Individuals that are used to playing in cash games may find holdem tournament play a bit off putting, at least at first. The two formats are obviously different. However, many first time players don’t realize is that these differences requires a strategy that varies from one they might use in cash games. In a tournament, players are forced to be a bit more aggressive and gamble more. This is partly because playing time is limited. Therefore, players must make quick decisions, sometimes forcing the action, in order to make something happen. Players are more likely to go all-in much sooner in tournament play then they would in a cash game.
Tournament play also has more variables then cash games. There tends to be a lot more things to consider. For example, a player will need to consider how their moves might help build the chip stack of an opponent, and how one’s chip stacks compare with the blinds. At first glance, the number of things a person must consider during tournament play can be staggering, especially to a newcomer. These feelings generally dissipate after a player has gotten some tournament experience under their belt. Over time, they will learn how to naturally incorporate these variables into their game time decisions. This doesn’t mean that it will necessarily be easy, but that players who play consistently generally learn to get a handle on it. Some better then others.
In a holdem tournament, it is commonplace for individuals to play hands that they wouldn’t normally in a cash game. For example, a player may go all-in before the flop with a weak pair in a tournament and no one would bat an eye, but this is not a be a play that a player would normally make in a cash game.
When an individual is playing in a cash game, they have the luxury of being more patient. They can let things play out some and wait until conditions are ideal (at least nearly) before they make a play. This isn’t always true of course, especially if a player is competing against good players. However, in general, a player in a cash game has more time to set up their hands so that they have an opportunity to make a good play. In tournament games, the time constraints and increasing blinds, force players to play hands that they wouldn’t normally. They are often forced to play weaker hands then they would like.
Some people would argue that holdem tournaments don’t really showcase who the best players are. They suggest that the outcome of tournament play is in a large part, luck. This is why many newcomers, from seemingly no where, win major tournaments. This is not to say that this format is dependent solely on luck, but that because players are consistently forced to play with sub-par hands and under time restraints, it can be difficult to show the full range of ones skill set.
It can also thus, be difficult to make a living solely on tournament play, unless a person is exceptionally talented in this playing format. For most players, a mix of tournament and cash games is much more profitable. Top earners, for example, many of the game’s richest players, will also have a few sponsorship deals and may even get a cut of a poker room’s profits. Most poker professionals obviously, won’t make that much money. However, it is possible to support one self with poker earnings, if an individual chooses the games they participate in, wisely.
Understanding the difference between holdem tournament play and cash games is important if individuals are going to be able to successfully transition from one to the other. There are real differences and players must recognize these and adjust their play. Tournament players tend to play loose during the early rounds, tighten up during the middle sessions and get more aggressive towards the end. They also have to often settle for hands that they wouldn’t normally feel comfortable playing. Conversely, cash games allow individuals to more fully utilize their full range of skills. Individuals have more time to develop their hands and implement their strategy. Players looking to maximize their playing profits should consistently participate in competitions of both types, i.e., cash games and tournaments.
