Cash games vs Tournaments

[Shells]

What are some of the key differences you may have noticed between Cash Games and Tournaments?

 

[perrywh]

Cash players play more hands and are usually loose in there starting hands!

 

[redmast]

It makes a big difference for me. That's why I don't like cash desks. Blinds do not grow at cash tables and the game is smooth. You can exit the game at any time. You need to keep track of your bankroll. As the blinds grow in the tournament, you change your game strategy. You actually play at the last table in a completely different way from what you played throughout the tournament. I'm not telling you what to do when you approach the bubble. It all depends on your stack.When playing tournaments, you should be able to head-up. This is only a small part of the difference.

 

[maronza1]

Cash game blind level is fixed
Tournament blind levels increase after certain minutes

 

[Shooter74]

When I don't have much time I prefer to play cash games....but if I have a choice, I prefer tournaments, for sure...

 

[Dasha_21]

I prefer tournaments than cash games

 

[ztibor72]

CG is faster, it is played with fixed blinds, and you can change tables if you don't like what you are playing.
In a tournament, you cannot choose the table, and you have to play until you are eliminated.

 

[pentazepam]

Cash Games Live is almost the only opportunity left to earn a living from poker unless you play in a "team" that shares the risk and rewards.

online poker over 100NL is almost dead for various reasons already discussed here (almost no traffic, few really bad players, and a lot of cheating with RTA, bots, and collusion).

Online MTTs are almost like a lottery with a very small edge for the best.

Live MTTs take a lifetime to know your true ROI.

 

[Propane Goat]

One major difference for me that has an effect mentally is the way the games are funded. With cash games, your bankroll can get eaten up in real time while with tournaments, you pay once to enter and that's it. I have trouble in cash games with separating bankroll from the nitty-gritty of play in each hand, where in tournaments the entry fee has been spent and it's no longer a consideration.

 

[MK_]

Well the key differences are one has escalating blinds, chooses your table for you and you are required to play on their schedule...

I play far more cash games for those reasons or I do if I can find the players to play..... , as far as game play you are going to have

to be far more aggressive and play the players in cash games, so basically play real poker👍

 

[Mortis]

Cash games are more of a grind. No antes and blinds don't increase. Most people who make a living from poker do so from cash games.

For tournaments, blinds increase until there is only one winner left. There is a set buy-in, and by the time everyone registers and late registration is over, there is a set prize pool. When you get to a certain part of the tournament where a number of people are knocked out and you make the money, you will win at least that amount of money, and you will come out positive, no matter what happens after that (unless you fired a ton of bullets into the tournament). There is a definite start and finish to tournaments, while the same cash game could go on indefinitely until the last 2 players decide not to play anymore.

IMO, Tournaments are more rewarding, at least when you win one. It feels like a bigger accomplishment. But they can also be more soul-crushing.

 

[hilary antonik filho]

I play both, the differences that in tournament some end up playing in desperation and in cash is milder
What I mean (Abuse) is greed to win or increase your chips

 

[NightStalker]

Cash games is more dinamic than tournaments.

 

[najisami]

According to most pros, cash games are where the money is. They are also more convenient since a cash player can manage his BR more efficiently depending on the outcome of his sessions and can stay at the table as long as he wants or leave anytime he feels like to.
On the other hand, MTTs require a serious BR, a lot of time and a lot of long-term patience. And though a big score does not come along as often as one can hope, when it does, it brings a significant reward and especially an euphory almost impossible to describe.

 

[thedarkman]

So many. With a cash game you can get up and go at any time. With a tournament your aim is to stay to the end. There are many other differences but for me the biggest has to be the rake. The longer you play, the more you pay. You can't say that about tournaments.

 

[andron205]

cash games are easier to catch tilt than money, for a tournament player this is what I noticed

 

[888NOX888]

For me, the key difference between cash games and tournaments is that I lose a lot less money in tournaments than in cash games.😂

 

[manzanillo53]

What are some of the key differences you may have noticed between Cash Games and Tournaments?

For me instant results, not stuck for 3 hrs waiting for the bad players to all in themselves out of the game.

 

[bullishwwd]

It makes a big difference for me. That's why I don't like cash desks. Blinds do not grow at cash tables and the game is smooth. You can exit the game at any time. You need to keep track of your bankroll. As the blinds grow in the tournament, you change your game strategy. You actually play at the last table in a completely different way from what you played throughout the tournament. I'm not telling you what to do when you approach the bubble. It all depends on your stack.When playing tournaments, you should be able to head-up. This is only a small part of the difference.

Well stated mate ... totally agree .... a significant difference between cash games and tournament play.

Insightful perception ... In tournaments, the play and strategy before making Final Table is way different than once you are on the Final Table. Final Table is essentially a new game and requires a different approach. The closest similarity in tactics between Cash Games and Tournaments is at the Final Table.

 

[bullishwwd]

Cash games are more of a grind. No antes and blinds don't increase. Most people who make a living from poker do so from cash games.

For tournaments, blinds increase until there is only one winner left. There is a set buy-in, and by the time everyone registers and late registration is over, there is a set prize pool. When you get to a certain part of the tournament where a number of people are knocked out and you make the money, you will win at least that amount of money, and you will come out positive, no matter what happens after that (unless you fired a ton of bullets into the tournament). There is a definite start and finish to tournaments, while the same cash game could go on indefinitely until the last 2 players decide not to play anymore.

IMO, Tournaments are more rewarding, at least when you win one. It feels like a bigger accomplishment. But they can also be more soul-crushing.

Well stated my friend.

 

[bullishwwd]

One major difference for me that has an effect mentally is the way the games are funded. With cash games, your bankroll can get eaten up in real time while with tournaments, you pay once to enter and that's it. I have trouble in cash games with separating bankroll from the nitty-gritty of play in each hand, where in tournaments the entry fee has been spent and it's no longer a consideration.

Good analysis

 

[bullishwwd]

In general, relative to time spent, one can win or lose much more money playing Cash vs Tournament.
Cash games are usually played more aggressively.
Tournaments usually take longer, require greater patience and usually more stamina.

 

[Flyer35]

Plenty of differences in how you play, but for me the biggest factor in deciding which to play is how much time (and patience) I have. Little time = cash game. Lots of time = tournament.

As @bullishwwd said above, I too find that it's easier to win more in a cash game relative to the time spent. I'm always surprised when I hear people say that cash games are money pits, although obviously how you approach them is a big factor.

 

[Fushicho]

You can't put pressure on a cash player if they have more cash in their pocket. In a tournament you can threaten someone's game (as long as there's aren't unlimited re-buys)

 

[ninocabral]

the difference I see is that in the tournament you can only enter with x number of chips, whereas in cash you can enter with several different stacks, and there are blinds that do not change in cash and in tournaments they do, which makes you adopt some strategies to each stage of the tournament