Cash or MTT: which discipline to choose in order to consistently earn money in poker?

Cash games and multi-table tournaments (MTT) are the two main poker disciplines, each requiring its own strategy and skill set. In this article, we:

• will examine the fundamental differences between the disciplines;

• will compare key parameters in tables;

• will explain how to adapt the strategy based on stack size and game structure;

• will provide arguments for why more and more players are transitioning to MTT;

• will answer popular questions from beginners.

At the end of the article, we will answer the question of which discipline is currently more profitable in poker, so be sure to read the material to the end.

You may save months or even years of your life by making the right choice in your poker career development.

What is the fundamental difference between MTT and cash games? 

When a beginner player tries poker for the first time, it often seems that cash and tournaments are the same: the rules are the same, the combinations are the same. But in reality, there are significant differences between the disciplines that completely change the strategy.

The fundamental difference is in the objective of the game and how chips work. In cash games, each chip directly equals money, whereas in tournaments, they have a theoretical value that only becomes apparent when you reach the prizes.

Let’s compare the main differences: 

1. Cash out from the table

   • Cash: you can stand up at any moment and exchange chips for real money.

   • MTT: you cannot leave the game with chips — their value only comes into play when you reach the prizes.

2. Stack size

   • Cash: you can always top up your stack to the standard 100 big blinds.

   • MTT: the starting stack is fixed, you cannot top up.

3. Objective of the game

   • Cash: to consistently earn over time by making profitable decisions. 

   • MTT: to reach the money zone (ITM) 

Thus, although the disciplines may seem similar on the surface, the differences in objectives completely dictate the strategy: in cash, players strive for maximum profit “here and now,” while in tournaments — for long-term results tied to prizes and stages of the game.

Comparison of key parameters

Below we have compiled a table that clearly shows how cash games and MTT differ. This will allow you to quickly see the strengths and weaknesses of each discipline and understand which format suits you best.

* ICM (Independent Chip Model) is a mathematical model that converts the number of your chips in a tournament into a monetary equivalent. ICM helps assess how much your chips actually “cost” considering the prize pool, number of players at the table, and payout distribution.

* Push-fold is a strategy for playing with a short stack (usually up to 10–20 big blinds), where a player has only two options: push (all-in) — to bet the whole stack or fold — to discard the cards.

* Knockouts (KO) are a special format of tournaments where part of the prize pool is distributed not only for hitting the prizes but also for eliminating opponents.

* Variance is the spread of results over time due to the element of chance in the game. Even if a player always makes the right decisions from a mathematical standpoint, short-term results can differ greatly from expected outcomes: one can win streaks with weak hands or conversely, lose with the strongest combinations.

Strategic differences between the two disciplines. How to adapt your game? 

We have compared the objectives of the game and basic parameters of MTT and cash. Now let’s see how these differences reflect on the strategy at the table.