Online: Cash Game vs Tournament game?

Since I play mostly tournaments I can really sit back and watch the table and see if I can pick up on their game (although I am terrible at it currently). But I was thinking of starting to move to cash games. While I know its easier to make and especially lose money with plays. I was wondering even at the lowest limit available at sites, is there much difference on how to approach the two. Should I be extra patient in waiting for the hands or should a bit more aggression be at the mix. Any help would be appreciated as in the down times of tourneys (and not wanting to see the high blinds) to help conquer the world of cash games online. Thanks for reading

There is a huge difference! In tournaments, preflop is the money street. Very rarely is postflop play a huge deciding factor in a tournament. However, cash games are totally different. The turn & river are the money streets. Because everyone is playing with very deep stacks, starting hand values start to normalize (or all become similar). You need to get used to playing with implied odds being your #1 concern.

And exploiting your opponent's tendancies becomes a lot more important in cash games, since you can choose who you sit with, where you sit, and you can instantly rebuy if you make a mistake.

However, I'd say cash games provide a much more consistent income than playing MTT's or SnG's.

However, I'd say cash games provide a much more consistent income than playing MTT's or SnG's.

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Which is why I want to try and master this. Dont get me wrong I like the payouts when I get there but I want to increase the money a bit quicker then waiting for 5 hours to get ITM from wence the tournament started (for MTTs).

So it sounds like I have to loosen my starting hand requirements a bit more then in tournament situations. Is that a fair assessment?

Be very patient in cash games. If you have a hand you like just call to see the flop. But don't get attached to top pair. Usually it takes more to win. Play small limits for a while and I'm sure you will get the hang of how it all works shortly.

Shakes said:

So it sounds like I have to loosen my starting hand requirements a bit more then in tournament situations. Is that a fair assessment?

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Generally, playing slightly looser isn't a bad thing. But it really depends on so many things.

The first thing you need to do is to throw your hand chart out the window, and start looking at situations like "Gee, this guy hasn't played a hand in 5 hours, and he raised, what should I call him with?".

And unlike tournaments, where your chipstack is the only real importance, in ring games you have to keep a close eye on your opponent's stack. Implied odds are only good if your opponent is playing with enough money to pay you off. This is especially important at the stakes that contain a lot of people sitting behind a minimum buy-in.

There are tons of subtle differences, really. Search through the forums, and check out the ring game HH forum.

I like to mix it up with hands like little suited connectors alot in cash games, especially if you can get in cheap and maybe spike a flop

i moved from SnG's to cash games recently, and i am WAYYYYY more successful there.

Quick money but also lose alot if you dont pay attention to opponents betting habits. Are you being trapped, Is that dude cautious now he raises, read read read.

That 2 to 3 big blinds per hour is definitely not for the kind of limits that I play. Honestly, I'm not really content with sitting at a table and making 30 cents or 75 cents an hour (depending on the stakes). This may apply if you're playing 4-8 limit or something, but not really for micro NL

To the guy above you have to understand something that I just recently had put in my head. If you can't take making 3BB an hour at the micro's seriously you should look at it as being a winning player and your (increasing in percentage.

Your not supposed to see the chips on the table as money because then you're playing with scared money and you won't play your best.

If you only risk 5 on a table you can't expect to double your money or more every hour. Its about the percentage and grinding out a profit.

be careful of swings in cash games, but ultimately there is mroe skill in them

I have found that I make more money in cash games. I don't always have 5 hours to play in a big tournament. I can spend a hour In a cash game and double my starting stack, if playing thght,. But if I have the time I like to play in tournament. I like the idea that every one is equal no matter how much money they have in there bank.