As reported by: detnews.com
In a typical cash poker game, you don't face the pressure of having to win every last chip on the table. Instead, you can play a steady, solid game, looking to make a small profit on the night by playing conservatively and making sure you have top hands when you do play.

All that changes when you play tournament poker.

In tournament poker, the stakes continue to climb as the blinds and antes increase. This factor alone necessitates a significant adjustment in how you approach the game, but there are other differences that must be considered.

To win a tournament, you must play more hands than the average player. A conservative approach might get you most of the way there, but to win all of the chips, you'll need to kick up your level of aggression, especially as play becomes short-handed.

Your stack size -- in relation to the blinds and antes -- also plays an important role in your decision to play or fold. That's not an important consideration in a cash game.

For example, if you find yourself dangerously short-stacked, it'll sometimes make sense to put all of your remaining chips in the pot when you're dealt a marginal hand like Qh-5h. Situations like that will arise in tournaments when you'll be forced to play less than stellar cards for all of your chips.


Article By: detnews.com