The WSOP is nearly upon us, and I’ve noticed sites like Bwin running great packages to send their players there with accommodations, some spending money and entries into the big tournaments. However, players upon arriving should be wary of transitioning back and forth between tournaments and cash games. Many of the world’s best cash game players, several of whom have never sat in front of a camera, are waiting for the easy money that comes from just busted out of the tournament players.
They make the bulk of their bankroll for the year preying on capable tournament players who sit down and chase their buy-ins. It’s not only the tilted that need worry, it’s also the players that don’t change up their games. Here are three simple tips to consider we you are making the walk of shame after busting out in a tournament on your way to sit down in a cash game.
1. Don’t overvalue your hands. In tournaments, you are looking for big hands to double up or to isolate and take down a pot. In cash the isolation raise works less often. In part, most cash game players have stacks that are so much deeper in relation to the blinds then tournament players that they can afford to mix it up. The waterfall effect, an early raiser and caller can bring multiple players into the pot.
In contrast, often times with smaller stack to blind ratios in tournaments, an early position raiser and early position caller is a double wallop of strength more likely to induce folds than calls. So, be prepared to play you hands in multi-way pots. Any hand decreases in value when it’s playing additional opponents.
2. Make decisions based on amassing chips if you hit. If you are deep enough and you can put a player on a big hand don’t be afraid to pay a bigger pre-flop price with the intention of snapping them off should your small pair turn into a set. Don’t know how many times I’ll see tournament players complain when their large, I have a big pair raise didn’t chase off a 2-5 o/s and they lose all their chips to the other player. Yes, in a tournament that hand would never see a flop with you, but in a cash game if the player is fairly certain you’ll lose all your chips with your pocket kings should the board come Q25, it’s your own fault. Be the guy making everybody else complain. Not the complainer.
3. Take a breather. Don’t immediately jump in the cash game. You are probably still decompressing from your ouster and reviewing pivitol hands in your brain. Even if you got eliminated with a hand that played itself don’t discount your mental review of hands you might have played differently. Go to the sports book if you must scratch a gambling itch. Sports betting done in moderation is a good reprieve from the poker tournament. Watch a game and take your mind off of poker.