TOURNAMENTS VS CASH GAMES

For whatever reason, there is a huge disparity between my cash game and tournament play. I am good at tournaments, so I keep thinking that means I am good at cash games, but the statistics don't bear that out. I want to be the guy who can win a couple hundred dollars every day, then cash out a grand a week and make a good living, but my cash game just isn't at that level. There's something about the tournament structure that works much better for me. I like that it starts and it ultimately ends, and every decision is an important part of the journey. I can fold 15 hands in a row, knowing that the game will still last as long as it is going to last whether I play a certain hand or not. In cash games, I think I get too antsy and do things that I know I shouldn't, so that I don't appear too tight.

Now that I have a bankroll, I have allowed myself to bleed some of it away in cash games playing limits that I am not ready for. Now, I realize that I can put it to better use by buying myself into bigger and more lucrative tournaments and buying myself more books on cash game play, while sticking to the lower limits in ring games.

There is a nice $100 multi-table tourney at Party Poker each weekday at a convenient time for me. I played yesterday, but took a bad beat and missed the money. Today, I was doing fine, but as we were nearing the money, I realized that my time was short since I had to take Mason to swimming lessons today. Oops, I have a habit of joining tournaments that I don't really have time for. The payouts went thru 20, and I was getting short on time at about 35, so I started playing like a maniac, figuring I would either double up or bust out. If I doubled up, I could just put myself on auto and coast into the money, making $180 for 12-20th.

A few guys at the table were taking offense because I was going all in way too much and that hampered their game. I told the most vocal guy that he needs to be able to play against all types of players, so he should consider today valuable experience. One time the tournament chip leader tried to steal my blind and I went all in with two low cards. He folded, which forfeited his $3000 mega-bet. Another time, I went all in on the button with Q4 and found KK on the big blind. The flop came Q4x all hearts. He got really lucky when two more hearts fell and we split the pot. After showing this, I was happy to sit back for a few hands and wait for a good opportunity. I announced to the table that I had to leave and I was going all in on the next face card. Two hands later, I went all in from first position with QQ. To my dismay, nobody played, although the blinds were worth $900.

I wound up playing all the way until we reached the money. I had built my stack up pretty good by being the feared reckless guy, so I bid adieu and went to swim class. When I got back, I looked it up and saw that I finished 9th and made $540. Too bad I couldn't play it out, since I maybe could have won the darn thing, but then again, if I was actively playing, I might have run into some bad luck and not even made 9th, so since I wasn't even in the room after 18th, I can't complain.