[vincent]

Does a proffesional online poker player that plays strictly online earn the same respect as a proffesional that plays in the casinos?Does he deserve the same respect?

[DeepBlue]

He would have a respect, and yes he does, though it's not the same kind of respect. To play in a live environment requires a little more skill, in my opinion, there is the whole issue of reading people from physical behaviour.

Where you can take notes on people online, you can't look at their eyes, notice the way they are holding their cards etc, so things are a little different.

[louis]

He deserves respect for being a professional player, on or offline. True enough slightly different skillsets are required in online and offline play, but anyone that can extract money from Joe Public night in night out deserves respect.

Whether you like them or not is a different question entirely...

[ThomasR]

It's all good play of some variety. I have respect for a guy that can play a solid game, take the odd well chosen chance and come away from the table up. Anybody that can do that, on or offline has my respect because that is what makes a good poker player.

Being able to play a consistantly good game demands respect in itself, and although online play can lead itself to being less intense, you've still got to know how to play to win.

[louis]

True, I suppose anyone that can make money doing something they enjoy deserves respect - I really wish that I could make enough to live off playing on/offline poker, though I'm a long way from being that consistant - besides, 2/4 tables aren't going to make me rich anytime soon either.

[ThomasR]

Oh don't be so sure, it's not impossible to make a reasonable amount if you can juggle several tables at once.

Even playing 2/4 can add up if you can play say 3 tables simultaneously. I can't get on like that, I get very confused trying to track 2 games but plenty manage it.