As I started playing cash long before the internet was in every home for sure...the difference is quite large....especially with online ring games and tourneys...be afraid...be very afraid. online cash players are either rocks or about as loose as you can imagine and with that seems to come all the luck you can imagine...they will lose but likely take your money first...lol. The variance online doesnt always seem to work out and playing cash games typically can take your whole stack when your sporting AA or one of the other top 5....often a strictly calling til river even with the nuts...at that point decide...as long as the betting doesnt get crazy you can often control pot size ...often the bigger the pot the more likely that donkey will call and often catching...its different for sure...even as a live cash player/licensed dealer the online ring games are unless your very disciplined and take your winnings and go to a new game...often tough and not advocated by all..for sure...I am no good at that by the way...i will stay stacking until out of the blue some dumazz will catch and stack me...welcome to online poker...where you never really know who or shall i say what your playing...good luck!