The Difference between a Poker Tournament and a Cash Game

There are many different poker games and two different styles to play each game. There is tournament play and then there are cash games. More recently cash games are becoming more popular because of shows like High Stakes Poker and all of that. Before then, there was really no public view for cash games/ring games. All of the spot light has always been on tournaments. For most of us poker players we understand that there is a big difference between a poker tournament and a cash game. For some, they don’t know anything except for tournament play.

Poker Tournaments

A poker tournament is what most people are familiar with. You buy in for a certain amount of money and you and the rest of the playing field will get a starting chip stack. The tournament will go on until one player is left with all of the chips. The blinds will raise consistently and there will usually be a specific percentage of the playing field that will get paid out (example: the top 20% get a payout). Anyone that gets knocked out before they get into the top percentage goes home with nothing.

Cash/Ring Games

The classic poker game is a cash game also known as a ring game. This is where you play poker with money on the table and everything you win is pure cash. As far as I am concerned this is the best and most profitable form of poker. If you win a huge pot, that is money in your pocket. The blinds never increase and you can buy in when you want or leave when you want.

Understanding the Strategy Differences

Not only is there a big difference in the two as far as money and rules go, but there is also a big difference in strategy. The biggest problem that tournament players moving into cash games have is that they just don’t understand the strategic differences.

When you are playing in a tournament you are playing to win the tournament. The blinds are constantly increasing and you are often forced to make a move. There are times in a tournament that you must risk your stack because you won’t have any better chance to increase it any time soon.

In a cash game, there is no rush. You can be as patient as you want and you can pick your spots a lot more then when you are playing in a tournament. Sometimes, it also works the opposite. If you are in a poker tournament and you have a huge stack you probably don’t want to risk an all in before the flop with Ace King suited. You might do that depending on the player you are, but as far as I am concerned there is no reason to risk it there? If you are already far ahead, then why put a dent in your stack and let another player come back. In a cash game however, you might go all in there because you are giving yourself a very good chance to make some more cash. If you lose however, you have an unlimited time to make that back.

There has to be a completely different mindset when you are playing in cash games vs. playing in a poker tournament. The goal of a poker tournament is to win the tournament. The goal of a cash game is to make as much money as you can. In a ring game the odds and probabilities matter much more then in a tournament. In a tournament the luck matters a lot more then in a cash game.

There is really no way to fully understand the differences until you figure them out for yourself. For now, at least this gives you something to think about. Knowing the differences when you go into a game can make a big difference for you. Having the ability to play poker is one thing, but knowing what to do with it and being able to change it up in different situations is the key.