Poker has been greatly enhanced by the popularity of online poker. People who have never played poker before are now finding it comfortable to learn the game by playing online, where they don't have to be observed or feel intimidated by real people. New players don't have to experience that frightful first-time game of going face-to-face against opponents much more skillful than they are.

In may instances, there is some embarrassment involved when one sits down for the first time in a real-life cardroom. It can be a bit awkward to feel the players watching you and assessing the fact that you don't really understand the rules, formalities and procedures. You're not even sure how to physically and competently handle the cards that are dealt to you, and you're afraid that will be noticed.

A first time poker experience against real-life opponents can be intimidating and scary. I know it was for me and probably was for most players. You're not sure what to expect. Suddenly you feel as if you're in the spotlight, everyone is watching you, stage fright grabs you and you feel stupid and inept. It's like being on the high-dive, ready to jump, and you look down and wonder "What am I doing here?" By experiencing poker online in the beginning, you can make your first time real-world play much more tolerable.

If you make an embarrassing play online, you could just disconnect immediately and disappear, not that you would, but nobody will ever be able to see your face.

Online initiation is probably why poker is thriving so well in the real world. The hardest sell for real-world casinos is to get first time players to sit down and risk being embarrassed. Online poker has made it easier for the casinos. The new players have mastered the main part of the beginners' experience by first playing online and getting comfortable. Then when they feel ready to test the realworld table, they go in search of a brick-and-mortar casino.

Of course, it will still be a little intimidating, because suddenly you're face to face with real opponents, holding real cards, and betting real chips, instead of just clicking, as you would online. Hey, but that's nothing compared to actually sitting down at a real-world table having never experienced any poker at all.