If you've read my past articles, you know that I am a firm believer in varying your play. If you always play similar hands the same way, then you become predictable and your observant opponents will catch on. That is why I usually don't give a straight answer when someone asks me the correct way to play a hand. Instead, I explain that even though one strategy might be better than another, one should still occasionally use the inferior strategy to maintain unpredictability.

Obviously, there are some situations in which only one play could possibly be correct. But, when you find yourself with a seemingly close decision (such as, should I raise with this hand or just call?), then both choices are probably reasonable, and therefore you shouldn't lose too much equity even if you make the "wrong" decision. Maybe you reach the conclusion that raising is more correct. In that case, you should raise most of the time in similar situations, but call often enough to keep your opponents guessing about your style of play.

I had always stuck to that way of thinking for both brick-and-mortar (B&M) and online poker. However, several of my poker-playing friends who play strictly online rarely vary their play, yet their results are outstanding. They have made me realize that varying your play may not be necessary online. I've settled on several reasons why I think that is true. In no particular order, I'll discuss what I see as the three biggest ones:

Reason #1 - Bigger sites mean more opponents

It's necessary to vary your play only when you encounter the same opponents frequently. For instance, when you play in your local B&M cardroom, the bulk of the clientele are typically "regulars." Your play needs to have some variety, or else even your mediocre opponents will begin to catch on to your style, after spending so much time against you.

The same is true if you play on one of the smaller online sites. Since they have a small pool of players, you can expect to see the same "faces" often. Thus, you will stand a better chance of success if you avoid falling into predictable patterns.

However, my friends and I usually play on the three biggest sites, all of which have tens of thousands of players at any given time. It's rare to see the same players repeatedly, even at the higher limits. There is such a continuous influx of new blood that it often takes days, or some times even weeks, before we see the same opponents again. That gives us little reason to mix up our strategies.

Reason #2 - A lack of visual association

When we play against someone in a B&M cardroom, we usually associate their actions with their appearance. Maybe the kid in the baseball cap likes to raise when he has a flush draw, or the old man with the facial tic never bets unless he has the nuts. Consciously or not, we note how they look. Then, if we encounter them again on a different day, there's a good chance we'll recognize them, and possibly remember their style of play.

Online, you are simply playing against a name. (Yes, a couple of sites allow you to download a picture next to your name, but the picture can be changed. It's the name that stays the same). Some times a name is unusual, and that helps you to remember it. But unless you have a very good memory, you probably won't remember the opponents with more standard names.

What does this mean for you? It means that, while it is tempting to come up with a clever player name that will garner compliments from your opponents, it is not in your best interest. My friends and I all have simple player names that usually include nondescript numbers. In other words, our names don't draw any attention to ourselves. That way, when we use the same unvarying style of play, it is less likely that our opponents will even notice.

Reason #3 - Shorter sessions

Off the top of my head, I would guess that the average B&M session lasts about four times longer than the typical online session. Unless you live unusually close to your local B&M cardroom, it takes some effort to drive there, which means you probably won't be in a rush to leave. You'll probably stay at the same table for at least a couple of hours, and you'll probably be playing against the same opponents during much of that time. Therefore, you'll want to mix up your play a little bit before they get too used to you.

Obviously, online poker is very different. Not only does it require minimal effort to log on, it is also remarkably easy to change tables. If you are a habitual table-changer, then varying your play is a non-issue. Even if you decide to stay at the same table for a decent amount of time, there is a good chance that your opponents are turning over rapidly. If one or two players are staying at the table with you, and it seems like they might be unusually sharp, then you may want to vary your play a little bit just for their benefit. Otherwise, altering your strategy for deception's sake is probably a waste of time.

The easy solution: Note-taking

It's so easy to take online notes on other players, yet so few people do it. If they did, then you'd definitely have to vary your play to a greater degree. Anyone who spotted a particular pattern of yours would make a note of it, and then even if they didn't play with you again for a month, that note would be there to remind them. Plus, most sites give an indication that you have taken a note on a particular player, so even if he didn't remember playing with you, the site would somehow alert him.

Lucky for you, online poker is home to a lot of lazy players. Chances are that only a few of them have notes on you, so you shouldn't waste too much time varying your play for their benefit. Instead, simply focus on making the best possible play in every situation.

My confession

In retrospect, I feel somewhat foolish. I have been playing online poker for over six years, and it has taken me this long to realize that I've probably been wasting my energy by varying my play. Of course, I still think it is a vital exercise in B&M games. But, I'm finally convinced that in the majority of online situations, it is largely unnecessary. Hopefully, the reasons that I've listed have convinced you as well.

Matt Lessinger's "Bet With Less" column appears in Card Player magazine. He can be reached at mlessinger@hotmail.com.

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