Perhaps we are at a crossroads in our poker career We recognize that it's feasible to earn money through cash games, yet tournaments also present opportunities for substantial wins. tournament Some players prefer to focus solely on one of these game styles, while others enjoy switching between both. What elements should influence our decision on which type we wish to excel in?
Table of Contents
The Basics
But wait, what are the key distinctions between cash games and tournaments?
Cash Games
- In cash games, we have the freedom to start playing and leave whenever we choose.
- We can rebuy chips whenever we like.
- Blind levels are static.
Tournaments
- Must sit down during registration.
- Must play until we are out of chips.
- Rebuys are not permitted, apart from specific rebuy tournaments.
- The blind levels in tournaments increase at regular intervals.
Even minor differences in structure can significantly affect gameplay style and strategies used. The following insights will aid you in determining which poker version aligns best with your preferences. poker game strategy When pressed for time, it’s clear that cash games are the better option. They afford us the flexibility to play just as long or as short as we desire before we exit. This flexibility has been enhanced with the introduction of 'fast-fold' cash games, allowing immediate seating at our chosen stake level. Previously, playing for less than 5 minutes was often impractical due to the lengthy process of joining tables in the first place.
Time Commitment
Tournaments, however, often require a greater time commitment, particularly if we wish to make a deep run. Major tournaments can extend over 8 hours. This necessitates us to have our entire day open before even signing up, even though it’s common to be eliminated early in the process. While this is manageable for full-time players, it poses challenges for those with standard jobs. hands It's important to remember that not all multi-table tournaments (MTTs) involve large fields. There are also 'Sit-n-Go' tournaments, which although still require some time investment, tend to be much more manageable, often lasting around an hour. However, the payouts typically don't compare to those from larger field MTTs. Snap There’s a clear reason why many professional players prefer cash games over tournaments: the variance in tournaments tends to be much higher. Although playing smaller field events can help in managing variance, living off MTTs means being prepared for significant fluctuations.
If we contrast this to tournaments Under extreme circumstances, a cash game player putting in a decent volume may find themselves without a profit for an entire month, simply due to variance. In stark contrast, MTT professionals might endure prolonged dry spells – some can go over six months without securing any profit, particularly in online settings. And for those traveling the live tournament circuit, it's not uncommon for professionals to experience years without hitting that elusive big win. MTT's Nonetheless, tournaments tend to carry a level of prestige and excitement that is hard to overlook. A player could be substantially ahead in a cash game, but there’s a strong likelihood that others might not pay much attention to it. Winning a large field tournament is often considered a much greater accomplishment. There’s a thrill associated with reaching the final table of a significant tournament, far outweighing the day-to-day play in a cash game. If you thrive on excitement and a sense of achievement, tournaments might be the way to go. However, if your focus is on consistent earnings with reduced variance, cash games would likely be your best bet.
The skills necessary for MTTs differ quite a bit from those required in cash games. These differences largely stem from variations in stack sizes. In cash games, players typically start with a predetermined stack size, often around 100 big blinds (bb). While adjustments may need to be made against players with smaller stacks, most of the time, the effective stacks remain around 100bb.
Variance
In tournaments, however, stack sizes are consistently fluctuating. Though we might commence with a stack of 100bb or even 150bb, as blinds escalate, we often find ourselves in short-stack territory. This dramatically alters the range of hands we can play profitably through various scenarios. A significant portion of our tournament journey occurs when our stacks dip below 20bb, entering what is dubbed the push-or-fold phase. Here, our decisions are mostly concentrated on preflop actions, as our stacks are not deep enough to navigate more complex turns and rivers.
Conversely, starting with less than 20bb is not common in cash games, requiring tournament players to develop skills that cash game players may often overlook. Nash and ICM are various strategies frequently employed to determine preflop push/fold ranges, an integral part of tournament gameplay that necessitates a decent level of expertise. Nonetheless, many argue that playing with 100bb demands a higher caliber of skill. As such, it is widely held that cash games pose greater long-term challenges than tournaments. return on investment It’s crucial to recognize the time pressure felt during tournaments—something that isn’t present in cash games. Each hand in a cash game begins with the same structural setup. In tournaments, the evolving structure continually shapes our decisions. What may be an appropriate preflop shove in one context could change based on the time left until the next blind level or the number of players remaining before the tournament bubble bursts. Hence, tournament decisions tend to be more dynamic, while cash game decisions are generally more static.
Consequently, being skilled in cash games does not inherently equate to being an outstanding MTT player, and vice versa. This often leads players to focus on either tournament or cash game formats exclusively. By specializing in one area, players can optimize their abilities without the distraction of mastering both skill sets. grinding That said, there is some overlap between the two formats. A solid grasp of late-stage tournament strategies can prove beneficial when we're faced with short stacks in cash games. Similarly, the skills acquired from playing with a deep stack in cash games can be advantageous during the early stages of a tournament. Therefore, it is not unreasonable to pursue excellence in both fields; it simply boils down to personal preference.
Skill-set
Final tables bring excitement and offer lucrative payouts.
As illustrated, there is no definitive right or wrong choice. However, it’s essential to weigh the above pros and cons to feel confident in your decision.
For additional information, you might want to explore our live cash game poker strategy guide. ICM strategies With over 10 million members globally, 888poker is rapidly becoming the leading online poker platform, with a new player joining every 12 seconds. Since 1997, 888 has been a pioneer in the online gaming sector, renowned for prioritizing safe and responsible gaming practices. We stand as one of the most trusted names in the industry, offering an extensive array of games, lucrative tournament options, and thrilling live poker events for enthusiasts worldwide.
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Summary – Cash vs Tournaments
| Cash | Tournaments |
| Can sit down and play whenever | Involves a time commitment |
| Requires more skill on average | Requires less skill on average |
| Involves less variance | Involves big variance |
| Same thing over and over | This is to ensure compliance with online gaming regulations as per Gibraltar law (Remote Gaming License Numbers 112 and 113) and does not guarantee legality in other regions. |
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