2026 Poll - Cash or Tournament? (2 Viewers)

[toothpic]

I prefer cash so I can make bad decisions more often and keep playing.

Rebuy!!

 

[Preditor]

In the minority, but I prefer tournaments for my home game, with a cash option for those who bust out.

Tournaments for me are just hella fun. You have to learn to play deep and short stack. The drama of busting people out. Of life and death.

The key for me? Add a rebuy, provide an affordable dinner (yay hot dog roller), have some fun side games (a nightly bad beat for us), and make the stakes what your group would normally spend on a night out on the town ($50 for me with a $30 rebuy).

So everyone usually plays for at least 2 hours and - even if they don't make the money - they're fed with full bellies and had 2 hours of fun for a price they would have spent on dinner and a movie anyway.

And if they want to keep playing? The cash set is right over there.

 

[3thone]

In my opinion, it depends on the number of people and how evenly the skills are distributed. I play with a lot of "new" people, giving people back their chips, or it being the right price for them to not feel bad about rebuying, usually makes it far more fun. I'm usually a 25 or 35 dollar game, not anything too big. However, when I play with some of my better friends, we enjoy a tournament in a less forgiving environment.

 

[Old State]

I voted tournaments only because my group has never had a cash game night, but I want to change that and I have a sneaky suspicion that cash games will become more popular.

And I think for many people tournaments attract a casual crowd who would like a tournament more, whereas cash attracts the poker players who would rather play cash or mixed games. And I think the reasons are obvious.

About 8-9 years ago started a .25/.50 game with some guys that had only played small buy in tournaments. The plan was to ween them over to cash poker. They all now prefer it. Several are now regulars in my $1/1 $120 max game.

 

[Flopalopagus]

It’s close for me. I voted tournament. As long as everything is well run then it doesn’t matter that much to me. I just need good people, good organization in both a cash game and a tournament, and enough of a carrot that everyone is vested.

 

[ScallyWagers]

My most enjoyable evenings have all started with a tournament then a cash game evolving after the first 2-3 get knocked out.

 

[PokerDogDoc]

This is also my plan:

Cash game to start for 3 hours, then finish off with a 2-3 hour turbo tournament.

If....... you're going to have both I'm in agreement to do the cash game first and finish the night with a tournament. That way if I go busto at cash instead of waiting around for the tournament to start up I can go home...

I love this idea of the cash game FIRST… I’ve always done it the other way around.
Bravo!

 

[Flopalopagus]

I love this idea of the cash game FIRST… I’ve always done it the other way around.
Bravo!

It depends on your crowd. Some people aren’t comfortable with cash and may not stay out as late. The upside of running a tournament first is that you’re likely to have/want a bigger crew for that game. This way you can beef up the pot, increase the strategy, chips stacks, and fun. Cash afterward allows people to come and go as they please later in the evening. Also, the size of the game matters a bit less than the tournament as long as you have enough in for one table.

With the tournament later in the evening you may accidentally reduce your number of entrants.

Hell! As long chips and cards are flying almost any night is a good night!

 

[GamingWithChips]

Obviously everything depends lol so let’s make it more clear and balanced.

Sunday-Thursday:
Cash first then end on a tournament. You can start the cash game whenever and people can show up whenever as people get off work or finish responsibilities at different times. Then when everyone does show up, the tournament can begin at like 7PM. Ending with a tournament gives a defined timeline which is good when you have to wake up in the morning.

Friday/Saturday:
Tournament first then cash. Ending with cash…well…it could never end! Lol, great for late nights.