Live Play or Tournaments

Since my column focuses on the female perspective in poker, I asked a group of women the following question: Do you prefer live play or tournament play, and why? I received some very insightful answers, as follows:

Tina Bergstrom: For me, cash games are the right fit. My reasons for this are simply mental. I feel successful getting up from the table with real money. Cash games allow me to play at my own pace, read players in due time, and move if the table isn't right for me. Tournaments do not give players any of these choices or freedoms in the game.

London Gallagher: I love tournament play. Tournaments are where I feel most comfortable. The changing blinds, the pressure on my stack size, and the ultimate goal of winning first place make tournaments a thrill. Live play is a little more laid-back and has less pressure, since I can just buy in for more chips if my hand doesn't hold up. I don't get quite the same adrenaline boosts in live play that I do in tournament play.

Gyla Whitlow: I would much rather play tournaments. Competition is the reason. I enjoy the sport of poker. I am not a professional poker player, nor do I have the desire to grind away hours to make a profit at poker. Tournament poker is suited to my competitiveness. Having been an athlete all my life, I found that poker has become a replacement for the sports that my body can no longer endure.

Jojo Bryan: I prefer tournament play - as one size fits all. There's one price for admission and no surprises. We all have the same starting bankroll. I like the strategy, security, and prize pools. I generally get to play for hours and learn a lot from observing others play. I don't like cash games, because I work too hard for my money, and playing with scared money makes me an easy mark.

Shirley Williams: I prefer tournament play because, frankly, I am better at tournaments than cash games. However, I have a strong desire to improve at cash games, because in the long run, I think that is where the real money is if you want to add to your income consistently.

Debbie Burkhead: I definitely prefer tournaments. I like the overlay that most tournaments provide. There aren't many live games that you can buy in for $200 or $300 with the opportunity to win $10,000 or more. Another reason I prefer tournaments to live play is the amount of discipline and strategy it takes to be successful. This is not to say that tournament players are better players than live players; it's just that there is a different approach to tournament play than to live play. The biggest difference is that bad players can't keep reaching into their pockets, unless it's a rebuy event, and even so, the rebuy period ends at some point.

Tana Washington: I prefer tournament play because it's a challenge to come out a winner. There are no second chances in a tourney; you have to use all that you have learned to make it to the end. Each stage of the tourney requires a different strategy.

Lucy Kim: My answer to this question is, "It depends." Tournaments force me to play smarter: Once my chips are gone, I'm out. In live play, if I'm low on chips or have no more chips, I will reach into my wallet and buy more. This makes me play looser, knowing that I can have as many chips as I want by simply going into my wallet. If I want to make some quick cash, I prefer live play. Also, in live games, I am able to play a varied range of hands from different positions, whereas in tournaments, I'm more selective about the choice of holecards and my position.

Thanks for the replies, ladies. It seems like the majority of women who answered this question prefer tournaments. Personally, I love both … in fact, I just love playing poker!

Change of subject: I continue to get letters and hear players complaining about the TDA's "Show one, show both" rule. Please stop blaming the TDA for this one; this is not a TDA rule, it is a local house rule. You can read the TDA rules at pokertda.com.

Now, let's play poker!

Linda is available to host seminars, charity and corporate nights, and other poker-related events. She would love to hear from you with suggestions on questions or topics that you would like addressed from the female perspective. You can contact her through her website at www.cardplayercruises.com.