Alucard
Santoryu
Silver Level
Out of the two I'd pick cash cause I'm a cash player 
. But I do play tourneys very occasionally and have some thoughts to expand towards them more in the future.
Cash games are tougher than tourneys but more technical & stable.
They are tougher because almost all the winning players put ton of work into their game. They've seen the same scenario multiple times & have a balance strategy to how to play in certain scenarios.
So out of the tourney & cash pools I'd say without a doubt that better poker players are cash players overall.
And the other thing is stability. Also you have the option to play whenever you want & leave whenever you want - So the freedom.
And tbh, cash players tend to do better at tourneys as well because they have the better understanding of the game at the beginning due to deep stack play.
I myself when I play tourneys do okay getting into the payouts by playing my normal game exploiting players, getting advantages over certain spots etc.
But when it comes to short stack play & people start shoving into each other, then things change a lot.
That bring to my next point. Which is tourneys involves a lot of variance & a lot of luck.
No matter how good you'll play in a tourney making all the right decisions, one flip that goes against you will determine everything. So the better player doesn't win always & perhaps will never get lucky in making some big amount.
It is so frustrating to know that if you could just hold on a bit longer you could've got paid 5 times more than you did. But you got in your aces as you should against K9off & the v caught trips.
So to counter this more volume is needed in tourneys as well as studying short stack play, push/fold charts & ICM considerations.
They big money in tourneys are at the final table & the odds are very much against you making their but the reward is bigger.
And that's why I'm also looking forward to put some more time & volume into tourneys in the future.
But I'd say to all the up comers that say cash is hard or boring to ditch those thoughts & try them at least once in a while & to get better, because you'll become a better poker player overall by playing cash & you'll definitely have the edge in the tourneys in doing so.
P.S - I've noticed that in the CC article it says that you defend your blinds more in cash than you do in tourneys but in my experience this is not true. At least in the modern day tourneys we defend our Big blind a lot. Sometimes I even defend with 72s considering the price I'm getting. At cash this totally differs cause no antes plus the blinds doesn't increase so the ranges are tighter so stealing doesn't make much sense from certain spots.
. But I do play tourneys very occasionally and have some thoughts to expand towards them more in the future.Cash games are tougher than tourneys but more technical & stable.
They are tougher because almost all the winning players put ton of work into their game. They've seen the same scenario multiple times & have a balance strategy to how to play in certain scenarios.
So out of the tourney & cash pools I'd say without a doubt that better poker players are cash players overall.
And the other thing is stability. Also you have the option to play whenever you want & leave whenever you want - So the freedom.
And tbh, cash players tend to do better at tourneys as well because they have the better understanding of the game at the beginning due to deep stack play.
I myself when I play tourneys do okay getting into the payouts by playing my normal game exploiting players, getting advantages over certain spots etc.
But when it comes to short stack play & people start shoving into each other, then things change a lot.
That bring to my next point. Which is tourneys involves a lot of variance & a lot of luck.
No matter how good you'll play in a tourney making all the right decisions, one flip that goes against you will determine everything. So the better player doesn't win always & perhaps will never get lucky in making some big amount.
It is so frustrating to know that if you could just hold on a bit longer you could've got paid 5 times more than you did. But you got in your aces as you should against K9off & the v caught trips.
So to counter this more volume is needed in tourneys as well as studying short stack play, push/fold charts & ICM considerations.
They big money in tourneys are at the final table & the odds are very much against you making their but the reward is bigger.
And that's why I'm also looking forward to put some more time & volume into tourneys in the future.
But I'd say to all the up comers that say cash is hard or boring to ditch those thoughts & try them at least once in a while & to get better, because you'll become a better poker player overall by playing cash & you'll definitely have the edge in the tourneys in doing so.
P.S - I've noticed that in the CC article it says that you defend your blinds more in cash than you do in tourneys but in my experience this is not true. At least in the modern day tourneys we defend our Big blind a lot. Sometimes I even defend with 72s considering the price I'm getting. At cash this totally differs cause no antes plus the blinds doesn't increase so the ranges are tighter so stealing doesn't make much sense from certain spots.
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TeUnit
Legend
Loyaler
Think the difference between cash and tourneys is one is mostly a preflop game and one is mostly a postflop game. In tourneys you are generally not playing as deep so more of the focus is on preflop. Also in cash you can add chips so people tend to get more fancy postflop. ICM is a factor in Mtts while in cash you dont have to worry about it. I prefer to play tourneys because I think they are easier to multitable with the more straight forward postflop play.
PsychoVas
What The Duck???
Platinum Level
Being mainly a free-roller, my experience in cash games is limited. That been said, I like playing cash games sometimes. I mean, appart from Sit'n'Gos, MTTs need a lot of time to complete. Thus, when your time is limited, tourneys are not an option. Another advantage of cash tables is that variance is a lot smaller than in MTTs, whereas the scarcer rewards in those are way bigger. So, if anybody thinks of poker as a serious grind, cash is the name of game, unless you can play multiple tourneys every day. recreational players would have more fun in MTTs, in my opinion.
albosaltenio
Legend
Bronze Level
I like to play tournaments but I try to progress in cash games.
My opinion is that it is better to start playing tournaments and once you have a considerable bank you can try cash games.
the difference that cost me the most is defending the blinds, the defense is very different between one modality and the other, it is easier for me to defend it in tournaments. in cash usually if someone enters the game and open his hand is because he has a considerable hand.
I am playing both modalities, but I prefer not to play in cash since I have more weaknesses than fortresses, I think one of my strengths is to play aggressively in both modalities and the weakness is also the same for both and it is the entering in tilt and the bad management of my bank.
My opinion is that it is better to start playing tournaments and once you have a considerable bank you can try cash games.
the difference that cost me the most is defending the blinds, the defense is very different between one modality and the other, it is easier for me to defend it in tournaments. in cash usually if someone enters the game and open his hand is because he has a considerable hand.
I am playing both modalities, but I prefer not to play in cash since I have more weaknesses than fortresses, I think one of my strengths is to play aggressively in both modalities and the weakness is also the same for both and it is the entering in tilt and the bad management of my bank.
Sakisdask
Visionary
Silver Level
Αλλά είμαι πολύ κακός σε αυτό: (κερδίζοντας χρήματα στο τραπέζι μετρητών είναι πολύ γρήγορο, αλλά μπορούμε να το χάσουμε τόσο γρήγορα.) Το τουρνουά μπορεί να είναι τόσο μεγάλο, αλλά τουλάχιστον δεν χάνω περισσότερο από το buy-inn. μακριά από τον πίνακα μετρητών. [/ QUOTE]
Τrue with you!!!
an me too my game is Tournaments!!
because you said so in cash you can not afford more than the original buy-in
and too in Cash games if you havent any money from other players in table you are lost!!!
I play cash game some times for fun!! 2-3$
Τrue with you!!!
an me too my game is Tournaments!!
because you said so in cash you can not afford more than the original buy-in
and too in Cash games if you havent any money from other players in table you are lost!!!
I play cash game some times for fun!! 2-3$
belladonna05
belladonkin'
Loyaler
I love to play Mtts, it's a marathon challenge to make it down to the final table. That's not to say I don't love to unwind after busting out of a tourney and sitting down at a cash game, it even helps for more tourney bucks
Bev
Legend
Bronze Level
I agree with the article for tournaments , it is just a matter of playing the best hands - so many times I have folded winning hands and of course it would have been with smaller cards, but it is not good to keep calling - have learned that the hard way to , you need to fold a lot more in the beginning and play better hands. ( that doesn't always guarantee a win though)
I find I do better in spin and go's with only two players besides me. Then it is a matter of playing almost every hand , and watching how the flops are coming out - it seems there is a pattern that happens in each game - so I find it best to fold the first hand even in those games.
Cash games , unless you have a fairly good hand - 10's or better then you may want to fold as well until you get a fell for how the cards are flopping out. Then you can be more aggressive.
Either way , if you don't have a very good hand , and someone jumps all in or a big raise pre-flop , just fold ... I do.( unless you are felling reckless, or have been ticked off and just want out of the game )
I find I do better in spin and go's with only two players besides me. Then it is a matter of playing almost every hand , and watching how the flops are coming out - it seems there is a pattern that happens in each game - so I find it best to fold the first hand even in those games.
Cash games , unless you have a fairly good hand - 10's or better then you may want to fold as well until you get a fell for how the cards are flopping out. Then you can be more aggressive.
Either way , if you don't have a very good hand , and someone jumps all in or a big raise pre-flop , just fold ... I do.( unless you are felling reckless, or have been ticked off and just want out of the game )
RidersFan
Legend
Silver Level
I play both live and online. I play a lot more live cash than live tournaments. Weekly casino tournaments are a lot of fun but they are very high variance. Online cash games on pokerstars are very competitive with a ton of good players at almost every level so I tend to play cash games at smaller sites were the player pool is softer.
The biggest difference in my own game between tournaments and cash is I like to slow play big hands and gamble more with weak draws in tournaments and in cash I like to play my big hands and bluffs the same way and I tend to just flat with draws, unless there combo draws.
The biggest difference in my own game between tournaments and cash is I like to slow play big hands and gamble more with weak draws in tournaments and in cash I like to play my big hands and bluffs the same way and I tend to just flat with draws, unless there combo draws.
Marcos mats
Visionary
Silver Level
Hi guys.
I prefer to play MTT, I think because I started playing this format, the cash game is a more daring game style in the sense of cash in the box, being able to win a lot in a short time and also lose a lot in a short time, I hope in the future to separate one part of the cash on hand, for play cash game.
Everything in its time.
We are together.
😎👊🍀💰
I prefer to play MTT, I think because I started playing this format, the cash game is a more daring game style in the sense of cash in the box, being able to win a lot in a short time and also lose a lot in a short time, I hope in the future to separate one part of the cash on hand, for play cash game.
Everything in its time.
We are together.
😎👊🍀💰
mtl mile end
Legend
Bronze Level
I've always looked at MTTs vs Cash as fixed risk vs more open ended risk. When I am cash poor and I want to play live, I know that I can buy into a $110 MTT and potentially win up to $2K while risking only $110 that is "spent". If I bust, I go home. If I choose to play a cash game and buy in for $200 on a $1/2 table, the potential gain is realistically less than the MTT, but the chance of some gain is higher. The rake on a live $1/2 table is brutal where I play - $2 for the bad beat jackpot and 10% up to $10 (I think) - therefore over 10% potentially. Losses on cash table are also cut with the perk of free, albeit mediocre, food. Danger rears its head if I take a bad beat on the cash table, bust, and want to rebuy.
It's different for online micro stakes. I have always fallen back on the above mentioned strategy for online micros, Online MTTs do follow the fixed risk outline, but a couple weeks of regular play has changed my mind somewhat about online micro cash.
Online micro cash has several mitigating circumstances that can change my approach. The rake is lower than I remember from a couple years ago when I played cash online more regularly - about five percent, rounded down. The rakeback system at PokerStars has never seemed to me to be worth much effort. However, the last two weeks or so, with all the games (like card match), holiday promos, etc, I've pulled in about $5 in bonus money to go along with about $10 in table profit (in a few thousand hands). A small sample size to be sure, but larger than live samples and easier to follow and assess than "value of a club sandwich" and "chance of winning that $200K Bad Beat".
Also, playing Zoom allows one to take advantage of position without being on the same table with the same players for a whole session. This of course works for other players as well, but it's not the same as live or micro non Zoom.
My new preliminary conclusion is that the potential profit rate vs risk on online micro cash tables is better than I thought.
It's different for online micro stakes. I have always fallen back on the above mentioned strategy for online micros, Online MTTs do follow the fixed risk outline, but a couple weeks of regular play has changed my mind somewhat about online micro cash.
Online micro cash has several mitigating circumstances that can change my approach. The rake is lower than I remember from a couple years ago when I played cash online more regularly - about five percent, rounded down. The rakeback system at PokerStars has never seemed to me to be worth much effort. However, the last two weeks or so, with all the games (like card match), holiday promos, etc, I've pulled in about $5 in bonus money to go along with about $10 in table profit (in a few thousand hands). A small sample size to be sure, but larger than live samples and easier to follow and assess than "value of a club sandwich" and "chance of winning that $200K Bad Beat".
Also, playing Zoom allows one to take advantage of position without being on the same table with the same players for a whole session. This of course works for other players as well, but it's not the same as live or micro non Zoom.
My new preliminary conclusion is that the potential profit rate vs risk on online micro cash tables is better than I thought.
N
Napkins420
Rock Star
Silver Level
I prefer cash games because cash games is the only way to make steady income in poker
But I do also love tournies, nothing feels better than being 1st in a tournie
But I don't like online cash games, to many regs multi-tableing , it's a real grind
Live cash games bring in schools of fish that will gamble lots of money with garbage cards.
Live 1/2 is the smallest NL game you will find at a casino, so it brings in some amazingly bad players
But I do also love tournies, nothing feels better than being 1st in a tournie
But I don't like online cash games, to many regs multi-tableing , it's a real grind
Live cash games bring in schools of fish that will gamble lots of money with garbage cards.
Live 1/2 is the smallest NL game you will find at a casino, so it brings in some amazingly bad players
masik6
Legend
Silver Level
I play as MTT and the cache just before the beginning of the session I decide what I will play but when I play MTT and cash at the same time because strategy these 2 varieties of poker is very a lot different from each other if you decide to play cache in the session cache only.
danoscar
Legend
Bronze Level