Cash Game
A poker game where chips represent real money and players can buy in and cash out at any time. Also called a "ring game."
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What Is Cash Game?
Cash games differ fundamentally from tournaments in that blinds remain fixed and players can leave the table at any point, converting their chips directly back into cash. This format allows for more flexible bankroll management since players choose their own buy-in and can quit whenever they wish, rather than being locked into a structure until elimination or victory. Cash game strategy tends to emphasize deep-stack play and long-term win rate over the survival-oriented, escalating-blind considerations of tournament poker.
Examples
A player buys into a $1/$2 cash game for $300 and can leave the table whenever they choose, taking their chips to the cashier.
Cash game strategy often focuses on maximizing win rate per hour rather than navigating a shifting blind structure.
Strategy Tips
Practice strict table selection in cash games, since the ability to choose your table and leave at will is a major advantage over tournament poker. Use proper bankroll management guidelines specific to cash games, typically maintaining more buy-ins than needed for a single session. Focus on deep-stack strategy concepts like implied odds and pot control, since cash game stacks are usually deeper relative to the blinds than in tournaments. Consider your win rate in big blinds per hour as the primary long-term performance metric in cash games.