Are you a tournament player or a cash game one?
If I could put it in to a perspective, it would be something like this.
Cash game is like art subject in school, and tournament like math class. Usually the mathematicly gifted students are not good in the art department and the other way round. There are exemptions of course. What do you think about people and how they play in both?
And how about you?

My game fits in tournaments, I'm a tournament poker player

I like tournaments more than cash games !!! for three and a half years that I have been playing on pokerstars I have only played a cash game several times and I didn’t really like it and it’s not even the case whether I won or lost I just don’t like playing cash games !!!

My bank roll management says: max buy-in = 0
Therefore I only play tournaments (freerolls), as there are no free cash games

I played before a cash game, now I play in tournaments.

Hi,
I play both, I like both. But cash games, in my opinion, strategy and skill (and patience) speak louder.

It was easier for me to play in a tournament than cash, I tried to play cash games many times, it was one disappointment.

I much rather play tournaments than cash game. I prefer to start on a level playing field when playing against people as opposed to everyone starting with uneven chip stacks.

the last time, why is more inclined to play in tournaments, maybe just haven't played for cash)))

I play only in tournaments. They are more interesting and exciting for me. In tournaments, the path and the goal is always to defeat all opponents and win the tournament. In a cash game there is no such thing.
Also in the tournament you make a certain amount of buy-in and you can not lose more than this amount. In cash games, it's harder for me to control my bankroll. Therefore, I prefer only tournaments and play only MTT..

I prefer to play MTT because it's easier to manage the variance in this style of play. The cash game is more technical and it is more difficult not to tilts when you suffer too much loss. I find that cash game players are much harder to beat and manage on a poker table. the advantage of the cash game is that when you're lucky and you master the game you can make big gains easier and faster than when playing on an MTT.

I prefer MTT tournaments. Cash games are complicated for me and usually bring me losses.

Originally Posted by Datdude1

I much rather play tournaments than cash game. I prefer to start on a level playing field when playing against people as opposed to everyone starting with uneven chip stacks.

If that was your only reason why you play tournaments, why not play like you are half way in to a tournament knowing that this blinds level will never change? Just a thought, and probably a terrible one.

I have to play tournaments to build a bankroll, but I prefer cash games. There are too many variables in MTTs (especially large fields) for my taste, not too mention the variance. You have to be willing to play very aggressively to be able to accumulate enough chips to make the FT or even to cash, which will not happen most of the time. Plus, if you play cash you can begin and end a session whenever you want instead of being stuck playing all day or night.

You can be good at cash and tournaments, the only thing is that you have to study both to be good.

I like cash games. In cash games, the dispersion is less than in tournaments. Also an advantage in cash games is the ability to finish the game at any time.

I played both and i won and lost much in both types of games. You can win much faster money in cashgames but if you are a good tournament player i would prefer playing these games.

I definitely go for the tournaments, since it implies patience and big profits that boost your bank

I think I'm a tournament player. Cash tables don't attract me. As I tried to play on them and immediately lost $ 5.

Only good in cash games,suck at tourneys because no patience

I play both, I do not like to play is Spin and Go, it's like playing lottery.

Play both. I like cash the best though

I started by playing 2/5 live and thats what I have made by far the most money at, but the feeling of winning a 70 person tournament for $2,000, was better than winning $4,000 at a cash game. I like that tournaments you can show results, but for me cash games seem easier to consistently earn. At the moment I don't have the bank roll for 2/5, so I'm going to keep playing just tournaments until that changes.

Originally Posted by Sharpie88PL

If that was your only reason why you play tournaments, why not play like you are half way in to a tournament knowing that this blinds level will never change? Just a thought, and probably a terrible one.

I get what he's saying where the chip leader of a cash game has quite the advantage. Although when I started playing 2-5 I would always by in short $200 allowing me to bet PF and shove on the flop frequently. I would leave if I lost two buyins, but I averaged around $100 an hour profit. This strategy worked better in California than Connecticut, so the type of players your playing matters.

101% Tournaments, 4fun Cash

I play both, but I have good results in the tournaments as opposed to cash games but it takes more time there

I really like the original post. Cash definitely has more room for maneuvering. More of an art, for sure. But some artists aren't as good at math, which is were tournament players can excel.

In general, I think the OP is correct, but...

Gus Hansen might throw a wrench in that. His tournament play doesn't strike me as hard core math based. On the other hand, he lost something like $5M in cash...but I think some of that may not have been NL Holdem but rather Omaha variants where he wasn't as comfortable (not sure about that last part, but I do know he lost millions in cash.)

I prefer tournaments =)

tournament always bro

Beautiful comparison with Sciences. I'm definitely a tournament player. In cash played - not appreciate. ""Gifted players" - these are not, there are those who work hard day and night to be a professional in both types of games.

Hello.
I rarely play cash games. I like tournaments more.

In the cash game there is no sports excitement...very boring. MTT is preferable for me.

I like tournaments! it is very interesting and it looks like a race of minds! Cash game is a monotonous grind! it is not so interesting!

Originally Posted by r21sp

I like tournaments! it is very interesting and it looks like a race of minds! Cash game is a monotonous grind! it is not so interesting!

Id have to agree and say cash games are flat out boring, the thrill of a tournament is exciting...

Originally Posted by BigRivers

I started by playing 2/5 live and thats what I have made by far the most money at, but the feeling of winning a 70 person tournament for $2,000, was better than winning $4,000 at a cash game. I like that tournaments you can show results, but for me cash games seem easier to consistently earn. At the moment I don't have the bank roll for 2/5, so I'm going to keep playing just tournaments until that changes.

I hope this isn’t a cheeky question but just to give myself a better understanding on Bank roll management, what would be the right bank roll for 2/5? Again, sorry if that was too personal lol

tournament is my preference.

Hi.
I also prefer tournaments with knockouts. These tournaments give you the opportunity to win money right away. I do not like cash games.
Good luck.

I am a cash player, and in tournaments I play only for fun

I play tournaments.the cache is weak so I play but rarely.

I would like to be good in Knock Outs but im so bad in these tournaments

I prefer MTT tournaments because they are the most profitable for me.

MTT brings a different aspect to the game, no matter how rich you are you get 1 buy in and it evens the odds in my opinion. The whole tournament your battling for survival and trying to not to bust, cash games are a lot different and i never really played enough to understand it fully... i just know it didn't go to well for me when i played cash games.

I find I like Tournaments better. I find them more challenging. But when I don't have as much time to play, cash games are better because you can start and leave whenever you want. There is for sure a different mind set between the 2. Cash games I find I can be more patient and wait for a good hand, where as in a tournament I like to be aggressive early and try to build a good stack so I can last for awhile.

I play both but I prefer cash games and do better in them.

i prefer tournaments , there is a completely different strategy in the cache and there you risk real money, and you can go through the satellite to the tournament

I play cash games for fun,tournaments for fame.

Playing the cash game is very boring! I like tournaments more.

I like tournaments more than cash game there is more excitement

I actually rarely can afford to play a cash game so I wouldn't really know, but when you put it so elegantly I would guess that not too many people could do both at the same level. I think that if I had a lot of money to spare I'd be great in cash games

Reading through the responses, I am seeing that most people are saying that they prefer tournaments for various reasons

. But I think there needs to be another question asked along with this. And that is are we talking about playing online, or in a physical game?

Me personally, if I'm playing online, I prefer tournament. Mainly because I typically have several games running at once. I feel like because of the anonymity of online games, people are more likely to play more hands, and be more aggressive, especially in freerolls.

If I'm sitting in a brick and mortar game. I absolutely prefer cash. For me, there is something about the patience and anticipation of the game. I can see my opponents, learn there skills, tells, and weaknesses. Having this information is a way to understand your opponent, and take as much money from them as possible. This same attitude applies to tournaments as well.

Playing online cash for me looses something. I only have the information on the screen, how they bet, when they fold, when they check. For me this is sometimes just not enough information. Just the way someone is talking or acting will give you more information, that is needed to make a decision.

I wonder how many people here that say they prefer tournaments play in brick and mortar games? I'm not trying to insult anyone with this question. There is absolutely something to be said for those that can play online successfully. It takes a completely different skill set than playing live games. And I respect those that do it well. I do better in live games. Some do better online. I think it has more to do with personal preference and how each processes the information available to them.

So long story short, I prefer cash in a live setting.