The World Series of Poker is just around the corner, and thousands of online players dream of transferring their digital edge to the felt in Las Vegas
The first is almost invisible… until it explodes: flop bet sizing. Online, small bets are standard when you have a range advantage. Everything is more “theoretical,” cleaner. But live, especially in recreational fields, that subtlety can be interpreted as weakness. The result? Chaotic check-raises with marginal draws or mediocre hands that turn the hand into a lottery.
Fitzgerald recommends adjusting: betting a little larger than usual. This way, opponents return to more predictable behavior, folding air and raising only with strong hands. Translated: less chaos, more control.
Alexander Fitzgerald has just over three million dollars in online poker and nearly one million in live tournaments.
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The second mistake is more psychological than technical: playing too fast. Online, speed is part of the game. But live, firing an instant bet can be perceived as a provocation. “They take it personally,” explains Fitzgerald. In his tests, simply counting to three before betting drastically reduced unnecessary check-raises. A small delay, a big change.
Finally, there’s the misunderstanding about all-ins. While online, push ranges with 15 to 20 big blinds are wide and mathematically optimized, live they tend to be extremely tight. Many recreational players only go all-in with premiums. If you don’t adjust, you might overpay… and say goodbye prematurely.
The message is clear: the WSOP not only rewards skill, but adaptation. Because in live poker, reading people is as valuable as reading ranges.
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Source: Alex Fitzgerald at Poker.org
