Poker Games

Cash Games vs. Tournaments

Cash games comprise the vast majority of poker games online. Tournaments are different in the manner in which they are conducted. For the latter, players buy into these contests for a select entrance fee and receive a certain number of chips.

In tourneys, should the chips be lost, the player exits the tournament. Players faring well in tournaments are rewarded with cash payouts. Buy-ins can range from $0.10 to $25k.

Cash games/ring games differ considerably in their structure. All winnings that players accrue are theirs to keep should they leave the tables.

Players are able to rebuy at any point, hence the name ‘cash games.’ Buy-ins in cash games range from $0.01/$0.02 to $2k/$4k and beyond.

The list of poker variants that can be enjoyed in tourneys and cash games includes the following:

Short-Handed

Six-handed tables see more action than tables comprising nine or ten players. These games typically accommodate 4 or 5 players and they’re available for both ring games and tourneys.

Limit or Pot-Limit

Ring games/Cash games can be enjoyed with limitations. This prevents players from going all-in on one hand and losing their entire bankroll. These exist for both tourneys and cash games.

Heads-Up

These contests are a poker purist’s dream-come-true. One player goes head-to-head against another. There is a winner and a loser. It can be enjoyed in cash games, tourneys, Sit ’n Go’s and multi-table games.

Sit & Go

These are usually short tourneys comprised of one gaming table, although some include multiple tables. Games commence as soon as enough players have signed up. It remains a popular variant because it’s not time intensive.

Multi-Table Tournament

Multi-table tournaments (MTTs) allow players to sign up for a certain period of time after which the contest begins. Prizes are substantial and anywhere from 20 to 50,000 players can take part.

Bounty

These are exciting variants of the MTTs. Bounties are placed on busting certain poker players – usually pros. These contests are massive money spinners and generate loads of interest.

Turbo or Super Turbo

These turbo tourneys are juiced-up versions of regular Sit ‘n Go’s. While starting chip stacks are small, the blinds rapidly escalate. Within no time at all these contests can become Super Turbo games

Shootout

These are Sit ‘n Go’s where winners progress to the next round. The paydays in successive rounds are massive.