If you try to get to know who the different poker pros are, you’ll notice that some of them are famous despite not having any bracelets to their name while some are practically laden with so many poker laurels that they can hardly bear the weight. But what’s more interesting is that these pros are equally famous on the poker community, despite the profound difference in the amount of medals and trophies. This is because some pros are Cash Players and some are Tournament Players . Of course, there are some who dabble in both spheres. And you’ll more likely be both as well. But still, there are several marked differences between that two. These differences would require that you employ the appropriate playing style, so it’s important that you are well-versed in them.

Chip Value

In tournaments, all of the players will be required to pay a certain buy-in so that they can enter. Then, everyone who enters will be given a set amount of chips. In tournaments, everyone will be on a level playing field. In cash games, however, player’s chip numbers would depend on their bank roll. Naturally, rich players will have a bigger chip stack and poorer ones will have small chip stacks. That said, those who play in cash games can be rather lax with their chips. They can take bigger risks, especially when the return is rather sizeable if they do hit the bull’s eye. After all, they can always refill their chip stack as needed. In tournaments, though, you have to protect your chips like a mother hen would with her little chicks. There aren’t any refilling centers in tournaments. What you start out with is what you get. And if you run out of chips, then you’re out. So, in tournaments, you generally shouldn’t take the risks that you take during cash games. Making outrageous bets would be a no-brainer, especially if your hand is especially poor.

Bankroll

Playing at tournaments would require a very large bankroll. The buy-ins don’t exactly come cheap. And there are many times when you will walk out of a tournament a complete loser. After all, you can’t expect to win each tourney. That kind of thing is just impossible. That said, you might just play more than 50 tournaments before you can even take back your investments through a deep finish. However, if you do win at a tournament, though, the win is usually very large, and well worth the wait. That is, if you win. Cash games are generally less risky. Although there will always be times when you will find yourself in the doldrums, you can always sit back, take a break, and analyze where you went wrong. The losses in cash games can be controllable, so you don’t really need to take such an extreme plunge in your bankroll.

You may have seen the World Series of Poker on late night ESPN or Channel 4 and been fully drawn in to the heady excitement of the Main Event. Cool-looking and sounding guys trade quips and jargon to rival anything Hollywood can offer. While “blinds”, “calls” and “raises” might be your poker bread and butter, be sure that you are aware of the different meanings of some of the finer points of slang used before you head to an online casino to try your hand at Texas Hold ‘em, which is without doubt now the most popular card game in the world.

On The Bubble

Watching the WSOP broadcast on TV, viewers may have been foxed by the statement, “on the bubble”. The “bubble” is the point at which no more players left in the tournament will receive any payouts, ergo if the top 40 places pay out, the player at number 41 will be “on the bubble”. Truly, if a player were to be knocked out at this stage the statement “his bubble had burst” is truly applicable.

Rakeback Pro

The “rake” is the commission fee taken by the house from any pot in poker, usually around 5-10%. The “rakeback” is money paid to players as a reward for playing at a particular poker room. Rakeback is commonly found online but is also used in regular casino games for players who are particularly frequent to the house. Thus a “rakeback pro” is someone who uses his rakeback to supplement his (lack of) winnings, earning instead a living from money given back to him.

Rock

A “rock” is a “tight” player or a “grinder”, as in a player that does not tend to continue with inferior hands. Ergo they often fold and will play fewer hands overall, making their plays more readable. Such conservative players make the game less interesting and are often seen in a derisory light by other, more adventurous players.

Going South

This is the act of removing a portion of chips from the table, usually in anticipation of an upcoming all-in bet. Actually impossible online, “going south” (also called “ratholing”) is prohibited in community poker rooms and can easily smear the reputation of any wannabe poker pro.

Cheat

In any game of poker, the worst insult any player can receive is that of “cheat” (also an “Agent”, “Colluder” or “Thief”, among others). Such accusations are taken extremely seriously by both players and casinos alike and should only be directed to another player if you are sure of your accusation. Anything short of that will simply earn you the title of bad loser who sucks out.

One of the biggest factors that influence victory on the felt is comfort. When you’re comfortable, you tend to play your best. And playing your best is an absolute must in tournaments. After all, you never know if your best really is enough, considering how many others are playing their best out there – including the sharks. It’s not even enough that you have skill or talent. You also have to have luck on your side. You also need to focus completely on the game. Getting distracted is a complete no brainer. You need your concentration, and you need to close your mind to the any external stimuli that could possibly disrupt your game.

Jacket

Rain or shine, always bring a jacket to the tournament. It doesn’t matter if its sweltering outside, the inside of a casino is usually a different matter altogether. And what’s more, those in charge can adjust the temperature as they see fit, and this might not always agree with what your body wants. It’s much better if you prepare yourself for any condition on the day of the tournament. Wear something light and comfortable and then bring a jacket. Don’t think about style; you’re not there to look good, you’re there to win. If things get too cold, you can always wear your jacket over your shirt and continue playing in relative comfort. You don’t want to play with your teeth chattering, thinking about how cold it is. You want to think about the game, and how you’re going to win it. Whether it’s hot or it’s cold in the casino should be the last thing on your mind.

Energy Drink

At the start of the day, you’ll usually feel fresh and up to any challenge. Your energy levels are still high and you’re still at your peak. However, as the day drags on and you’re doing nothing but playing poker, your energy levels will start to drop. And when this happens, your game will start to become sloppy. A good way to combat this would be to drink an energy drink. This will tap into your reserve of strength and you’ll be able to continue battling on. However, make sure that the tournament allows it first so that you won’t get into any trouble.

Cap or Sunglasses

Another must-have in a poker tournament is a cap or a pair of sunglasses. Lots of people will try to read you, and they’ll succeed or fail depending on how good they are and how good you hide your emotions. It’s best, however, not to take any chances. So, even if you feel silly wearing a cap or a pair of glasses indoors, think of how much this helps your game. If, however, you feel that they will only slow you down, then forgo them. Comfort is your priority. Hiding your expression comes at a distant second.

So let’s say you managed to scrape up enough money to enter into the poker tournament, or maybe you managed to get a package through a satellite – what next? For first timers, poker tournaments can be rather confusing and intimidating. There are so many things that could go wrong, so many things that could put you off your game – it’s enough to make anyone want to turn back and just go home. After all, what are the chances that you can beat a field of 1,000 and make it through to the very top, right? Not much, that’s for sure. Joining a poker tournament is a gamble, and only a select few can really win. But then again, what’s the point of living if you won’t take risks? Trying is always a hundred times better than giving up on the outset, no matter what hardships you may encounter. However, like that guy in G.I. Joe said, ‘knowing is half the battle’. Knowing exactly what these hardships are can help you prepare for the tournament itself, and might just be the key to success.

The Procedure

The actual procedures vary from tournament to tournament, but the basic of it is that you need to fill up forms and sign waivers in order to join. Logistics can be rather annoying, especially when you have to think about them when you’d rather focus on your game. Still, not knowing can be disastrous, as you might unknowingly stumble upon a rule. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, especially from the tournament directors. They can provide you with important information that can help you navigate through the tournament.

The Crowd

In tournaments, there’s a large throng of people who are, quite naturally, all out to get you. After all, they came to the tournament to win, to get to the very top, same as you. And they won’t have any qualms about sending you out of the game if they have the opportunity. Furthermore, the crowd can be rather diverse; wild west cowboy-types, James Bond-esque sorts with their prim, classy suits, cheeky punks, “phat” rappers, femme fatales, the downright bizarre, and of course, the seemingly harmless ones who always seem to reach the final tables – the collection of people can be enough to get a player’s mind reeling. But try not to be intimidated. If anything, take time to study these people. Doing so will give you useful cues on how they play.

The Television Crew

Then, of course, there’s the television crew – lights, cameras, and a whole lot of stress. The thought that one can be on TV can be rather harrowing, and it can easily distract a person. But try not to think of them, try to pretend that they don’t exist, and try to focus on the game and the game alone.