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The difference between cash games and tournaments.
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The tournament specialists are not often good cash game players. And the best cash players often have problems when playing tournaments. Very few are in the absolute top in both cash and tournaments.
There is differences is strategy but the differences is not that big.
I play mostly cash games but also some tournaments. I’m a better cash player but I have had long periods when I have been very successful in tournaments.
The main reason why I’m a better cash player is probably because I’m expecting to do better in cash games. When playing tournaments I don’t have the same confidence I have in cash games. To win a big tournament you have to expect to win. If you lack self-confidence you will play too passively and don’t give yourself the chance to win.
The main difference between cash game strategy and tournament strategy is how you play when short stacked.
If you are short stacked in a cash game you just have to reload or move to a smaller game. But in a tournament when short stacked you have to change your strategy drastically.
In the early stages of a tourney when you have a big stack compared to the blinds you can play exactly as you do in a cash game. But sooner or later when the blinds goes up you will be short stacked compared to the blinds.
And the shorter your stack becomes the more aggressive you have to play. If you only have chips to pay for the blinds for four or five more rounds its probably correct to move all in with any two cards if no one have called before you. You have to take big risks before your stack becomes too small. Its better to be all in as an 4:6 underdog with a decent stack then to wait for the situation where you are a 6:4 favorite with a too small stack.
Most good cash players have problems to do this strategy changes.
The best online poker room for tournaments is definitely PokerStars. At PokerStars you will find all the biggest and the best tournaments on the internet. PokerStars welcomes US players and offer all new players a signup bonus of 100% up to $50. Bonus Code First2008
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