Real money poker comes in two basic forms: poker tournaments and cash games. With tournaments, you pay a buy-in and fee in exchange for a stack of chips you use to compete against other players. Everyone has the same size starting stack, and the aim is to finish deep enough to make it into the money, which is where players get paid out, and then go on to win.

So what are cash games in poker? In a cash game, players make real money bets and are free to come and go. If you’ve ever played a home poker game with chips that represent real money, you’ve already got cash game experience. Find out more about this popular format – including the basics of poker cash game strategy – in this blog.

How Do Poker Cash Games Work?

As mentioned, cash games are the format most poker players encounter first. You buy in for a set amount of poker chips, which you then use to make bets throughout the game. Whether you’re playing cash poker online or offline, there’s no set start or finishing time – you can join and leave a game whenever you like. The only requirement to join is to pay the minimum buy-in, and you can play for as long as you still have chips. Even if you bust, you can simply purchase more chips to keep playing.

During the game, the chips represent cash amounts. Unlike in tournaments, where chips are simply valued at set amounts, the value of each chip in a cash game is equal to a real money equivalent.

The minimum and maximum buy-in depends on the stakes, with a 20 big blind minimum and 100 big blind maximum being the norm. One of the top tips for winning cash poker games is to buy in for the maximum, as this enables you to pressure short-stacked players.

Hit a few good hands in a row and want to quit while you’re ahead? Simply take your chips to the cage and exchange them for cash. When you leave a table in an online poker room, it will automatically cash them out and add them to your balance. And whether live or online, you can also leave when things are looking bad and try to limit your losses.

Cash Game or Poker Tournament?

There are many differences between tournaments and cash games, and both formats have pros and cons. Tournaments begin with a level playing field, as all players start with the same amount of chips, and nobody can buy their way back into the game, unless it is a rebuy or reentry tournament. Tournaments are also structured differently, with the blinds increasing as the tournament progresses. In cash games, the blinds stay fixed. 

One of the best things about tournaments is everyone has a chance to win some of the prize money. Sure, skilled players usually win the top prize, but sometimes a rookie gets through on luck or instinct. In short, tournaments are a great way to gain experience without risking too much money.

By contrast, you’ll win or lose money every time you participate in a cash game. That’s the up and down side of it. Skilled players excel at taking money from novices, so be careful which tables you play at. At the same time, there’s no doubt that the risk of taking part in a cash game makes for the kind of thrill no other game can provide. Just be sure to choose a table with stakes that suit your budget. Micro-stakes are a good way to start when you play poker online, while high-stakes nosebleeds are strictly for veterans.

Cash Game Poker Chips

Poker chips are the currency you play with in cash games. Each chip wagered in a cash game has an actual monetary worth. For example, a $5 chip can be cashed out anytime and exchanged for a five-dollar bill. Poker chips come in a broad range of denominations, and like denominations are in the same color so they’re easier to identify. The values are also shown on the chips.

How To Measure Cash Game Success

An easy way to tell if you’re getting any better at playing poker cash games is to record your games online or take notes in live cash games to gauge your win rate over time. To calculate this figure, you can use an easy formula: bb/100, which equals the number of big blinds you win per 100 hands. Any win rate above zero is good, and if the figure increases, you know you’re on a winning path.

Cash Game Advice for Beginner Poker Players

The primary goal of any cash game player is to leave with more money than you bought in with. Here are some basic tips if you’re just starting your poker journey.

Learn the Hand Rankings

When you learn the poker rules, make sure to master poker hand rankings. If you have to think about beating a straight with a flush, it’s a waste of precious decision time, and other players can easily tell that you are a beginner poker player. At the same time, it’s a good idea to memorize the strongest starting hands for strategy purposes.

Look for the Best Poker Tables

The best tables are the ones where you stand the best chance to win, meaning tables where you’ll come up against players less skilled than yourself. One way to find these tables is to research when a poker room has peak traffic, which typically brings more recreational players to the games.

Quit While Ahead

Learn to quit while you’re ahead. With cash games, it’s possible to leave anytime you want. It’s always best to leave with a profit locked in, even when it feels like you’re on a roll that will go on forever. Just keep in mind that it is bad form to leave immediately after winning a big pot.

Poker Bankroll Management

Only risk money you can afford to lose. Unlike tournament buy-ins, you can theoretically keep increasing the number of chips you have to play with during a cash game. The more chips you accumulate, the more you have to lose. All it takes is one bad beat when all-in against a bigger stack in No Limit Hold’em, and you’re finished.

Don’t forget, these chips are worth real money, so it’s vital to have a poker bankroll management strategy. Play responsibly and avoid betting with cash you can’t afford to lose.

Poker Cash Game Strategy

The previous poker cash game tips are just simple snippets of general advice. Here are a few more specific strategies you should consider.

Understand the Value of Position

It’s always an advantage to play from position, which means you’re the last player to act. Research why this is the case, size your bets, and make your plays accordingly.

Play Aggressively

An aggressive player with a strong hand will play for value, building the pot and piling on the pressure after the flop. They’ll often avoid the most overplayed poker hands (the kind that beginners tend to overvalue).

Semi-Bluff With Drawing Hands

Bluffing is dangerous for beginners. There’s little point in representing a strong hand when you don’t know how best to play it, and experienced opponents will typically call your bluff. However, semi-bluffing is a different story. That’s when you have a hand that could draw to something good, like a straight or a flush. Say you have two spades, and there are two spades on the flop. Now you have a flush draw, which could win you the pot if the turn or river delivers a spade. At the same time, be aware that an opponent could also draw a flush, so pay attention to your high card.

Check the Flop in Multiway Pots

A multiway pot includes more than two players. This means you and at least two opponents are competing for the pot. In these situations, you should exercise more caution.

It’s better to be selective about which hands to bet in multiway pots, as the chance of your opponent having a better hand is higher. Check with strong pairs and bet trips or sets, as they have less equity against multiple opponents.

How to Master Online Poker Cash Games

The only way to truly master online poker is to play, as experience is priceless. Chances are you’ll lose a lot of hands before you start winning, so don’t start with unrealistic expectations of winning big pots. Rather, start with low stakes, which gives you the chance to learn the fundamentals properly and start implementing strategies. Observe your opponents closely, look for exploitable patterns, turn on the pressure to force difficult decisions, and fold weaker hands. 

Remember that online poker plays out much more quickly than live games and requires more intense concentration. In time, your mental stamina will improve, enabling you to keep up with seasoned players.

Tips for a Home Poker Cash Game Setup

Thinking of hosting a home poker cash game? A few tweaks can make all the difference between providing your players with an average poker gaming experience and a great one. 

First, be prepared to invest in good quality supplies like a deck of premium-quality playing cards with a superior look and feel to basic cards. When it comes to poker chips, you’ll want to purchase chip sets that match your actual stakes. To round things off, use a decent poker table. It isn’t strictly necessary for home games, but it’s much more satisfying to play on real felt than on the kitchen table.

Play Online Poker at BetMGM

Keen to play online poker for real? Join cash games with stakes to suit every budget, compete in poker tournaments, and meet like-minded players at BetMGM. Use your online poker welcome offer to get started.