A lover of poker, but not cash games

guccipix

guccipix

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Trying to see if I am alone in my distaste for cash games.

There are plenty of reasons, but perhaps it is because I began playing poker with sit and gos and got used to the finality of it and developed strategies and mindsets that don't work with cash games.


Most of all is of course because I find little success in them, but that is mostly due to the very simple fact that I do not enjoy them as much as I enjoy tournaments. The competitive nature of tournaments is thrilling, the "pay once and play" nature of it is far more relaxing than the stresses of not knowing how much you might lose. Also, as I said, I love the finality of tournaments. I rarely know when to quit a cash game and therefore don't maximize my profits. I love playing so much to the point that I don't really want to stop playing, so even if I'm doing great in a cash game, I will somehow manage to play until I'm broke.


So it's a matter of mindset for me, and I understand that this post probably reads as a bit infantile or naive but I'm just looking to see other opinions.
 
MrHachiman

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That happens to me too. It costs me a lot to lose money, it bothers me. So the cash games are not for me, I just can not stand losing money that easy. If you want to take it out, you'll need more than luck in one hand. And I do not have too much banking to expect the long term to make me profitable that mathematically correct move. That's why I like to play MTT tournaments. Most say that the variance is huge, but for me, I can lose several hands due to bad luck in a tournament and I still have time to recover, that's what I like. In addition to the competitive nature of overcoming all other players, I love it. So see you in the tables
 
LumeBStackin

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I agree with you both. Cash games are tragic for my bankroll. It's too easy for me to go on tilt and drain all my winnings. At least if you bomb out of a sng or mtt you can take a breather before you play again.
 
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I'm exactly the same. I've realised my poor play in cash is a result of lack of patience, and have decided to try playing for a set amount of time (kind of like a tournament). But honestly if you really don't enjoy it, don't play it! I try to avoid playing cash because I purely enjoy tourneys much much more
 
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so do i. a lot of money that i lose in cash game because calling at the river with good hand but not the best.For tournament games which i play freerolls and micro stake i make profit $200+ in 12 months. Anyway may be in near future i can improve skill to stop calling and turn to be the aggressive player who bet much more than call.
 
Gohaku94

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Hi so before this year i was playing only mtts and stayed away from cash games always.
Sometime i used to play a cash game once in a few months and i was losing like $5-$10 in them and after that i was thinking: i wish i could just disable cash tables.. could have played some mtts with this money for alot more fun and time.
This year i realised that i don't have time for mtts because of workjob .. but i want to play poker so i decided to start cash games seriously starting with the lowest limit so i can lose and learn from it.. now after 2 months i am way more confortable at poker tables cash or tournaments and im able to play both of them, cash everyday and mtts once in a while when im in the mood for it and have time. Also making your money in cash games allows you to play a mtt without thinking that it was a bad idea when you bust it, like it was for me the other way around.
So if you want to change it.. work for it and in a few months you will be able to be decent at cash games and understand more about the game :)
 
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I do not play cash too, for the same reason I can not stop on time. From tournaments I get more pleasure, and if I get to the final table andrenaline rises
 
timberwolf94

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Don't feel bad. I think a lot of people are the same way. I know I am. I will usually do pretty good at cash games for the first hour but then lose it all. Even if I do manage to get up when I'm winning I'll go back to the table quicker & lose it all. Lol
 
vov4ik

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I also like to play tournaments, but sometimes I go play cash games for a couple of hours, in tournaments I'm used to another strategy of the game, I have a different strategy in the cash game, but I do not really like it, but sometimes you can win good money in the cash game Only when a good card plays, I am a fan of tournaments!
 
infonazar

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I don't like cash games.
Very rarely, I tried to play a cash game, but usually I was losing.
Always, I prefer MTT tournaments. Mainly, I play about 4-6 hours a day.
 
guccipix

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Lol yeah lately i have wished I could disable them to avoid the urge to try them. Pretty certain my bankroll would be 2-3x what it currently is had i never ever touched cash games. So as of today it’s safe to say I’m through with them. What’s the point of having success in SNGs and MTTs if i just blow it all in the end?
 
guccipix

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Lol yeah lately i have wished I could disable them to avoid the urge to try them. Pretty certain my bankroll would be 2-3x what it currently is had i never ever touched cash games. So as of today it’s safe to say I’m through with them. What’s the point of having success in SNGs and MTTs if i just blow it all in the end?
 
Comdemn

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Trying to see if I am alone in my distaste for cash games.

There are plenty of reasons, but perhaps it is because I began playing poker with sit and gos and got used to the finality of it and developed strategies and mindsets that don't work with cash games.


Most of all is of course because I find little success in them, but that is mostly due to the very simple fact that I do not enjoy them as much as I enjoy tournaments. The competitive nature of tournaments is thrilling, the "pay once and play" nature of it is far more relaxing than the stresses of not knowing how much you might lose. Also, as I said, I love the finality of tournaments. I rarely know when to quit a cash game and therefore don't maximize my profits. I love playing so much to the point that I don't really want to stop playing, so even if I'm doing great in a cash game, I will somehow manage to play until I'm broke.


So it's a matter of mindset for me, and I understand that this post probably reads as a bit infantile or naive but I'm just looking to see other opinions.



You touched on one of the most important themes in poker. In my opinion, the basis of success in this game is self-determination in which poker discipline you can show yourself better! And it would be very right to advise especially new players to make a decision in which direction to go in order to save their time! I think you should choose what is most comfortable and pleasant for you! For me, this is definitely MTT tournaments. There are several reasons for this: 1) You can use several models and strategies of your game at once. I can stick to some basics, but at the same time, there is always the opportunity to adjust my game depending on the situation at the table and on what,


as your opponents play. There is no limit to your creativity! 2) Playing in MTT tournaments you can not only win money, but also become a champion! There is an element of competition here and I really like it! 3) Unlike cache games, it is more difficult for you to go to tilt and lose everything that you have, because you bet only a fixed tournament buyin and do not risk losing all that you have right away! And this is very important, especially for non-experienced players!
 
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Me too hate cash games I found tournaments more exiting for me personally
 
specialjuice

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I enjoy tournaments more because that way i can make more money than cash games. But cash games are much easier:)
 
Poker Orifice

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I rarely know when to quit a cash game and therefore don't maximize my profits. I love playing so much to the point that I don't really want to stop playing, so even if I'm doing great in a cash game, I will somehow manage to play until I'm broke.
.


It actually kinda sounds like you are not playing great.... but hoping to be 'doing great'.
Playing cash games is about the 'longrun'. If you can work on making the correct decisions, you won't have to worry about sitting til' you lose your bankroll.
When I first began playing online, I mostly played Sng's & some MTT's. I didn't like cashgames and even thought they were boring. I played a bit because there were some sites that gave you entries into some pretty decent 'small-field' freerolls by just playing 'x' number of raked hands in the 24hrs. prior (sites like 'PokerTime' & 'DoylesRoom'... and many others). Typically you'd need to sit at 20nl tables to qualify. I would basically be a hit & go player... hoping some big hands would hold up and once I got my raked hands in, I would just leave the tables. I actually showed a profit doing this (without including all the money I won from the freerolls I'd qualified for) but it didn't do much for helping me to get better at the game.
Cashgame play is typically 100bb+ play. It doesn't take that long to get acquainted with it... but like sng's & mtt's, it takes some time, study & practice.

Today I play 95% cash games, & maybe 5% of the time on MTT's.
 
kolyasik77777

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You can't sit on two chairs. Therefore, I also chose the tournament option for myself. Although it may be in me lies the talent cash player, but I just don't know it yet. Someday you will need to try yourself in this business.
 
Acechador

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Well, if you do not enjoy playing cash games, you should simply play at tables where you feel good.
I mainly play to win money, not to lose it, so the best thing I can recommend is not to play if you do not like it.
 
kowrip

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Cash games and tournaments are really 2 completely different beasts. Both have their pros and cons. I learned poker playing cash games with friends/co-workers after work. They can help with a lot of the fundamentals of the game and you can start/stop whenever you like. However, there is no real end goal and it's rare to win a lot of money even on a great night. Tournaments, on the other hand, require you to set aside a certain amount of time and the rising blinds force you to play hands in order to maintain a healthy stack. After the early levels, very few stacks are still deep. So, play becomes a lot more wild, with crazy swings in chip counts. However, there is also the potential of a much bigger payout (relative to your buy-in) than a cash game. Play whatever works for you. I have become mostly a tournament player because I only get out to the casino a handful of times a year and I'd rather go for a big score than just a few hundred $$$. Cash games work better at social gatherings where you don't need to set aside several hours.
 
frank174

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i prefer tournaments to cash you take a bad beat in a tournament oh well you lost your buy in you take that same bad beat in a cash game you stand to lose a lot more:frown:
 
MattRyder

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I use my cash game winnings to finance why tournament play. I like both.
 
dcproster

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I agree with you, I hate cash games, but I love MTT. I cant win nothing in cash, unlike the MTT.
 
guineasqueak

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Tournament structure does seem to attract more recreational players with ambitious dreams of not only making the final table, but winning the trophy.

Reaching the top payout with a much smaller buy-in and a certain spirit of foxiness. This processes such player to take whatever wacky lines he deems necessary to get ahead - and equally important - enjoy himself.
 
LeeCallaghan

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I enjoy both games, cash games quick but if you are losing better MTT or SnG
 
fernandovr

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I prefer MTT, I do not play cash games. In MTT I can control bankroll and the excitement of arriving at ITM is very good.
 
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