How to play Actual Money vs. Tournament Money

I have heard many successful poker players say that they will play actual money and ring money the same way, but this seems counterintuitive to me. In one game, you are trying to make actual money and you can leave at any time. Whereas in the other, if you lose all your chips, you might still make money. Also in real money, even if you don't make as much as another person, you can still be a winner. But in ring money, this is not true.

How do you all feel about this?

Did you leave out a word? Like actual money TOURNAMENTS vs. ring games? !st, in ring games you are playing dollar for dollar---whereas in MTTs-SnGs-STTS where you're playing to get ITM, the odds change------a dollar is worth say-.44cents--in other words, it costs you $4.00+.40=$4.40 to enter a 10 seat SnG to win $10 ITM Most players I know DO chang up their style of play, I personally play tighter in cash games AND on the bubble---but once ITM, I loosen up a bit---and in MTTS, tight to start and loosen up as the field lessons--- I dunno I think everybody has their own style of play--no 2 players think and/or act alike---although there are basic does and don'ts most quality players generally follow! What they ALL have in common, tho is---they all wanna win as much as possable, at least I would hope so.GL

Chris Ferguson wrote a series of articles on this. Basically, he's saying that for most people, playing like a regular ring game is preferable to the style of play they currently have. That is, most people overadjust for tournament play. Around the bubble is one of the few times it pays to adjust your play. Basically the only difference should be how willing you are to put all your chips in the middle as a marginal favorite - in tournament play, you are risking everything, whereas in ring game you should be willing to go all in all the time as a 51% favorite.

Read Harrington on Cash games (2 volumes) and contrast the correct style of play with Harrington's tournament books (3 volumes). They may both be No Limit Hold'em games, but they are COMPLETELY different animals and require completely different playing styles.

Difference between tournies and ring games is, in a ring game you can make as much in one hand that you can taking first is some of the tournies. Most people that play at the ring tables are in fact GAMBLERS. You have to remember poker is gambling no matter how you look at it.

Play the way that works best for you. I've seen alot of people go broke playing the ring tables like tournies and have seen some make money. good luck