roberto51
Visionary
Platinum Level
john_entony
feed the Fox
Loyaler
Flyer35
Legend
Platinum Level
Depends on your emotional makeup. Tournaments are for disciplined but flexible strategic players. The game is always changing as the blinds and antes increase, so you need to be able to adapt continuously. Need to make it to the final table before you see the 'real' prize money in a tournament, which can be substantial. Can take many hours, sometimes even a couple of days to complete. At some of the higher buy-in 'feature' tournaments you will be playing against a wide mix of pros (some big name) and amateurs.
Cash is more systematic, straightforward and predictable. You need a set of rules to apply, and you apply them. Not a lot of variability here. Easier to make regular money, but not usually a lot because the game is so predictable. The regs make their money by choosing tables where there are a lot of amateurs. Can start and stop at will so can play whenever you have any amount of free time.
Cash is more systematic, straightforward and predictable. You need a set of rules to apply, and you apply them. Not a lot of variability here. Easier to make regular money, but not usually a lot because the game is so predictable. The regs make their money by choosing tables where there are a lot of amateurs. Can start and stop at will so can play whenever you have any amount of free time.
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DiazPoker3101
Visionary
Platinum Level
You’re in the right place to learn and make money in the process. CC gives you the opportunity to learn and play free tournaments, which aren’t massive, so there’s a better chance of winning. Best of luck on your journey! 
black and
Legend
Platinum Level
It's best to start with tournaments because that's when you'll have the opportunity to play without risking your own money. I mean playing in freerolls. Freerolls are a great way to get started. Think about it. Our CardsChat freerolls are especially valuable, where most players play poker rather than bingo.
G
GrannySmit77
Rock Star
Platinum Level
Mario7
Rock Star
Platinum Level
It might depend on the poker room you play in. If it is online and GG poker - than my experience is - it is much easier to keep positive balance while learning - playing low stakes cash games than tournaments.
BetterThanAvgButNotByMuch
Visionary
Bronze Level
Live cash games would be the answer if you have access and the means after getting some experience.
But if youre playing online and youre just starting out then I wouldnt tell you to play online cash games because even at 1/2 cent I see ppl literally playing 7 tables of six max and i can tell theyre winning players from how theyre playing.
and I can guarantee you that theyre using software and aids to also help themselves.
So even at the very lowest levels lol youre playing against winning players that have a huge advantage against you with experience and probably have all the bells and whistles ie software aids to give them even more of an advantage over you.
and its not like one or two players lol, i mean i see like multiple folks playing lots of tables at that level and 1 or 2 levels up so theyre doing 2 tables at 1/2 cent and 2-3 tables at 2/5 cent etc and so on.
So just take the time to open up tables and see who is playing at that level and the next level up to see who youre playing and what youre getting yourself into. And do this different times of the week and youll see who is who.
if you can't tell if theyre a winning player then thats another issue as well.
Tournaments also have issues because you're playing awful players that do the silliest things that make zero sense from jamming all in preflop with 100 bbs or the like with ak or in a race with qq or some other big pair preflop and scared of playing flops because they don't have the skill and discipline to play flops and they make anyone with half a brain fold their hand and they missout on those premium hands or theyre bluffing someone when they dont need to or theyre trying to bluff a calling station that has no clue what theyre doing.
i mean the list of silly things they do in low buyins or freerolls is endless.
or the clueless agro donks that ask "why can I get a lot of chips in the beginning of a tourn but I lose them or I dont last the 1 hour",lol, i mean the list is endless of the nonsense you'll deal with, lolol.
Your best bet is to play freerolls and playchip tables to get experience playing those awful players and also study so you have a clue how to deal with the little players doing 7 tables of 1/2 cent lol trying to feed their family in some low cost country.
Sorry if its not the get rich scheme most are looking for.
but go watch a few micro lim tables at your favorite site or go play the freerolls or tourns up to about $3 and go to some playchip tables and compare the players and tell me what you notice.
gl
But if youre playing online and youre just starting out then I wouldnt tell you to play online cash games because even at 1/2 cent I see ppl literally playing 7 tables of six max and i can tell theyre winning players from how theyre playing.
and I can guarantee you that theyre using software and aids to also help themselves.
So even at the very lowest levels lol youre playing against winning players that have a huge advantage against you with experience and probably have all the bells and whistles ie software aids to give them even more of an advantage over you.
and its not like one or two players lol, i mean i see like multiple folks playing lots of tables at that level and 1 or 2 levels up so theyre doing 2 tables at 1/2 cent and 2-3 tables at 2/5 cent etc and so on.
So just take the time to open up tables and see who is playing at that level and the next level up to see who youre playing and what youre getting yourself into. And do this different times of the week and youll see who is who.
if you can't tell if theyre a winning player then thats another issue as well.
Tournaments also have issues because you're playing awful players that do the silliest things that make zero sense from jamming all in preflop with 100 bbs or the like with ak or in a race with qq or some other big pair preflop and scared of playing flops because they don't have the skill and discipline to play flops and they make anyone with half a brain fold their hand and they missout on those premium hands or theyre bluffing someone when they dont need to or theyre trying to bluff a calling station that has no clue what theyre doing.
i mean the list of silly things they do in low buyins or freerolls is endless.
or the clueless agro donks that ask "why can I get a lot of chips in the beginning of a tourn but I lose them or I dont last the 1 hour",lol, i mean the list is endless of the nonsense you'll deal with, lolol.
Your best bet is to play freerolls and playchip tables to get experience playing those awful players and also study so you have a clue how to deal with the little players doing 7 tables of 1/2 cent lol trying to feed their family in some low cost country.
Sorry if its not the get rich scheme most are looking for.
but go watch a few micro lim tables at your favorite site or go play the freerolls or tourns up to about $3 and go to some playchip tables and compare the players and tell me what you notice.
gl
F
fundiver199
Legend
Loyaler
You can try the different format to find the one, which suit you best. However there are some formats, which are more suitable for both learning and bankroll building than others. So for me the choise should be between:
1. Regular cash games
2. Single table SnGs
3. Small field (<300) MTTs including On Demand SnGs
The main choise is between cash games and tournaments, and personally I think, cash games are best for learning the fundamentals of the game. The reason for that is, you only need to focus on playing a hand well and not on other things like payjumps. You also play with deeper stacks on average and get more experience with turn and river play. You learn things like folding top pair, which is boring but sometimes the correct play.
For those reasons I personally think, its best to begin with cash games and only consider moving to tournaments, when you can beat at least 10NL. But if you enjoy tournaments more, its ok to go that route instead. Its also fine to combine 2. and 3. and for instance play small field MTTs during the weekend but SnGs on working days. Single table SnGs tend to have more extreme ICM than MTTs, but its still a tournament at the end of the day.
I would advice you to avoid:
Fast fold (Zoom style) cash games
These games tend to be tougher than regular cash tables, you can not table select, and its much more difficult to identify, what bad players do wrong, and exploit their mistakes. There is also no dynamics, where maybe someone gets tilted, because you always raise them, and at some point they snap and donk off their stack. In short many important elements of the game are missing from these tables.
Any kind of hyper turbo games including Spin n Gos
These games tend to be to much of a shove fest, and the lack of deeper stacked play is bad for learning. You can play them later but should not begin there.
Heads-up
The problem with this format is, thats its to much specialised, and you will tend to always be paired with some "shark" waiting for you. As a tournament player you need to get experience with heads-up, but you should not specialise in it, at least not in the beginning. If you play 6-18 man SnGs, there will be enough heads-up play in those already.
Large field (>300) MTTs
The problem here is variance, which require a big bankroll, and you also dont get enough final table experience. It can be ok to play a few of these in the weekend for variation, but your main focus should be on other game types.
1. Regular cash games
2. Single table SnGs
3. Small field (<300) MTTs including On Demand SnGs
The main choise is between cash games and tournaments, and personally I think, cash games are best for learning the fundamentals of the game. The reason for that is, you only need to focus on playing a hand well and not on other things like payjumps. You also play with deeper stacks on average and get more experience with turn and river play. You learn things like folding top pair, which is boring but sometimes the correct play.
For those reasons I personally think, its best to begin with cash games and only consider moving to tournaments, when you can beat at least 10NL. But if you enjoy tournaments more, its ok to go that route instead. Its also fine to combine 2. and 3. and for instance play small field MTTs during the weekend but SnGs on working days. Single table SnGs tend to have more extreme ICM than MTTs, but its still a tournament at the end of the day.
I would advice you to avoid:
Fast fold (Zoom style) cash games
These games tend to be tougher than regular cash tables, you can not table select, and its much more difficult to identify, what bad players do wrong, and exploit their mistakes. There is also no dynamics, where maybe someone gets tilted, because you always raise them, and at some point they snap and donk off their stack. In short many important elements of the game are missing from these tables.
Any kind of hyper turbo games including Spin n Gos
These games tend to be to much of a shove fest, and the lack of deeper stacked play is bad for learning. You can play them later but should not begin there.
Heads-up
The problem with this format is, thats its to much specialised, and you will tend to always be paired with some "shark" waiting for you. As a tournament player you need to get experience with heads-up, but you should not specialise in it, at least not in the beginning. If you play 6-18 man SnGs, there will be enough heads-up play in those already.
Large field (>300) MTTs
The problem here is variance, which require a big bankroll, and you also dont get enough final table experience. It can be ok to play a few of these in the weekend for variation, but your main focus should be on other game types.
Hospedar
Rock Star
Platinum Level
Both are good for beginners; you just need to decide which makes more sense for you to play...
Tournaments have more variance and is less flexible in terms of time you will spend in a session, but have larger prizes to be won.
Cash games have less variance and is way more flexible when we talk about time you will need to spend during a session (as can easily start and stop your sessions exactly when you want), but have smaller prizes, since you will get or loose money hand by hand, and not by surviving until the ITM, as you need to do at tournaments.
As I don't have too much time to spend on long sessions, I decided to play more cash games and I liked it. So it's, actually, a personal decision you need to have.
Tournaments have more variance and is less flexible in terms of time you will spend in a session, but have larger prizes to be won.
Cash games have less variance and is way more flexible when we talk about time you will need to spend during a session (as can easily start and stop your sessions exactly when you want), but have smaller prizes, since you will get or loose money hand by hand, and not by surviving until the ITM, as you need to do at tournaments.
As I don't have too much time to spend on long sessions, I decided to play more cash games and I liked it. So it's, actually, a personal decision you need to have.
R.Melnyk77
Visionary
Platinum Level
It is better if you make this choice for yourself. In my opinion, it is more correct and, most importantly, easier to start with tournaments. Especially if you start with freerolls. But do not rush to spend your own money on the game.
W
wushibala
Rock Star
Platinum Level
tournament fields are softer, while cash games require more experience. it's tough for beginners - watching your stack shrink (and knowing it's real money) makes you nervous and leads to mistakes. my advice? start with sit & go's, they're perfect for learning
Toruk Makto
Visionary
Platinum Level
Cash is a piece of shit! 😂😉