ruanm
Enthusiast
Silver Level
I prefer tournaments
B
besttest11
Enthusiast
Silver Level
It depends! Cash offers immediate, tangible benefits and flexibility, while tournaments bring excitement, challenge, and the opportunity to showcase skills or strategies. If you're asking for personal preference regarding the concept, I'd lean toward tournaments because they embody growth, engagement, and the thrill of competition.
anasslaaleg
Rock Star
Silver Level
I find that tournaments take a lot of time, especially if you get to the final tables where the prizes are higher. Cash game gives you the freedom to leave the session at any time, but in tournaments you can't leave the session without grinding.
Jean-Guy
Rock Star
Bronze Level
Online tournaments are adviced for beginners and semi-skilled players. Cash games require much more cunningness and fine tuned skills. Preflop skills is the easy part. Postflop skills is where the money lies.
In tournaments the rising blinds make lesser options for clinical postflop play. The endgame can be a crapshoot.
In tournaments the rising blinds make lesser options for clinical postflop play. The endgame can be a crapshoot.
john_entony
Legend
Platinum Level
R.Holynskyi
Visionary
Platinum Level
I love tournaments. I rarely play cash games because they are quite difficult for me. In my opinion, playing in tournaments is not so difficult, cash games require more skill and I don't have much of it
istbno
Rock Star
Platinum Level
Both cash games and tournaments have their own appeal, and preferences often depend on personal playing style and goals. Cash games offer flexibility since you can join or leave at any time, providing a steady grind without the pressure of escalating blinds. They reward consistent skill and bankroll management, making them ideal for players who prefer long-term profitability. Tournaments, on the other hand, provide excitement with the potential for large payouts relative to the buy-in, creating dramatic moments as players advance closer to final tables. The structured format of tournaments, combined with the thrill of survival and elimination, attracts those who enjoy competition and high stakes. While cash games emphasize deep stack play and long-term strategy, tournaments require adaptability as blinds increase and stack sizes shrink, adding extra layers of strategy. Many players enjoy mixing both formats to balance consistent earnings from cash games with the adrenaline and big wins tournaments can offer. Ultimately, the choice comes down to whether you prefer the steady pace and freedom of cash games or the structured excitement and potential rewards of tournaments.
anasslaaleg
Rock Star
Silver Level
Cash Games:
Pros: More flexibility in terms of session length. You can buy in for any amount, and the chips are real money at any time. If you want to quit at any time, you can.
Cons: The action can be slower at times, and without big prize pools, it’s harder to get big wins unless you’re consistently profitable.
Tournaments:
Pros: The potential for huge rewards with a relatively small buy-in. The structure allows for dramatic increases as you progress. The atmosphere is often more exciting.
Cons: They can be longer and more grueling. You’re more reliant on variance for deep runs, and once you’re out, that’s it for that tournament.
Pros: More flexibility in terms of session length. You can buy in for any amount, and the chips are real money at any time. If you want to quit at any time, you can.
Cons: The action can be slower at times, and without big prize pools, it’s harder to get big wins unless you’re consistently profitable.
Tournaments:
Pros: The potential for huge rewards with a relatively small buy-in. The structure allows for dramatic increases as you progress. The atmosphere is often more exciting.
Cons: They can be longer and more grueling. You’re more reliant on variance for deep runs, and once you’re out, that’s it for that tournament.
LuTsu
Rock Star
Platinum Level
In the beginning I only played cash games. I always liked the freedom to start and end the session whenever I wanted. I even joined some cash game teams but this freedom ended up hurting a basic skill every player needs: putting in volume. So I switched to tournaments to learn this and got used to long sessions. I cant say I have a favorite mode, all of them are important throughout a player's career, each at the right time. Today, I just love Poker.
nelomec
Rock Star
Platinum Level
I think both are good, but for those who have a small bankroll and want to make money in poker, the right thing to do is to play more tournaments than cash, which will give you opportunities to improve your skills and increase your bankroll if you reach the ITM.
Ruslan L
Visionary
Platinum Level
I play cash games very rarely, mostly I prefer tournaments. I especially like freerolls because thanks to them, I regularly increase my bankroll and this, in turn, also gives me the opportunity to actually play in buy-in tournaments.
Alex Houngan
Rock Star
Platinum Level
I personally enjoy playing MTT tournaments, especially Freezeout format. These tournaments give each player only one chance, which makes every decision much more meaningful. You have to play carefully and strategically, as there's no room for mistakes. This adds a level of intensity and excitement that I find really engaging.