Cash Games Vs. Tournaments

The great divide of online poker falls smack in between cash games (a.k.a. ring games) and tournaments. The two are very different, and if you attempt to apply the same strategy to both games you're heading for a fall. To help you decide which type of game best suits you, here is an overview of the main differences.

The Wife vs. the Mistress

Taking a seat at a tournament is a long-term commitment. Once you jump in, there is no looking back. You're assigned a table, handed an arbitrary amount of chips, and from that moment on - it's all about making the best of the situation, while waiting for your opponents to make the first mistake. You must be the last one (or three) standing in order to see a real profit, so the game is all about surviving.

Cash games are quite the opposite. You can monitor a table to check out your opponents before you join, and you can take a timeout whenever you feel like it. If you don't like what you see, or if you feel you've already peaked, you may leave at any time. And if you loose all your chips, you can always visit the cashier and reverse the curse.

So we don't come across too anti-monogamous, we'd like to point out one of the many advantages that come only with serious commitment. If you do survive a tournament, the prizes at the top three places are huge. The first place typically gets to keep 25% of all the buy-ins, the second place 15%, and the third a nice 10%. For example, a tournament with a $20 buy-in and 500 participants will pay the first place $2,500, the second $1,500, and the third $1,000. That's a great return on your investment, and the best way to turn online poker skills into fast money.

Working the real money tables can also yield big profits, but even a miracle hand with many participants at the highest stakes will never pay out such a phenomenal ratio. In other words, if you've done well at a cash game you'd probably be quite happy, but not happy enough to pay next month's rent in advance.

The Downward Spiral vs. Steady, As She Goes

There is a reason why No-Limit Texas Holdem tournaments are the most heavily televised poker events, while you would never find a camera crew hanging out next to a random ring table. At tournaments, the blinds keep doubling and tripling themselves, making sure the game keeps moving. Sudden death is another sure drama generator. Cash games, on the other hand, have fixed blinds and players can always buy more chips, so there is never an increase in the drama.

Unless you're a TV producer, accelerating drama is not necessarily a good thing. Some players prefer to take it slow, to study their opponents well, and never to be with their back against the wall, forced to play bad hands. If you're one of these, and you feel most comfortable when you are in (relative) control of your surroundings, you should probably stick to the ring games.

When it comes to poker, patience is always a virtue. Too much of it, however, can easily eliminate you from a tournament. If you like taking risks, you adapt well to changing strategies, and you thrive under pressure, tournaments are the way to go. This high-risk lifestyle comes with its benefits.

Equal Opportunity vs. Old Money

There are no class differences going into a tournament. Everyone starts with the same number of chips (usually 1,000) and they must work their way up from there, until a hierarchy is determined (Some tournaments offer re-buys, but only during the very early stages of the game). This gives all participating players an equal shot at the prize. It also means that bankroll plays no role in the outcome of the game.

Bankroll is a significant factor in ring games. Players that have more money to begin with can afford to take harsh losses and wait patiently for the monster hand that will put them on top again. Other, less fortunate players will be at a great disadvantage when facing such opponents.

If your bankroll is small (or non-existent) and you feel like a game of poker, you should probably sign up for a tournament, rather than spend the little cash you have on playing the blinds. Even if your chances of winning are small, at least your money will go further. If, on the other hand, you use your money well, and you have money to use - you should use it at the cash tables, where it matters.

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