Cash games
Cash games are the most flexible way to play:
- Sit down and leave anytime: no waiting for a start time. Take a seat when one is free and get up whenever you like.
- Fixed blinds: the blinds at a table never change. A 1/2 table is always a 1 small blind and a 2 big blind.
- Top up your chips: when your stack runs low you can top up within the table limits.
- Strategy focus: stacks are usually deep (100 big blinds or more), so post-flop skill matters more.
Multi-table tournaments (MTTs)
MTTs are the biggest poker events, with fields from a few dozen to tens of thousands of players:
- Fixed buy-in and starting stack: everyone starts with the same chips.
- Rising blinds: the blinds go up at set intervals, forcing players to act.
- Elimination: lose all your chips and you are out. Tables are combined as players bust until the final table.
- Prizes by finishing place: usually the top 10–20% of players finish in the money (ITM), and the higher you finish, the more you win.
Late registration
You can still register for a while after the start, which suits players with unpredictable schedules.
Re-entry
If you bust, you can register again within a set time and play on with a fresh stack.
Guaranteed prize pool (GTD)
The organiser guarantees a minimum prize pool and covers any shortfall if not enough players enter.
Special formats: satellites, bounties and SNGs
| Format | What makes it different | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Sit & Go (SNG) | Starts as soon as the seats fill, usually 6–9 players, finishing in about 30–60 minutes | Players short on time who want a quick taste of tournaments |
| Satellite | The prize is a ticket to a bigger event, so a small buy-in can win a big seat | Players who want to play big events on a limited budget |
| Bounty / PKO | Win a bounty for each player you knock out. In PKOs bounties grow as you eliminate players | Players who like to attack |
| Jackpot sit & go Spin & Gold / SpinUp | Three-player hyper-turbo with a random prize multiplier drawn before the start | Players who like a fast pace and surprises |
| Fast-fold tables Rush & Cash / Flash | Fold and you move straight to a new table with a new hand, with no waiting | Players who want to play more hands in less time |
Cash games vs tournaments: how to choose
Choose cash games if you…
- Have bits of free time and want to start and stop whenever you like
- Enjoy deep stacks and value post-flop skill
- Prefer a steady pace and smaller swings
Choose tournaments if you…
- Can set aside a solid block of time
- Like turning a fixed buy-in into a shot at a big prize
- Enjoy the thrill of going deep, reaching the final table and winning
A must-know tournament concept: chips are not prize money
In a cash game, chips are worth exactly what they say. In a tournament, the value of your chips changes with the payout structure. This idea is called ICM (the Independent Chip Model).
- The bubble: just before the money, short stacks become more cautious and big stacks can apply pressure.
- The final table: every elimination means a pay jump, so protecting your finishing place is often worth more than risking it all for chips.
- Managing stack depth: once you have fewer than 15–20 big blinds, your strategy shifts mostly to shoving or folding.
To strengthen your fundamentals, read our Texas Hold'em beginner strategy, or pick a room with plenty of tournaments from our poker room guide.
Poker rooms where you can play Tournaments & Cash Games
These 6 rooms offer Tournaments & Cash Games. Pick one for its download guide and how to join:
QQPokerA fun, easy-to-learn poker app with plenty to do★ 4.3
WPT GlobalThe official online poker site of the World Poker Tour★ 4.7
Red Dragon PokerThe online poker app from a well-known poker tournament brand★ 4.3
CoinPokerAn international poker site played with cryptocurrency★ 4.4
ClubGGThe poker club app from GGPoker Network★ 4.7
X-PokerA club app with lots of games and fair play★ 4.5
More on Tournaments & Cash Games
FAQ
Tournaments & Cash Games FAQ
What is the difference between an MTT and an SNG?
An MTT is a multi-table tournament with a fixed start time and fields that can reach thousands of players. An SNG is a single-table tournament that starts as soon as the seats fill, with fewer players and a shorter running time.
What is a satellite?
A satellite is a qualifying tournament where the prize is a ticket to a bigger event, giving players a chance to play big events for a lower buy-in.
How does a PKO bounty tournament work?
In a PKO (progressive knockout), every player has a bounty. When you knock someone out, you win part of their bounty straight away and the rest is added to your own, so bounties grow bigger later in the event.
Should beginners start with cash games or tournaments?
Either works. If you want to play whenever you like, try low-stakes cash games. If you want to experience a tournament on a fixed budget, start with small SNGs or MTTs.
What is a fast-fold table?
Fast-fold tables (such as Rush & Cash and Flash) move you to a new table with a new hand as soon as you fold, without waiting for the hand to finish, so you play more hands per hour.