Cash Games vs Tournaments vs Sit & Go's

• Cash games: fixed blinds such as 1 and 2. You buy in for a set amount, top up between hands, and leave whenever you like. Chips equal real money. Rake is taken per pot or per time.
• Multi table tournaments: a single buy in creates a fixed starting stack. Blinds and antes rise on a schedule. You play until you bust or reach the final table. Payouts are top heavy.
• Sit & Go's: small field tournaments that begin when the table fills. Common versions are 6 max and 9 max with simple payouts. Structure is faster than deep MTTs and emphasizes short stack play.

• Cash games target win rate in bb per 100 hands. Sessions are modular and table selection is a major edge.
• Tournaments target ROI, ABI average buy in, cEV chips won, and final table finishes. ICM pressure changes decisions near the bubble and pay jumps.
• Sit & Go's target ROI over many games. ICM and push fold charts dominate the endgame.

• Cash blinds never change. Typical stacks 100 to 200 bb. No antes. You can rebuy between hands.
• MTT blinds rise. Antes or big blind antes start early and grow. Re-entry and late registration are common in modern events.
• SNG blinds rise quickly. Small or no late registration. No re-entry in classic single table formats.

• Cash game strategy deep stacks mean more postflop play, thinner value betting, and larger polar bets on later streets. Table selection and seat selection matter a lot.
• Tournament strategy stack depth changes constantly. Early stages play closer to deep cash. Middle stages add steal and resteal. Late stages focus on ICM, laddering, and pressure on medium stacks.
• SNG strategy early is tight and solid. Mid game prepares for short stacks. Bubble play and push/fold< ranges decide the result more than deep postflop skill.

• Cash open sizes are stable. Preflop 3-bet ranges are linear out of position and more polarized in position. Postflop you can run multi street bluffs and thin value due to deep stacks.
• MTT opens get smaller as stacks shrink and antes grow. 3-bet and 4-bet ranges compress. Short stacks favor smaller flop sizes and higher shove frequencies.
• SNG early ranges are conservative. Near the bubble, ranges widen or tighten based on payout pressure. Bet sizing is designed to preserve fold equity and stack utility.

• Cash hand reading across deep streets, value bet selection, river decision making, exploit design for specific opponents, and disciplined seat changes.
• MTT stack depth fluency, shove call math, ICM risk control, pressure lines versus medium stacks, and stamina for long sessions.
• SNG precise ICM decisions, bubble play, push fold accuracy, and heads up fundamentals.

• Cash lowest variance of the three at equal skill thanks to deep stacks and the ability to table select and quit on schedule.
• MTT highest variance due to top heavy payouts and large fields. Long breakeven stretches are normal even for strong players.
• SNG variance sits between cash and MTT. Bubble outcomes and small edges compound over many games.

Full bankroll guidance appears on the next page about variance and bankroll, but expect cash to require fewer buy ins than MTTs at similar edges.

• Cash: per pot rake or timed rake affects small pots most. Choose stakes and rooms with fair caps and seat with position on active callers.
• MTT: entry fees reduce ROI. Value spikes during large series, soft time zones, and recreational heavy flights. Late registration and re-entry policies change field strength.
• SNG: fee percentage and structure speed decide long term ROI. Favor formats with reasonable fees and predictable lobbies.

• Cash live: slower pace and bigger mistakes from recreational players. Build exploit plans and practice patience.
• MTT live: more physical endurance and longer bubbles. Reads and table presence add EV.
• Online: higher volume and tougher average opposition. Use trackers, HUD lite, and structured study to keep an edge.

• Limited time windows: pick cash or SNG for predictable session length.
• Enjoy deep strategy: pick cash for multi street planning and river play.
• Chase big paydays: pick MTTs and prepare for variance with strong bankroll rules.
• Want quick tournaments: pick SNGs to practice ICM and push fold skills.

• Using cash game bet sizing in short stack tournament spots.
• Ignoring ICM on the bubble in SNGs and MTTs.
• Playing too many pure bluffs multiway in live cash games.
• Failing to adjust preflop open sizes as antes rise in tournaments.

• Cash games: fixed blinds, deep stacks, bb per 100, focus on postflop skill and table selection.
• MTTs: rising blinds and antes, ROI and cEV, ICM near bubbles and pay jumps, high variance.
• SNGs: small fields, fast structure, ROI focus, push fold and bubble play decide the result.
• Match goals to format and build a study plan that fits stack depths and incentives.

Pick a primary format and master its incentives. Add a secondary format only after your ranges, sizes, and review workflow are consistent and profitable.