Playing Cash Games....Like They're Tournaments
Seeing poker on TV is often what initially draws people to the game. In fact, the brunt of the average person’s exposure to any poker strategy comes from what is watched on TV. Since most of the shows are No Limit Hold’em tournaments, that’s how people learn to play. In addition, the vast majority of poker books on the market are also geared toward tournaments. However, although many of these people do play tournaments, they also commonly play cash games.
All the information that surrounds typical poker players is focused on tournaments. So even when they play a cash game, they tend to play exactly the same way. Yet, there are enormous differences between tournaments and cash games.
The games are unique because of the differing stack sizes relative to the blinds. In a tournament, players often find themselves with 30 big blinds or less. In a cash game, players generally have 100 big blinds or more. The impact of this simple difference is enormous. It results in two entirely different games, requiring completely different strategies to win consistently.
The deeper the stack sizes relative to the blinds, the more decisions a player is potentially forced to make throughout the hand. These decisions generally become increasingly difficult as the stacks grow deeper.
For example, when you’re short stacked with ten big blinds and someone raises, if you have a premium hand, your decision is very easy: Put your chips in the middle. You played the hand as well as you possibly could; after that, it’s up to the poker gods.
On the other hand, when you have a deep stack with 100 big blinds and someone raises, if you have a premium hand, your decision is not nearly as straight forward. You should be weighing many factors. What position did the raise come from? Was it in early position – under the gun, or late position – on the button? What do I know about this player? Is he loose, raising every pot, or tight since this is the first hand he’s played in two hours? What type of hand will he typically have here? What hands am I likely beating right now? What hands am I possibly even behind to? If I’m behind and I hit, can I win a big pot? What should I do? Should I just fold to stay out of trouble? Should I reraise to maybe take the pot down now or at least try to play it against a single opponent? What if he raises me back? Do I lay it down or shove it all in? Should I just call to see if I can hit, or maybe slow play and try to trap?
Those are just some of the pre-flop considerations. The decisions you’re faced with as the hand progresses post-flop are even more difficult. The deeper stacked you are, the more play you have before someone is all in; after each action you have more information to evaluate. In a cash game, you’re forced to make choices that rarely occur in tournaments because all the money often gets in pre-fl op or on the fl op. When deep stacked, your decisions are regularly much more complex and require greater analysis.
The most common mistakes people make when playing cash games is that they play like it’s a tournament. Players tend to overvalue big aces and large pairs. They frequently end up losing their stack in situations where it is completely unnecessary. The plays made are often standard for a tournament, where the average stack size is relatively small compared to the blinds, but utterly wrong for a much deeper-stacked cash game. As a result, players who are highly adept at deep-stacked post-fl op play have a huge advantage.
For a player who is competent at tournaments but not skilled at deep-stacked cash games, there is a simple solution. A strategy can be used to level the playing field: Buy in short. That is, sit down at the table with the minimum allowable buy-in for the game. The minimum amount allowable is often only 20-30 big blinds. By intentionally having a short stack, you eliminate many of the potentially difficult decisions. Buying in short can allow you to play your typical tournament strategy profitably. In fact, you may actually gain an edge on some of the other players in the game, because they will often fail to properly adjust to your play.
There are several books and publications that recommend having as much money as possible on the table in a cash game. They suggest that you try to have your opponents covered at all times. The reason is that this allows you to maximize how much you can win in a single pot. While that is true, it’s only a good idea if you’re one of the best players at the table. Otherwise, all it does is allow you to maximize how much you can lose in a single pot.
Don’t fall into the trap of buying in for a large amount of money, just because you want to consider yourself one of the best players at the table, if you have no real evidence to support that fact. If you think you’re above average, then buy in for a standard amount like 100 big blinds. If you’re a good tournament player, but find your cash game lacking, then buy in short and make them play your game.
By being honest with yourself and learning to recognize your own limitations, you can find a strategy with which you can be both comfortable and successful. Remember: Poker is a game that’s meant to be fun, but it’s a lot more fun when you’re winning.
“Nicky Numbers” is a top Internet poker pro, instructor for WPT Boot Camp and a private coach. To learn more visit www.wptbootcamp.com or contact him at NickBrancato@gmail.com.
