How to Play Poker Cash Games: A Beginner’s Guide

For many, poker cash games are the heart of the game. While learning the rules is quick and easy, consistent success takes more than just basic knowledge.

To win long-term, you need a solid strategy, discipline, the right mindset, preparation, adaptability, and various other essential talents and skills.

Whether you have already tried your hand at a tournament or you’re just learning how to play poker, this guide on poker cash games will help you navigate the basics and beyond.

What Are Poker Cash Games?

Poker cash games are a format where each chip has real monetary value. Players can join or leave the table at any time, and the money they win or lose is directly tied to the chips in play. This differs from poker tournaments, where players pay a fixed entry fee, receive a set number of tournament chips, and compete to be the last player standing to win a share of the prize pool.

Here are the main differences between cash games and tournaments.

How to Buy Into a Game

In real cash poker games, chip denominations represent real money, that is, the exact amount paid for them. When you bet $25 chips, this is worth exactly that amount in real money. When a player takes $100 worth of chips from someone in a hand, that is worth $100 of real money. This means that in a real cash poker game, every hand has the exact same importance and brings a new opportunity to win money.

There is a minimum and, usually, a maximum buy-in for a cash poker game, but each player decides exactly how many chips they want to put on the table. At the same table, one player may buy in for $50 and another for $532, for example.

Tournaments, on the other hand, are all about outlasting and eliminating opponents, and winning any given hand doesn’t win you any money.

To enter a tournament, you must pay the tournament entry fee. In exchange for that fee, you will receive tournament chips, known as the starting stack. It is the same for all players and is arbitrarily determined by the tournament organizers – the chips do not reflect the money paid or how much a player can win in a hand or the tournament.

The Blinds and How They Affect the Game

Tournaments are played in time installments called tournament levels. The blinds, antes, and other forced bets, which generate action in poker, rise every level. This promotes all-ins and eliminations to determine a winner. In a cash poker game, the blinds (antes, bring-ins, and other forced bets – depending on the game) are the same for every hand.

How Much Time Do You Have to Play?

A tournament is about eliminating players until only one remains. This means that once you enter a tournament, you have to make a time commitment to play until the end (if you want to win and make money).

In cash games, you can start and leave the game at any time. You can play just one hand, or ten, or several hundred. Whenever you’re done playing, simply cash out the chips in your stack at that moment.

These different dynamics make poker cash game strategy different from that in tournament poker. Players who value flexibility and comfort and want the option to play for real stakes from the very first hand prefer cash games. In every hand, the focus in cash games is on maximizing the value of your cards and skills without necessarily worrying about how many chips you’ll have left or getting eliminated from the game.

Types of Poker Cash Games

There are many different poker variants that can be played as cash games. New variants of poker are constantly emerging or gaining and losing popularity. However, over the last 20 years, No-Limit Texas Hold’em has been the undisputed king of both tournament and cash game poker.

Let’s look at the most common types of poker cash games played online and in live casinos around the world:

Texas Hold'em No Limit Cash Games
If a casino offers poker cash games, it’s almost guaranteed that No-Limit Texas Hold’em will be among them. In this variant, each player is dealt two cards, while the dealer deals out up to five community cards in the middle of the table. The player plays the best five-card hand out of these seven available cards. Texas Hold’em is the best place to start, as learning poker is often synonymous with learning how to play Texas Hold’em.
Short-Deck Poker
One variant of poker that developed from Texas Hold’em is Short Deck, which is played with cards 2-5 removed from the deck. There are only 36 cards in a short deck, which means there are many more options to make a strong hand, making it more of an action game.

A peculiarity of the game is that a flush is worth more than a full house (because it is harder to make). Learn more about how to play Short Deck Poker to see if it might be a game for you.

Pot-Limit Omaha Cash Games
The second most popular variant of poker, after No-Limit Hold’em, is Pot-Limit Omaha. It’s especially favoured in cash games by players who enjoy more action.

In many ways, Omaha is similar to Texas Holdem, except each player is dealt four cards instead of two. Just like in Texas Hold’em, five community cards are dealt in the middle. In Omaha, though, the player has to make a five-card hand using exactly two of his four hole cards and three of the community cards. The ‘pot-limit’ (as opposed to no-limit) means that on every street, players may only bet or raise up to the pot, which is the amount of money that has already been bet by players in that hand.

A popular variant of the game is 5-Card Omaha, where players are dealt five hole cards instead of four, with all other rules remaining the same. Another growing variant is 6-Card Omaha, played with six hole cards.

Fixed-Limit Cash Games (Stud Poker and Mixed Games)
While Hold’em and Omaha are the most popular “big bet” poker games, many older, traditional forms of poker play as limit games, where bet sizes are fixed and predetermined for each betting round.

In some online and in-person casinos (for example, on the East Coast of the United States), you may find a game called 7-Card Stud, a favorite among many seasoned players. Two other popular stud variants you might encounter are Razz poker and Stud Hi-Lo.

A very popular game is the mixed game H.O.R.S.E, which includes all three stud poker variants, Limit Texas Hold’em (a form of Texas Hold’em with limit betting), and Limit Omaha Hi/Lo. Learning how to play H.O.R.S.E poker makes for a truly well-rounded poker player.

Draw Poker
Draw poker is a group of games where players are dealt their hand face down (no cards are shared or shown to the opponent) and can discard some of their cards and draw new ones (either once or multiple times). The most well-known variants include Five-Card Draw, Limit 2-7 Triple Draw, and No Limit 2-7 Single Draw. While these games remain popular as tournament formats at the World Series of Poker, they are now rarely played as cash games.
Other Variants of Poker
There are many other variants of poker being played around the world, some of which combine elements from the games mentioned above. For example, Pineapple Poker or Double Board Bomb Pot have become increasingly popular in recent years as fun additions to traditional Hold’em and Omaha poker cash games.

Chinese poker and its more popular variant, Open Face Chinese poker, differ significantly from the games above (players are dealt 13 cards and must make three hands), but are also popular in many places.

How to Join a Real Cash Poker Game

The quickest way to play a real cash poker game is at an online US poker site, where you can find a game any time of the day. First, make sure the site accepts players from your country. Then, there are just three simple steps:

  1. Registering an account.
  2. Depositing some money.
  3. Joining a table with an open seat.

To play live poker, you need to find a poker room or casino nearby. It makes sense to check when games are running (some casinos post updated information online). Unlike online poker, live games don’t run constantly, so availability can vary. However, if there is a game running, joining is simple:  just buy some chips at the cashier and sit down at the table.

What Is Rake in Cash Games?

Rake is the percentage of the money that the casino or card room takes after each hand (if there’s a flop) as a sort of fee for running the game. It can range from 2.5% to 10% of the pot and is usually limited by a maximum, called the cap, which is typically around 0.5 to 2 big blinds in online Texas Hold’em games.

In live games – especially lower-stakes Pot Limit Omaha – the rake cap is sometimes higher. If the rake is uncapped, you should think twice before playing that game, as it will be nearly impossible to beat the game in the long-term unless you absolutely crush.

It is typical for both online and live cash games that lower stakes tend to have a less favorable rake, relatively speaking (in terms of big blinds), which sometimes makes lower-stakes games harder to beat.

An alternative to the regular rake is the time rake. Instead of taking a percentage of the pot, some casinos collect a fee every hour (or half an hour) from all the players at the table.

Rake is very important because it affects your ability to win at poker cash games. A realistic win rate for most winning players is only a few big blinds per 100 hands, which is why one big blind in rake can make a big difference over many hands. Some casinos may charge a high rake that players can’t beat. This is why it is important to get informed about the rake in any game you play.

One great option for online poker cash game players is rakeback deals. Rakeback is a form of cashback that the poker room or site rewards you for the rake and fees you generate while playing. Most sites give out extra bonuses for new players, so make sure you find a generous rakeback deal and don’t miss out on any benefits!

Poker Cash Game Strategy

Poker cash game strategy involves much more than just knowing how to play specific hands. Below are the key tips that cover the essential factors players need to consider to improve their chances of winning.

Game Selection

Poker cash game strategy starts with game selection, which includes choosing casinos, stakes, games, and tables to play. You should always see what is available and try to optimize for the game that will give you the biggest edge over your opponents and, therefore, the biggest profits.

Stop Win and Stop Loss

It is important to set clear limits before you start playing, both in terms of time and win/loss goals. Having a stop loss is especially crucial, as most players tend to play worse after losing a few buy-ins.

The Mental Game and Physical Preparation

Another important, interesting, and sometimes underestimated aspect of poker is mental preparation and adjustments – from understanding tolerance for risk to optimizing for focus and regulating emotions.

Make sure you are well-rested, well-fed, and free from any distractions that could affect your decision-making. If something upsets you at the table, it helps to have a plan for how to stay calm and focused in the moment.

Bankroll Management

A sufficient bankroll is necessary to manage the variance in poker, which is due to the unavoidable element of luck. A player needs to have enough money set aside just for poker so that a short or even a longer streak of bad luck doesn’t take you out of the game.

While optimal bankroll management depends on several factors like win rate, play style, and the skill level of your opponents, a general rule of thumb for a No Limit Hold’em cash game is to maintain a bankroll of 3,000 to 6,000 big blinds (or 30-to-60 buy-ins). Some players, especially professionals, opt for even stricter bankroll management as they cannot afford to lose everything.

For Pot Limit Omaha, which has a higher variance, the bankroll should be a minimum of 50 buy-ins.

For a game like Limit Hold’em or Seven-Card Stud, most players agree the bankroll should be at least 300 big blinds, and at least 500 big blinds is probably more advisable for a beginner.

Know that losing a few buy-ins in a poker session is nothing unusual, and you will likely experience streaks of losing sessions. Therefore, it is vital to ensure you are comfortable withstanding those swings when they occur.

Adapting Your Playing Style

Poker is a game of adjustments. A winning poker cash game strategy will always prepare for different scenarios that consider your opponents and table dynamics.

For example, if you play in a game where players are very loose and raise a lot, and several go to the flop repeatedly, you may not need to generate a lot of action yourself, especially with marginal hands. You can afford to play tighter and exploit their loose plays.

One important adjustment is to avoid bluffing players who rarely fold, and instead bluff more against opponents who are likely to fold. Understanding your opponents and the overall table dynamics is key to winning at poker.

The most dramatic adjustment most players will experience is transitioning from playing online to a live game, which typically involves playing much more loosely and passively (see more about this below).

Keep Track of Position

Position is a key factor in every form of poker. In games like Hold’em and Omaha, your position is determined by the blinds. Late position is considered advantageous, as it lets you see how other players act before making your own decisions. In No Limit Hold’em and Pot Limit Omaha, the best seat at the table is the dealer button, which acts last on the flop, turn, and river.

In stud poker, the position is unpredictable and depends on the cards that are dealt (it even changes on every street), but it is also crucial.

Poker strategy varies significantly depending on your position at the table. In early positions, you should play fewer hands compared to later positions. This is true in Hold’em, but is even more important in Pot Limit Omaha, where hand selection and position play an even greater role.

Sometimes, you’ll hear the expression “to have a position” on a specific player. This means you’re seated to their left and will usually act after them, as poker is played clockwise. Since position offers a strategic edge, it’s especially valuable to have a position on loose or weaker players – hence the common saying in poker, “money flows to the left.”

Don’t Be Afraid to Switch Tables

Table selection is another key concept in winning poker cash games. If you have access to multiple tables, go for the option where you have the biggest edge against your opponents.

Online Poker

In online card rooms, you can often see some statistics about how often players play hands on specific tables. This is often shown as a percentage called the VPIP (voluntarily put in pot). Choose the tables and games with the highest average VPIP, and also try to find a good seat – to the left of the most active players.

Live Poker

In live poker rooms that have multiple tables, there is usually an option to register for a seat transfer. Don’t be afraid to put yourself on the transfer list as soon as you get to the game. This allows you to observe other tables and have the option to change if you’re not happy with your current table. If you do end up preferring your original table, you can decline the transfer.

Online vs Live Poker Cash Games

There are several differences between online and live cash-game play, each with its own advantages and disadvantages.

Pros & Cons of Online Cash Games

Pros

  • Convenient and accessible from anywhere.
  • Wide range of stakes, from $1 to high-stakes games.
  • Huge game variety with easy switching between tables and formats.
  • Play anytime from home – no travel required.
  • No dress code.
  • Multi-tabling allows for more action and potential profit.
  • Ability to browse multiple sites for the best games.

Cons

  • Lacks the social interaction of live games.
  • Can feel isolating over long sessions.
  • Tougher competition on average.
  • Great-value games can be harder to find.

Pros & Cons of Live Cash Games

Pros

  • More social and interactive experience.
  • Ability to read physical tells and table behaviors.
  • Many consider live poker to be the purer form of poker, and there is more information that a skilled player can use to their advantage.
  • Softer games with more recreational players.
  • Higher potential win rates due to more mistakes by opponents.

Cons

  • Requires travel and more time commitment.
  • Limited game availability and fewer table options.
  • Slower pace (only 20-30 hands per hour).
  • Only one table can be played at a time.

Conclusion

Poker is a complex and fascinating game that is easy to learn but takes a lifetime to truly master. We hope the tips and advice in this guide give you a strong foundation to start (or improve) your journey in cash game poker.

FAQs

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Playing poker since 2009, Monika started with low-stakes No Limit Hold’em tournaments online before transitioning to cash games and other formats, ultimately finding her specialty in Pot Limit Omaha. In recent years, she’s shifted from online to live play, traveling to poker destinations worldwide, honing her skills in flopping sets, dodging coolers, and—since she is no longer alone in her living room—hiding her card-induced rage. As a writer, Monika has covered events, strategy, and industry news for various poker media. On a long-running side quest, she’s searching for a bad beat story compelling enough that someone else would actually want…