Are Cash Games Harder Than Poker Tournaments

Many poker players often get rattled about the fact that they win a tournament easily but often lose in cash games. What is the reason behind this? The reason is that the transition from tournaments to cash games is not very smooth for most of the players. Though the gameplay is the same in both cash games and tournaments, certain parameters bring a lot of difference. In cash games, the blinds are static, stacks are high, and you can leave the table and sit at another whenever you want. To win at cash tables, there are different strategies that you apply to beat your opponents.

How to Get Started at Cash Games?

Cash games are way more rational and calculative then a tournament where you must wait for the right opportunities and make your decisions wisely. If you are a tournament player and switching to cash games, you need to understand and play the game with a relaxed approach. You don’t have to rush to prove your expertise on cash tables as well. The best part of the cash tables is that you can leave and join another table at any time. You just have to detect the weak spots and capitalize on the opportunities to win fortunes. You can always reload at any time in a cash game so your decisions should always be purely based on your expected value.

If you are struggling in cash games, or new to the format, then it is a good idea to start at much lower stakes. If you are an experienced poker player, you don’t have to start from the very low. Take small steps as there is no need to rush. Once you start achieving success at cash tables, you can up your stakes and level.

Manage Your Bet Size

Many tournament players struggle with when transitioning over to cash games is bet sizing. In cash games, the bet size is different because the average stack size is much larger. For example, in tournaments, continuation betting 20-30% of the pot or min 3 bet preflop is very common and considered an appropriate move to win the pot. But the same is not the smart move to do in cash poker games.

Under-sizing your bets in cash games can give an impression of your opponents about your poker hands and encourage them to draw out on you. You should increase your bet size to extract more value with your good hands and not let your rivals to call. It is always suggested to make your 3 bets preflop at least three times the original raise. At post-flop, you can make your continuation bets 50% of the pot and get an upper edge.

These few tips will make your transition smooth and make you a better poker player. You can play free practice games at Adda52, India online poker platform, to get familiar with the cash tables.

Bhupendra Chahar
Bhupendra Chahar from Agra, a professional with a master's degree in Computer Science. He has over a decade of expertise in the world of poker. As a seasoned poker player, he understands the complexities of the game. Through his blogs, readers can gain valuable insight to improve their card game skills.
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