Question of the month

Dave Scharf

Question of the month:



Every month Canadian Poker Player poses a question on www.PokerForum.ca and www.UnitedPokerForum.com. There is only one rule: answers must be limited to 100 words. The best answer, as judged by our readers, wins a free Canadian Poker Tour hat. Vote for your favorite answer by emailing dave@CanadianPokerPlayer.com. The November winner was Phred from PokerForum.ca



“What is the primary difference between a successful tournament player and a successful ring game player?”

DJP

A successful tounament player has to stay ahead of or near the average chip count as the tourney progresses to survive long enough for a chance at the money/final table. (rising blinds/antes) They must constantly adjust their play for progressively more skilled opponents as the field narrows too.


The successful ring game player must maintain an average win ratio higher than the blind rotations, over the long term, to be profitable. (beating the rake) Blinds are fixed. Opponents are fewer.

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edit: I deleted a bunch of words. (forgot about the 100 word rule)

micr0be

If all else is equal, that is to say both games are NL, a successful tournament player's key difference from a successful ring game player (keeping in mind these are not mutally exclusive) is that they are mindful of the fact that once you bust you are finished (after rebuys). And also, they are mindful that OTHERS are mindful of this...this makes plays such as coin flips where they may be ahead slightly not always desirable since once they lose they are gone if put to a choice for their whole stack. In a cash game these moves are profitable long term...tournaments are short term and they know this.

BurnCard

I think of a NL tournament more a long the lines of a sinking ship/rising water situation. You can't always wait for an ideal situation, so instead you have to take the best calculated risks per your situation.

In a cash game you can always wait for the next opportunity, in a tournament, you might not have one.

Ring games are less about context. You make the right move..and statistically you'll be ahead eventually. In tourneys a player needs to be riskier and get luckier for potential return.

but don't listen to me... I'm awful at tourneys

Dennis187

There is quite a difference here. Tournament players must be picky, they must wait for a decent hand to make there move. Why? Because if they lose alot of there chips in one hand, there is no more chips to get. You cant add more chips to your stack at the table (unless there are rebuys). So one bad move and you are done. In cash games you can make some mistakes. Play a bad hand and you can buy in for more chips. In a tournament, one bad decision and that is all it takes... you are going home.

actyper

Taking Chances.

One who never takes a chance in a tourney, will never win. One who never takes a chance in a ring game, can still come out ahead.

ConfusedONE

Dennis187 wrote:

There is quite a difference here. Tournament players must be picky, they must wait for a decent hand to make there move. Why? Because if they lose alot of there chips in one hand, there is no more chips to get. You cant add more chips to your stack at the table (unless there are rebuys). So one bad move and you are done. In cash games you can make some mistakes. Play a bad hand and you can buy in for more chips. In a tournament, one bad decision and that is all it takes... you are going home.

well said i like your answer

regards,
CO :canada:

stpboy

The answer to being a successful ring game player and a successful tournament player is the same but in different ways, discipline and perspective are needed for both.

Throughout a ring game you will be faced with a number of opportunities to call em' down and may only loose a few measily dollars to get some usefull information. You need discipline to limit the times you 'call em' down' and in turn maximize that information and turn it into dollars.

In a tournament setting you cannot allow yourself to 'call em' down', you need your life-blood. Chips are power, chips are life. Be observant of what everyone is doing in every hand. You must hang on as if every turn could bring your defeat, your death.

In ring games you can consider yourself a cat, with nine lives. In a tournament consider yourself a fish in the sea, with a shark around every corner.

stp

MrBluffsAlot

Tournament Objective: - Short Term
Ring Game Objectibe - Long Run

Your ability to adjust to the "mood" or "feel" of the table is critical in Tournament play. If you can't adjust, you go bust. It's really an ability of juggling a good offence with a good Defence. You need to know when and who to attack. At the same time knowing when to protect yourself. Tournaments require "Perfect Play" at all times. Make even one mistake and you risk losing your entire stack.

In ring games patience is Key! You still require "Perfect Play" however, a mistake won't cost you other opportunities. You can always pony up more dough and get back in the game!

Feel free to critique

gidders

A successful tournament player knows that the chips on the table ALL must EVENTUALLY come to him in order for him to be WINNER and recieve BIG MONEY, whereas a successful ring player knows that ALL of the chips can never come to him but rather EVENTUALLY he will pick his spots to make the BIG MONEY and be a WINNER anyways.

Dennis187

ConfusedOne, I hope you vote for me through email then.

magithighs

The primary difference between a successful tournament player and a successful ring game player is how they view the value of chips. For Ring Game players, there is a direct correlation between the value of chips and money won or lost, whereas for tournament players there is an indirect correlation. For tournament players the value of a chip varies based on stack size, blind size, tournament stage, skill level, and payout scheme.

pkrfce9

A successful tournament player must adjust his playing style throughout the tourney. He recognizes a hand worth calling must be much stronger than a hand worth betting. He avoids marginal situations and plays very tight early on. As the tourney progresses, he must loosen up and play more aggressively based on the size of the blinds, proximity to being 'in the money', his stack size, the position in the hand and the number at and composition of the table.