Learn Texas Holdem

Question: I have a request for your opinion. I have been playing hold 'em for about 6 months now and just recently began playing for real money. I feel I have been doing ok, having tripled my initial bankroll of $50 in a 3 weeks This has come from playing both cash and SnG's a few times a week.

I guess my question is, in your opinion, where is the best place to play to give you the greatest chance to build a beginning bankroll. I have won some very nice pots by playing a solid game in the low limit cash games, but I may not see much action at all for many rounds. Whereas in SnG's, I have finished in the money 7 out of the 10 times I play. I know I can do well in both but it just seems SnG's give me more opportunity to play aggressive than in cash games, but of course you are always set on a limited amount to win in the 45-60 minutes a SnG takes.

Any insight would be great. I enjoy your site... it has proven very helpful. Thanks.

Answer: Without a doubt, cash games are a better use of your time than tournaments are. I know no limit holdem tournaments are the reason why poker has grown so much in the past couple years, but if you are interested strictly in money, the cash value game will give you more bang for your buck. If you really love playing tourneys, that's fine and keep playing them, but it is hard to win much money doing just that.

Even the great tournament pros make most of their money in side games. The tournaments are there just to add spice and a chance to hit a big win now and then. And often times, the games that develop when the tourneys are in town are actually more of an incentive to show up than the tourneys themselves are.

If I were you, I would put 90% of my time into cash games and then play a few Sit and Goes for fun. Then when there are big promo tourneys at the online sits, invest a little money in them. Multi-table tournaments are a decent use of your time since the return is so great if you win. The problem is though that rarely will win, regardless of how good you are, so it isn't a reliable way to make money (unless you have a large bankroll to work off of in the down time).

Cash games are a consistent means of income for a good player. I'm not a huge fan of sit and go tournaments since the pay out isn't that great, but like I said, if you enjoy playing them, then by all means play them. Lastly, probably the number one tip I have for any new player is to play in games that your bankroll can handle. Even if your are the best person at the table, the variance of poker will be enough to break you if you don't have enough money.