When choosing whether to commit to cash games or tournaments, a player needs to weigh up the pros and cons. Texas Hold’em may not change in its rules in either format but there’s unquestionably different elements to both that make you more suited to one than another. We think that cash games are better than tournaments and highlight some reasons in this article.
Deeper Stacked Play (Less Luck)
Most poker players accept that luck is part of poker. We bemoan when we run bad and take bad beats and would love to remove them from the game. However, did you know that most elements of luck often come down to shorter stacks and moving all in? This is far more common in tournaments than cash games where deep stack poker strategy is required.
Flexibility
Cash games offer players more flexibility and control. You can get up and leave whenever you want. You’re not compelled to sit here or there. You choose the table, seat and session length. In contrast, tournaments are managed much more closely.
You have no control of the table you sit or when breaks are. This flexibility is a big reason we think cash games are better than mtts.
Stability
Whilst tournaments can be fun and exciting it is an unpredictable way of making money. You will go from good month to terrible month due to not fault of your own. Most poker players who treat the game serious want security in knowing they can generate a consistent online poker win rate. Forget that if you are interested in tournaments.
You can’t trust one session from another and can only really gauge your profitability over hundreds of tournaments which might take a year or longer. In short, cash games offer poker players stability that mtts can’t which is ideal for an advanced poker player.
Fishier Games
Most recreational players don’t have the patience or time to play tournaments. You are more likely to find these in the lower stakes cash games. For this reason, we think low stakes cash games occupy more fishes than tournaments, just be careful with your bluffs. Furthermore, the fishes you find in tournaments are luck based on seat allocation. You can’t find a fish in a tournament and sit to their left, can you?
There you have it, four reasons why we think cash games are better than multi table tournaments. They offer a less luck-based game, giver players more flexibility, stability and the opportunity to sit with weaker players more regularly.
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