However, you can recreate most of this atmosphere by setting up a virtual meeting using webcams and Zoom or similar videoconferencing software. The most glaring weakness of private poker games online is that you won't be able to look your friends in the eye or engage in the trash talking and banter that's such a fun aspect of live poker. This will all be handled for you without error. There will be no more delays while players try to figure out how much they need to put in the middle to call an all-in or attempt to ascertain the size of the minimum permitted raise. No more forgetting whose turn it is to post the blinds or misallocating chips to side pots. No matter what variant of poker you prefer – No Limit Hold'em, Pot Limit Omaha Hi-Lo, HORSE, et cetera – the dealing mechanisms and pot calculations will be performed flawlessly for you by the software. Moreover, the gaming online is generally faster-paced and less cumbersome than in a live setting. Thus, your upfront investment will be minimized should you decide that the online realm is right for your home game.

For starters, you won't have to invest in a poker table, a set of casino chips, decks of cards, and all the other paraphernalia of offline poker. Though this might seem unlikely at first, there's a good case to be made for the experience of online poker with your friends being even better than sitting around a live table. Private Online Poker With Friends Better Than Live Games?