I'm bad in tournaments, but a winning player in cash games?

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Smokewood

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It's usually the other way around so I am wondering why I cannot win in tournaments?

Both online and live, I just suck at tournaments. I feel like the field is a bunch of fish too, especially live, but I just cannot seem to get it.

I have finished in the money a few times online, but never live. I bust out every time.

Live, it may be bet sizing that gets me because I have a REALLY HARD time keeping track of the pot in deep stack tournaments. Also, I can raise 3x the BB and get 6 callers. OKAY so I step it up and raise 5x the BB and get 6 callers. I'm thinking I should be killing these guys and they just donk donk win!!

lol oh well, maybe next month when I go again I'll just play like a fish too....
 
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ph_il

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It's because MTTs are super high variance while cash games aren't.

They're also completely different games with different strategies, especially as MTTs reaches the later stages.
 
Adriemoren

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I'm fue other way. I'm really suck at cash games. And at mtt usually into the money le final table. I win a few of frerrolls but I don't be a good player now. I need better game.
I read and study poker to be better.
Stay at that comunnity is the right way
Good luck and énjoy the game!
 
A

AlexTheOwl

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Most players lose money over the long term at both cash and tournaments, so consider yourself lucky to be good at one of them.

I'm a winner at cash live, slightly better than break-even at SNGs online, and a loser at cash online. It doesn't make much sense, but it's the truth. I'm stubborn though, so I keep playing cash online for pennies at the beginning and end of sessions, while waiting for SNGs to start or finish.

If you want to be a winner at tournaments, what steps have you taken to improve?
 
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Smokewood

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Most players lose money over the long term at both cash and tournaments, so consider yourself lucky to be good at one of them.

I'm a winner at cash live, slightly better than break-even at SNGs online, and a loser at cash online. It doesn't make much sense, but it's the truth. I'm stubborn though, so I keep playing cash online for pennies at the beginning and end of sessions, while waiting for SNGs to start or finish.

If you want to be a winner at tournaments, what steps have you taken to improve?

I don't think I'm aggressive enough when I play live. I also have an issue keeping track of the POT.
I'm actually much better online than live, which is crazy because online seems like it should be a tougher game.
 
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alexandro

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This is how it when for me on live casino 1st hand pocket 88 flop 368 I hit a set I. Check turn 7 Asian guy bets I 3bet he shove I call and won he had 63 two pair I double and everyone saw what I did so now they are very careful when I bet 3bet they either fold or make really big bets when they have good hand. I won first place. That's the key to open the door to the final table along with a bunch of other things to maintain and keep stacking chips. Good luck...
 
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radiation

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you have to overthink your strategy in mtt, it's another than in cashgames. Go and have a look at the pokerstrategy articles out there. There is always mentionend what the different types are. In Cashgame you play more hands, even speculative hands and in MTT you play a bit tighter, especially in the beginning of a fast MTT.
 
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cheeeer

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Some are good in one, some are good in another.
 
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dejan85

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thats not bad juste play more cash games and less tournament,and you will always be positive in your bankroll....
 
pescaofish

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well for myself I am a winner at live cash games,
On line with all the "Variance" (the way the call Luck), I get few winns and many losses!
The bad thing is I cant find many Live tables unless I go in a Cruise or overseas. :captain:
 
MattRyder

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I prefer cash to MTT's. STT's are good though, pretty similar in some respects to cash tables.

For me it's mostly the time required. I hate being locked in to a game for hours. It's even worse when you are a number of hours in and a single mistake, or a single bad beat busts you - BOOM - with little or nothing to show for your time.

boom-flash-on-white_1308-2912.jpg
 
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radiation

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I don't think I'm aggressive enough when I play live. I also have an issue keeping track of the POT.
I'm actually much better online than live, which is crazy because online seems like it should be a tougher game.
when you know where you have development needs, so you can improve your skills in that direction, play more straight forward when being in live tournament and have a plan to play your pockets..as first advice
 
Ahoy

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No worries. Cash games differ hugely in comparison to tournaments. In cash game you can play your deep stacked game and don't have to worry about adapting to the blind structure ane the payouts, bubble, ICM, etc.
I'm also bad at tournaments and started to study cash games where I am way better but I can't afford toto play live cash games due to money shortage so I'm morphing into tournament player right now. Tournaments around here are way cheaper than cash games. I will try to hit something in these soft field tournaments and build my bankroll.
 
Anatoliy Tolik

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Most players play in tournaments due to lack of funds
 
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Tylor Mendez

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Maybe its just your table selection in the tournaments compared to how people play in cash...

For instance,
your tournament table is loose, so you are used to playing tight and isolating a fish, but in tournaments people are considering things like if I double up now it will make a double up later even better. While in cash, there is just the factor of making money now.

So maybe counter this by watching which player is playing the most aggressive, then isolate him? Because... that's where you would make the most chips.
 
Douglas Gonzaga

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Very

I prefer to play for money also mainly omaha
 
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Smokewood

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Maybe its just your table selection in the tournaments compared to how people play in cash...

For instance,
your tournament table is loose, so you are used to playing tight and isolating a fish, but in tournaments people are considering things like if I double up now it will make a double up later even better. While in cash, there is just the factor of making money now.

So maybe counter this by watching which player is playing the most aggressive, then isolate him? Because... that's where you would make the most chips.

It's actually a good point.
I do see some spots but I seem to let them go too often.
I seem to play more passive in tournaments than I do cash...
 
DougPkrMonsta

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Sounds like you do better with a deeper stack than a shorter one.

Based on my (limited) live tournament experience I found some of most loose-passive play I had ever seen outside of a freeroll (especially early on - you aren't going to take down the pot preflop!). So my advice to you would be to bet your big hands for value and keep your big stack as long as you can.

Most successful tournament players are those who have put the time in to learn the strategies that allow them to play a short stack in a way to get back into the tournament and make consistently deep runs.

You're not going to win MTTs very often but when things go well you should be sure you are ready to make the most of it.

Better luck to you! :D
 
Luan

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face and only study the tactics of the Tournaments have several poker books on the Internet and good so you learn to play an MTT!
 
liuouhgkres

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if you have many callers, you should just play tighter OOP and loose agressive IP. Also, usually biggest problem of cash players, is that they don't know how to play with short stack. Play online some sng tournaments and practice you shoving game, you will see positive results soon.
 
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Fernando2904

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I'm starting playing at MTT and until now no success. I will pay attention to all advices here. Thanks.
 
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Aca0012

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There are many differences in the cash game and in the tournaments. For tournaments, some sort of tactics and strategies are needed.
 
Mortis

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Cash games are a grind. Since blinds don't go up in cash games, you don't have to change your strategy as much. Just depends on your opponents.

Since in tournaments, blinds go up, you're going to have to change your strategy accordingly.
 
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jaycansay

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I'm fue other way. I'm really suck at cash games. And at mtt usually into the money le final table. I win a few of frerrolls but I don't be a good player now. I need better game.
I read and study poker to be better.
Stay at that comunnity is the right way
Good luck and énjoy the game!
 
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