[RTBrandy]

I'm having [a lot] of trouble with this...

I realize there's no magic answer, but maybe someone can tell me something that will trigger a new outlook for me...

I'm comfortable with my tourney play...I'm not the best, but I feel I have the analytical tools to be honest with myself when and where I screw up...

for some reason , though, I can't seem to apply that to my cash game. [I think] my cash game game is considerably weaker...I've got several theories as to why, but they haven't allowed me to improve it enough yet...

Anyone have any advice on how I can analyze my cash play better?

[BlondWidow]

Well... this book has really helped me patch up some holes in my game. I play mostly cash with a few tournies thrown in on occasion. You don't have to be a losing player to get something from it. It seems to have lots of common sense poker ideas in it. Many of the situations they present have led to an "oh yeah, well, that makes sense" reaction. Definitely has helped my game. It's an easy read and at that price you can afford not to get much out of it, but if you're like me, that won't be the case.

[VARoadstter]

Originally Posted by RTBrandy

for some reason , though, I can't seem to apply that to my cash game. [I think] my cash game game is considerably weaker...I've got several theories as to why, but they haven't allowed me to improve it enough yet...

Anyone have any advice on how I can analyze my cash play better?

Well, can you give me some insights, here? How are you judging your "weakness"?

• losing money
• unable to figure out how to play specific hands
• can't get comfortable against your opponents/confused by their play

and so on.

Do you finish your sessions feeling like you did ok except for a handful of crucial hands? If so, what happened on those hands?

Do you finish sessions feeling like you were just a spectator and never got to really play very much? If so, are you adjusting your style to match your opponents?

Do you finish sessions and feel like you didn't get paid off on your good hands? If so, are you discouraging action by your bet sizing or other factors?

Do you feel exceptionally weak-tight because you were regularly being made to lay down medium strength (e.g. 2 pr. in Hold'em) to aggressive betting?

and so on.

It could even be a combination of all of the above. Each one would point to a different point of emphasis. What more can you tell me about this?

Assuming you are talking about NLHE, you may even want to "reinvent" your style. There are a few more or less proven ways to start for those who have the discipline to follow an approach until they really have it down and then add another facet until the whole game comes together.

[RTBrandy]

The most likely scenario I can think of is that there's no finality to the cash game. there's an easy button...a re-buy....



In tourneys, if I get knocked out, I'm bored for a loooong time...and I don't want that...so, even if I'm down to 20%, I can and will drag it out...

there's not much point to that in the cash games....



It's interesting that I play much tighter starting hands in a cash game, but seem to lose much more often...I think that, perhaps, I'm not as willing to let go of the good cards as I should be....

Now, honestly, I play looser than I should in Tournies, but I'm comfortable with it, and [usually] know when to reign it in..or at least can see where I screwed up afterwards..

Except for getting tighter during a higher stakes cash game, I didn't think I played that differently...less folds to me (cause they can rebuy?), I feel like I'm always getting pushed around in cash game, etc..can only win with a monster hand...

after I go busto in a cash game, I guess I'll look back and say, jeez, I only made 1 or 2 real mistakes...running into a monster (or the other day, my full house to his quads, which I read as the smaller boat or a nut flush), that kind of thing...

where'd all my money go?? plus..guys will go bust, or lower than me and rebuy...instead of looking at that as an opportunity, i think [maybe] I get mental thinking I'm the short stack now....but I certainly don't recall feeling like that at the time...

I think I might be rambling here....but I'm so damn confused!

[bigjohn]

You should play tighter in cash games and looser in tourneys. In cash games theres no reason to press the action if you don't have a good hand. It takes alot of patience and waiting. You could also be overpricing TPTK. In a tourney you need to make these kind of pushes but in a cash game the most winning hand is 2 pair (I think I read that somewhere). Any moreadvice I will be glad to try and help. Get pokerTracker or some other software to help evaluate your play as well...

[RTBrandy]

Well, playing last night made me realize one gaping hole I had....I find if I'm not really paying attention, I LOVE staying in on the draws.....

I found myself reaching for chips WAY more often than I should have been for a ring game.....

[yeltzen]

Good tourney players have trouble in cash games because tourneys have a lot of situations where you just push and are done with the hand, while most cash game hands require you to play every street. That makes them feel uncomfortable.

[Quads]

Treat your chips as though they are worthless, and lose the regard for money associated with them.

They are still / only betting units. They have no monetary value.
(until of course you go to the cage)

In your tourney game, you slide out 3 greens and it's just that. 3 greens. or "75" units.

Initially in a cash game, adopt that same thought process. You are putting 3 greens in the pot. Not "$75"

[Matthew]

I'm interested in this thread as well. I think my tournament play is much stronger than my cash game. I tend to win smaller pots in cash games but always give it back in a moster pot.

I can take big swings in the tourney's and as long as I got chips - I'm alive.

I don't seem to have those big swings in the cash game.

Keep the ideas comming.

[jamby]

I'm in the same boat, Brandy. My cash game fluctuates wildly and I typically just break even. Tourneys I have better luck with. Not sure why.

By the way - are you heading to Atlanta in April for the CT event redux?

-jamby