Poker Game Types

There is not one such game called ‘poker’ as there are so many variations and different formats of the game. There is something for everyone and you should be able to find a version that suits you. The most popular game is No Limit Texas Hold’em. However, even within that, there are lots of different ways to play it. Poker games can vary by the rules you employ, the ways you can bet, the number of players at a table and the format in which the games take place. There are two formats that poker games will fit into – Cash Games or Tournaments.

A cash game is where a player will sit down at a table with a set amount of money to play with and has complete control over how long they play, how much money they play with, when to leave and even which seat at the table they sit at. If you win some money in a cash game and want to leave with it right away, you can do, likewise if you lose money in a cash game you can choose to add more if you want to keep on playing.

A Tournament has a predetermined entry fee known as a ‘buy-in’ and this is the only money you will invest. Therefore, if you enter a $5 multi table tournament then $5 is the maximum you would lose. Instead of playing with $5, every player begins with a set number of chips (ie. 3000 chips). The winner of the tournament is the player who has all the chips at the end of play, although prizes are also awarded to players who finish in a predetermined finishing position - known as being ‘in the money’. For example, the top three finishers in a 9 person tournament will all win some money, the higher they finish the more money they will win. You can play in Multi Table Tournaments which as the name suggests takes place over a number of tables with a large pool of players until there is only one table remaining, known as the ‘Final Table’. You can also play in Single Table Tournaments (Also known as ‘Sit and Go’s’) that take place on the one table only. The prizes are smaller but the games are much quicker.

Both varieties of poker are fun and we recommend you try them both out before specialising in one or the other. Multi Table Tournaments are a real thrill ride and the rewards can be huge when things go your way. However, they are time consuming and you can sometimes go long periods of time without having a big win. Cash games are much better if you like a steady profit or need to be stricter with your time. Sit and Go tournaments are a nice blend of the two, because they feature all the fun and excitement of a multi table tournament but you can manage your time better and can expect a steadier profit.

Poker School

Poker Articles