Cash Game advice

Greetings,

It has come across my mind for some time to give a try on some cash games. Typically, I'm a tournament player (MTT or SnG's) and never really given a go at any cash games because of the different styles of play. I've never been a big time spender, prob will only have a $100 bankroll for this little experiment, and have read to never buy in with more than 10% of your bankroll.

Anyways, any special advice or tips anyone have out there from their experiences or thoughts about the transfer from Tournys to Cash Games?

To be honest probably the best place to start is the cash game threads on here...

The adjustments that I have to make are in effect treating each hand as it comes in cash games - sure there's history of what opponents have done in similar spots but the issue of stack sizes etc is nowhere near as paramount so each hand is a new one to be played on it's own merits without having to think about shoving all in if you're getting short stacked or play near the bubble etc. It is a different mindset but the $'s shown in your display rather than a chip value reminds you of that!

There's plenty of advice on here about BR management - at your bankroll of $100 10NL would be OK although you might want to try out 2NL or 5NL first to get a feel for it.

Good luck!

with $100 10NL is out of the question..you need AT LEAST $200 before you test those waters.

OP..never buy in with more th 5% of your bankroll to a cash table..not 10%..way too high

If you're completely new to cash games I'd just start at 2NL and then move up to 5NL when you feel comfortable. Cheaper to make mistakes at 2NL.

At being new to it I suggest 5nl. I seem to stay in one place at 2nl. I am not rolled for it either but find 10nl the best but you have to be used to the betting patterns, you do not all in with ak in ring....

Honestly it depends on how good you are at MTT/SNGs, if you're any good at them then a lot of skills will be transferable. Even then you're going to have to learn to bluff less, play deep stacked and to play post flop.

Read a book or two, read through the strategy section on this forum, also check out the Golden Archive (there are a few posts in there that will help you a lot, in particular re-read the Required Reading post 30 or so times).

There's no magic trick to cash games, getting good at them is a long hard road that most of us are still at the beginning of.

Thx for all the advice guys - my main question was indeed where to start, and looks like the lower level is indeed where to start until i get used to these waters. I've always played lower stakes MTT or SnG's (5$ or sometimes the ultra risky $20 buy in :P) for the last 5 years or so, so it's not like i'm completely clueless on how to play.

Again, thx for the advice in where to begin, and lets hope for the best!

The single biggest difference is stack size. In tourneys after the 1st few levels stack sizes generally favor high card hands an big pairs because committing with TPTK type hands usually makes sense. If you play cash the same way you'll lose a ton. The deeper stacks in cash games favor more implied odds type hands (SC and small pairs) and make playing in position paramount.

Agree with starting at 5nl and being willing to move down if things start out rough.

You're right but at $2nl and $5nl TPTK hands have way more value than SCers, they do against calling stations and maniacs in general.
KT is a better raising hand than 56s against a calling station because barreling with SCers drops way down in value, and you don't need big hands like straights and flushes to play for stacks.

Another question - how much do you typically sit down at the tables with? 25BB's? 50bb's? 100bb's?

Never any less. Set auto-rebuy to 100bb.

100bbs and turn on auto top-up and auto reload. No excuse for ever starting a hand without 100bbs imo.

Also pokerkid is probably more correct about playing for stacks with TPTK type hands at micro stakes. As long as your opponents are bad enough to play for stacks with worse it will be profitable.

Great stuff guys - I'll give it a week or so and check out how I do. Will let you know

I am also trying to cross over from tournaments to cash games (still playing in MTT's of course), and it's like a completely different world compared to MTT's! The first time I played in a live cash game, which was $1/2, I was shocked that they were raising 5-10x the blind preflop. I definitely recommend starting off at the $1/2, until you can get adjusted to how other poker players play as it strongly varies. I've played in the cash games three times now, and each experience was vastly different. Two of the tables I played at, were extremely aggressive, while the other table was somewhat passive. You also have to go in with a win/lose mindset, as you can't be afraid to call and potentially lose. A lot of players are there to gamble, and will call with anything so keep an open mind as to what your opponent may have. Good luck at the cash games. I hope it works out well for you!

My apologies - Patty is right in terms of the bankroll being more suitable for 2NL rather than 5NL. It was late and I got my maths wrong. Doesn't bode well for me calculating pot odds if I meet any of you at the tables

i feel like people are MUCH more aggressive in cash games as they can rebuy if they lose a hand. it also depends on what stakes you play. at low stakes people are going to play much looser so with $100 the lowest you should play is .25/.50 and try to build from there

NO.

UH.... absolutely not...

.25/.50 is a $50 buy in table.... you will go broke almost certainly if you try this.

$5 NL is the highest you should be playing with a $100 roll