Cash games vs Tournaments

dreamer13

dreamer13

Legend
Platinum Level
Joined
Mar 18, 2022
Total posts
3,681
Awards
2
LV
Chips
815
In cash games, winnings are more stable. If you play for a long time, you can even roughly say what your planned earnings are for the next month. There is no such predictability in tournament poker. Even the most experienced player can sit for months without normal banks. And if you consider that you have to pay entry fees for each tournament, you end up in the red.
 
sincos

sincos

Visionary
Platinum Level
Joined
Jan 22, 2022
Total posts
840
Awards
1
Chips
349
There is more freedom in cash games...
 
neptunas888

neptunas888

Visionary
Platinum Level
Joined
Sep 22, 2022
Total posts
609
Awards
2
BY
Chips
178
To play cash you need a good bankroll, compared to tournaments where you can play satellites or even freerolls. But I like cash more because you can stop playing at any time
 
TeUnit

TeUnit

Legend
Loyaler
Joined
Jan 20, 2009
Total posts
5,183
Awards
14
Chips
354
Cash games generally play "deeper" ie more bbs and are generally more about post flop play.

Mtts generally play shallower and are more about pre flop play.

ICM is another consideration in Mtts that is not present in cash games.
 
shanest

shanest

Legend
Platinum Level
Joined
Feb 2, 2014
Total posts
3,270
Awards
9
IE
Chips
116
main difference for me is level of aggression applied to similar size stacks in a freezeout format versus cash.
 
Rachidao

Rachidao

Visionary
Platinum Level
Joined
Jan 17, 2022
Total posts
682
Awards
1
BR
Chips
425
MTT players tend to be a lot tighter than cash players.
 
istbno

istbno

Rock Star
Platinum Level
Joined
Jan 14, 2015
Total posts
309
Awards
2
UA
Chips
311
The key differences between cash games and tournaments in poker are significant. In cash games, players buy-in for a set amount of chips which directly correspond to real money, and they can leave or join the game at any time. Blinds remain constant or change very slowly, and the primary focus is on each individual hand's profitability. Conversely, tournaments have a set buy-in and players compete to win chips, not directly tied to money, aiming to outlast opponents. Blinds increase regularly, adding pressure and changing strategies over time. Tournaments also culminate in a structured payout system, rewarding top finishers, while cash games provide immediate financial rewards based on each hand won.
 
D

dompoker

Visionary
Platinum Level
Joined
Jul 22, 2019
Total posts
840
Awards
2
Chips
304
I like tournaments better, but if I don't have time to play, I prefer to play cash.
 
Rob Hobson

Rob Hobson

Legend
Loyaler
Joined
Feb 2, 2012
Total posts
4,633
Awards
2
BR
Chips
620
The big difference to me is that in the cash games you need to be much more cold blooded and patient, once the blinds don't change and play against too many maniacs, besides your stack is easily directly connect to your bankroll.
 
luckyfish98

luckyfish98

Legend
Platinum Level
Joined
Jul 7, 2019
Total posts
1,974
Awards
2
Chips
367
What are some of the key differences you may have noticed between Cash Games and Tournaments?

In a tournament, I am tied to the tournament, but the cash game is convenient and controllable because I can leave when I want
in cash games we can lose a lot more money!!


it turns out that both options are bad

for example, I sat for 7 hours in a tournament and crashed to the bubble
 
Last edited:
0546474

0546474

Legend
Loyaler
Joined
Apr 4, 2016
Total posts
2,623
Awards
14
UA
Chips
190
I think everyone will agree that the price of a mistake in a tournament is much higher, so you need to play much more carefully than in a cash game!!! In my opinion, cash games are more dynamic and there are more bluffs and aggression in them than in a tournament!!!
 
duparomana

duparomana

Rising Star
Bronze Level
Joined
Nov 13, 2022
Total posts
8
NO
Chips
22
Cash games are more easy bit win small. Playing tournaments you get chance to win bigger. Special in pko and mb
 
M

Magallaneroy

Rock Star
Platinum Level
Joined
Nov 21, 2023
Total posts
196
VE
Chips
438
Cash is easier, in tournaments you need to be strong and have control of your emotion during the time of the tournament
 
Munchies11

Munchies11

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Sep 4, 2024
Total posts
53
CA
Chips
105
Cash games I feel players are looser especially if there are rebuys. Tournies players are more cautious and strategic . What I noticed playing
 
okeedokalee

okeedokalee

Glory To Ukraine
Loyaler
Joined
Feb 3, 2008
Total posts
5,719
Awards
22
NZ
Chips
861
Tournaments when you are knocked out you lose one buy-in.
Cash games you ca reload and lose more.
Cash games are far harder than tournaments, in my experience playing razz. I think there may have been bots involved at the $2-4 +, level. I started out at the lower levels and was a winner, but at the higher levels, I couldn't win, even against the outrageous chasers. It appeared I was being set up.
 
D

DAVID KEHRER

Legend
Platinum Level
Joined
Dec 15, 2015
Total posts
1,560
Awards
8
Chips
313
Cash games are much faster and you see many more hands. Tournaments are for the long hall much slower play.
 
Ruslan L

Ruslan L

Visionary
Platinum Level
Joined
Aug 30, 2022
Total posts
888
Awards
1
UA
Chips
316
1. In tournaments, depending on the structure, the blinds increase every few minutes.
2. In tournaments, players usually play more freely, play more hands.
3. And my personal difference, tournaments bring me profit, unlike ready-made games :)
 
Falai_san

Falai_san

Rock Star
Platinum Level
Joined
Dec 25, 2021
Total posts
458
Awards
2
MA
Chips
155
I prefer to play Tournament on Cash Game because it gives me more chances to play and important prizes if I win.
 
F

Fushicho

Visionary
Platinum Level
Joined
Oct 2, 2020
Total posts
561
Awards
1
Chips
327
You can't knock someone out of a cash game, if they've got the money they can just keep calling and keep putting money in.
 
WrongUsername

WrongUsername

Legend
Platinum Level
Joined
Apr 8, 2020
Total posts
1,012
Awards
1
BR
Chips
510
tournament u can get rich in one day cash games no.
 
S

sandy358

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Aug 19, 2024
Total posts
32
ME
Chips
66
as a proud wpt global gamer I can happily enjoy poker without forced straddles in tourneys
 
dannystanks

dannystanks

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Jan 25, 2023
Total posts
496
US
Chips
409
Time is a big enemy in tournaments. As the blinds increase, I have to make the right adjustments to my stack size. So it’s best to study how to play all the different stack sizes you will encounter in a tournament. At the beginning stages of a tournament I can play it like a cash game, because I am going to have 200+ big blinds. Time will take over and my stack will start going downwards. So I need to get a handle on how to play 50+ BBs, 35-50 BBs, 25-35 BBs, 15-25 BBs and 15 and below BBs. Cash games you can reload anytime so you don’t necessarily have to learn to play small to medium stack sizes.
 
19aleks57

19aleks57

Legend
Platinum Level
Joined
May 22, 2019
Total posts
1,719
Awards
5
BY
Chips
1,196
I haven't played cash games, but I'll probably try, for me poker tournaments are the best option for now.
 
dangbaonguyen93

dangbaonguyen93

Rock Star
Platinum Level
Joined
Jul 7, 2023
Total posts
210
Awards
2
VN
Chips
615
I like playing cash games online and playing live tours.
 
Real Money Poker - Real Money Casinos Top 10 Games
Top