Argument between me and a friend

[JSBC]

I won't say right away who has which opinion so it doesn't sway anyone's own decision either way.

We were on the topic of discussing the difference in skill-sets between cash game players and tournament players. While we are both able to agree that there is definitely a difference in skill-sets, there is a disagreement as to whether a cash game or tournament requires a "better" set of skills.

Comments?

[MVPSPORTS]

Cash game players are better than tourney players in general... A TON of tourney players get eaten up when they sit at cash tables w/ Barry, Phil and the others...

[hard2tel]

[Danhdan]

Guys, I'm not sure your sample sizes are very big. I came up with the same thoughts as MVP and hard2tel, but then thought, "Just because I hear about some great players who excel at cash games against other great players doesn't necessarily mean that the players who lose are bad at cash games. I think pretty much everyone would lose against Reese, Ivey, Greenstein, Chan, and Brunson constantly because they are the among the best ever.

I'd have to say that each requires a different set of skills, neither is better than the other. Although in a tournament, I think the theory, "In order to live, you have to be willing to die" plays an important part of strategy, and this strategy isn't needed much at all in a cash game...some would say not at all.

As for the winning high stakes cash players, that's why they are at the top...they crush everyone else and can handle the swings when they don't.

[black_knight6]

Cash games are harder by far...

[GodlikeRoy]

[Tiburon]

[Rhound50]

[kennyg]

[Kuso]

[Kuso]

[adamh]

[Dumb Snowman]

[Felonius_Monk]

[black_knight6]

I think it says something to the huge luck factor in tournies...and the problem that they're so top-end heavy in payouts that you really have to finish top 3 to make good $$...and since you can go a long time between cashes, it's harder to be willing to keep at it long enough to show more profit than cash games.

None of us are saying that tournies don't require skill and that they're all luck, it's just that the skill set for cash games seems to be bigger...you get to play more poker in cash games.