can also be harder if you play with the same people and you don't want to look dumb. So that does constrain a bit. Still, I know a person who I play with live and he's just as likely to raise UTG with 6-7 suited live as he is online.
My experience is with low, low limits in both games. So it's not relevant to all levels.
Also, online tournament players generally understand tournament play more. I can see live players limping or min-raising with Ms under 5 all the time live. It happens online... but a much larger group know enough to move in with any hand they're going to play.
I don't know. I like both but they are different beasts. I also worry more about people tracking my play online and keeping notes which can reduce my edge in hands. Live, I have a better idea of who I have played and what they have seen me do. So I have some idea of what they think I am playing and how.  |