sng vs cash games

Hello everyone,

I haven't been played poker in a while, but within the past couple of months I have gotten back into it. I was playing mainly play money cash games, but realized that those types of games of course don't accurately simulate the playing habits of people in a real money game. When I was playing playmoney games I found I was being successful in sng's situations, coming in 3rd 2nd and even 1st on occasion, however when I began playing with real money I took up to investing it in the cash games.

My simple question is, as a decent poker player trying to make some consistent wins ( like everybody else), what is a more profitable game for me to be playing. Am I wasting my time with these fixed limit cash games? I was reading various articles on this topic, and the average consensus was that cash games were better because you can always buy in and the blinds remain consistent, but when I consider some of the low limits I play .25-.50 or lower (possibly .50-1.00), I'm just not certain about there being big gains. Perhaps, I just need to be more patient. I was able to turn 25$ into 70$ (I know that is not a lot, but if this consistently happens I would be happy).

With SNG's I know that you buy in and that is that, if you don't come in 3rd or 12th (as some games are) you won't make any gains, so in that regard Cash games seem to be the way to go. I humbly invite your various opinions on this matter. What games are you finding to be profitable for your bankroll. If I am a descent tourney player should I consider that type of game instead of ring games. Thank you for taking the time to read and respond to my post.

Your fellow grinder
Utrmstbst

If you want to make money, learn and play cash. If you want to fuck off occasionally at a set price, play SNGs.

Thanks man, I appreciate your opinion, I have one more question to add if you all don't mind. I notice that a lot of people are playing more then one cash table at a time. Should I consider doing this as well, is this one of the keys to making big profits on cash games?

When you're learning the game you should only play a table or two. The idea behind playing more tables is that once you get to a playing level that you can make some money, you improve your hourly win-rate but hurt your big blinds/100 hands win-rate by adding more tables.

Unfortunately, I am only able to come into a poker with a fifty dollar bank roll. I know that is not enough for me to have a significant edge on my opponents, but it is all I have. What stakes should I play with a small bank roll like this, and is it possible to move up profitably in the micro stakes? A quarter here and quarter there doesn't seem like much. Can you actually grow your bank roll through the micro stakes assuming I am a decent player? Is there a good system to follow for starting out with a fifty dollar bank roll and once you make x amount of dollars you move up the stakes?

.01/.02 or maybe .02/04 NL. Sounds really small, but you'll learn alot whilst still being able to play comfortably within your bankroll.

Not sure what type of game you will be playing, but I can only speak from a NLHE point of view. It's the general consensus that you play a level that you have 25 max buyins for.

In your case you have $50, which yeilds 25 max buyins at .01/.02 NL tables (The max buyin is 100bb or $2.)***

That is also the lowest stakes and will provide the best grounds for learning as well as preying on fish. So my advise is if you are intending to play No-limit Hold-em to start the 2nl (.01/.02) and work your way up for there, moving up when you have approximately 25 buyins for the next level (which would be 5NL and you with $125).

And pertaining to if you can successfully work your way up through the microstakes. Yes you can. I don't know about everyone, but I'm certain a few very profitable players (considered regulars and winners now) began with $50 in their account and now have amassed good sums of money. You have to start somewhere, so do not be ashamed at only have $50 to put forth now. Honestly, without a great concept of how to play a solid game you don't need to risk more than that. So take what you have, play smart and continue to learn by reading articles and asking question, and work your way up. Good luck!

*** Some websites allow you to buy in for more than 100bb in microstakes games. For instance, if you play at Pokerstars you can buyin for $5 at the 2nl, which is actually 250bb, but 100bb is considered a full buyin in most instances. Probably recommended to only buyin for 100bb ($2) to start since that is what your BR permits.


XxStacksxX

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Originally Posted by Utrmstbst

Unfortunately, I am only able to come into a poker with a fifty dollar bank roll. I know that is not enough for me to have a significant edge on my opponents, but it is all I have. What stakes should I play with a small bank roll like this, and is it possible to move up profitably in the micro stakes? A quarter here and quarter there doesn't seem like much. Can you actually grow your bank roll through the micro stakes assuming I am a decent player? Is there a good system to follow for starting out with a fifty dollar bank roll and once you make x amount of dollars you move up the stakes?

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by spoonitnow

Start with about 20 buyins at 2nl or 5nl. This means either $40 or $100. Now, don't put anymore money into your poker account ever. Instead, grind through the limits and get good at poker. Then, the higher you get, take a slightly higher bankroll requirement than the stakes previous so that you better protect your poker bankroll.

When you have $100, play 5nl. (20 buy-ins)
When you have $250, play 10nl. (25 buy-ins)
When you have $750, play 25nl. (30 buy-ins)
When you have $1750, play 50nl. (35 buy-ins)
When you have $4000, play 100nl. (40 buy-ins)
When you have $10000, play 200nl. (50 buy-ins)

If you follow this and regularly play and work on your game, you'll be making a lot of money in less than two years imo.

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Im your hero. :p
Good luck with it.

Has to be cash for money gains.... sng has to be played in massive volume (multi tabling etc) to get over varience! You could run good and win a few bucks, or you could run bad and wipeout your bankroll!! more control in the cash games.

If you're bankrolled correctly you shouldn't wipe out your whole BR in SNG's by running badly. But if you don't have a big enough BR for your stakes, cash or SNG, you run the risking of wiping it out.

You guys rock,
Thank you for your posts so far, they have helped me gain perspective and confidence so that I can enjoy the game as well as see some profit. I have recently taken a stab at both types of games and I have to say that my bankroll is consistently increasing playing the micro stakes cash games. I played 4 micro stakes SNG's and lost all the money I put into them. People play those tournaments differently then cash games. It seems like there are a lot of people willing to give away their money in cash games. I have pretty much made up my SNG monetary loses in cash games. With some experimentation combined with your helpful comments I feel that I am getting out of this game what I wanted. Thanks again guys.

You are right.