Poker tournaments and cash games offer two different formats to poker players. And while the game itself is the same, there is a lot of nuance in the differences between the two.

Cash game players have much more flexibility in their playing schedule and can come and go as they please, whereas tournament players are often required to play 12+ hour sessions for multiple days in a row. Cash game strategy is also more static than that of tournament play. In cash games, the blinds never go up and the stacks are almost always very deep so there will be less variety in the strategic situations you find yourself in. 

I’ve always preferred playing tournaments. For one, I enjoy trying to solve the unique strategic situations offered by the combination of different player types, stack depths, and chip distributions throughout all stages of the tournament.

I also enjoy the finality of tournaments. After a winning cash game session, I’ve always felt as if there is more work left to be done. However, in tournaments there is a sense of completion, especially if you are the winner, where all the other players have been eliminated and you are the last one standing in victory. 

Try your hand at both cash games and tournaments by registering at BetMGM Poker online. There is also a poker welcome bonus if you’re a new player.