Poker - Tournament or Cash Games?

[Turtle]

Just out of interest, who spends more time on either Tournaments or Cash games?

I've been playing cash games for years but have just started putting a bit more emphasis on tournaments and really enjoying it.

[El Sol]

I prefer cash games for the grind and play tournaments when I get bored. The high variance in tournaments aggravates me. However, I play most of the events at Pokerstars WCOOP every year with mild success.

[iceminers26]

In person, I prefer cash games.

Online, tourneys are the way to go IMO. Too many bad beats and the stakes can get high in cash games.

[ufuque]

SNG's (Especially DoN Tournaments) are very good way for stoploss option.I prefer playing sngs at 16 tables at a time and play approximately 100 games per day @pokerstars.But in order to make profits you must be good at ICM

[Turtle]

I prefer cash games for the grind and play tournaments when I get bored. The high variance in tournaments aggravates me. However, I play most of the events at Pokerstars WCOOP every year with mild success.

That's probably the thing that sums me up best. I've had a little bit of success on the tournaments of late but cash games will always be my go to play for profits.

Actually last time I was in Vegas I actually had more success on the Tournments than the Cash games. I ended up playing 2 or 3 tournaments a day. I made some good money there.

[BobbyBaseballs]

Being somewhat of a pro-grinder for about 8 years now, Tournaments are BY FAR the best way to go to the new or ametuer poker player.....Cash games are nothing like they used to be.....You have to search high and far to find soft games as players are not gettin any worse these days and the games are just harder to squeeze money out of.....Even experienced poker players have horrible tourney play, and the money is way more dead in these areas.....Take Vegas for instance (Where I live).....The cash games here are about as bad here as anywhere......

On an average Friday night at the Venetian where they might spread about 15 nl cash games, you might find 1 or 2 LIVE tables.....The easiest money to win in cash games are in 1-2 nl games in smaller casinos where the money is barely even worth playing because new poker players will buy in for $100 95% of the time when they play anyways.....
But on the other hand, the toolboxes line up for the daily tournament and give the chips away like napkins......Bad poker players dont want to play cash games.....They would rather put their money in a tournament where they can still play bad and possibly run good for a day and make a score......Plus its what they watch on Tv so its what they want to play
Being a good Tournament player takes more patience and concentration than cash games, you have to be more dedicated and willing to put the time in as well......But in my opinion, the better way to go.

BB

[daneblazer]

One is not necessarily better than the other. Play whatever you find you are best at and enjoy. I only play tournaments now. My favorites are the 27 or 45 player sit and go's. I was doing better in tournaments than cash games and my style of play is geared for tournaments, so that's all I stick to.

[El Sol]

[quote=BobbyBaseballs;
Being a good Tournament player takes more patience and concentration than cash games,
BB[/quote]

Hm, well I respectfully disagree with this completely. Cash games are all about patience and concentration. You can easily go a hour or more without playing a single hand in cash games. Cant do that in tournaments as you will be blinded out.

In the early stages of tournaments you are getting bounced around from table to table making it hard to get your reads, and at the later stages tournaments turn into push or fold mode. Not much skill there. Perfect for the recreational players as there is a lot of excitement with the all ins.

The atm's at cash games are the "think they are good" tournament players. They play the two the same way and I just happily call down their blind aggression. But cash games are a grind and boring to most, but it truly is where the money is at including online.

[Art Vandeleigh]

I go on tilt a little too easily in cash games, two or more badbeats in a short timeframe and the party's over, safer for someone like me to play mostly tournaments.

[LLXC]

I think my play is better suited for tournaments so all I play now are SNGs and tournies.

[andrew5]

i play tournies and sng i will play a cash game once and a while when my br gets low and as soon as i get enough to play in a sng

[fishaholictaz]

sit n gos are easy money on-line. I like the 14 + $1.40 double up at Bodog. I have a three or four to one win ratio so I always have one up for the easy $.

[El Sol]

I go on tilt a little too easily in cash games, two or more badbeats in a short timeframe and the party's over, safer for someone like me to play mostly tournaments.

i can relate to that! Its easy to.

it seems from my experience that younger players prefer tourneys due to the fast aggressive pace of it. makes prefect sense

I used to pound stt's turbos at Pstars many moons ago. I was one of the pioneers there if you believe it. As i got older (much older!) I progressed to cash games as they are now more suited to my tight conservative play which evolved from a more aggressive game.

I will always maintain that cash games are where the money is at, but a case can be made that Tournaments are more profitable for the younger aggressive type.

[TheLock]

I play cash games.

[Pajda]

Mostly SnG's and tournaments

[ufuque]

I you consider playing cash tables,you should play at microgaming rooms.Especially omaha tables have edge

[selcen23]

i only play sngs

[El Sol]

I you consider playing cash tables,you should play at microgaming rooms.Especially omaha tables have edge

[Ian]

Cash games.

Tournaments have softer players at equivalent stakes, but especially in casinos the vig. is just too damn high on tournaments. Variance is also a lot bigger, and it can get prohibitively expensive playing live tourneys if you aren't in a major gambling city like Vegas, AC, LA, etc.

[shady610]

tourneys. I wish to play live cash, but I am self concious about not performing the right Etiquette.

Not sure what to do when you first sit down. " unwritten rules" stuff like that

[Czu81]

retired from poker

[Ian]

tourneys. I wish to play live cash, but I am self concious about not performing the right Etiquette.

Not sure what to do when you first sit down. " unwritten rules" stuff like that

This link has some info that will help you. Good luck.

[Parligod]

Shady - the best experience is just to play through and learn. Most (though not all) are friendly enough people, just be attentive. Just make sure not to string bet, as that's a lesson to learn early and fast.

As to the original question, I play about 95% tournaments and usually just CGs for fun/if bored. Live I'll play more cash as its harder to jump straight into a MTT, but usually if I'm at a casino it's because I'm there for a series/tournament.

[El Sol]

Shady - the best experience is just to play through and learn. Most (though not all) are friendly enough people, just be attentive. Just make sure not to string bet, as that's a lesson to learn early and fast.

As to the original question, I play about 95% tournaments and usually just CGs for fun/if bored. Live I'll play more cash as its harder to jump straight into a MTT, but usually if I'm at a casino it's because I'm there for a series/tournament.

well ive played against you a couple of hundred times throughout the years to know you what you say is true. However, with your skills and tight play I am surprised you are still on the tournament circuit.

[onegaucho]

tourneys

[BeatTheJerk]

[Shahbucks]

It depends what type of bankroll you have. With a small br I would tell someone to learn 9-180 player sng's and nothing else. I personally do tournaments on weekends and cash during the week because it fits my schedule. But if I'm ever down its back to sng's

[BobbyBaseballs]

[Shahbucks]

I play everything

[will2survive]

tournaments---(so you don't go broke)

[smarmy]

In person, I prefer cash games.

Online, tourneys are the way to go IMO. Too many bad beats and the stakes can get high in cash games.

eggsacktly!

[qwertvt]

I like an even mix. The easiest money playing online poker are the double or nothing sit-n-go's where the top five players at a ten person table double their money. It's a little easier than heads-up in the sense that there are usually a few weaker players that hedge your bet with easy money.

[chadodaddio]

sportsbook.com is my poker site and book anyone have any opinions about this site?

[chadodaddio]

wheres alll my poker players five me some input???

[beach nut]

I prefer cash games but tournaments can be fun too.