In my honest opinion, you are much better off using slow playing tactics in a tournament than in a cash game.  The reason being this:

In a cash game, slow playing easily gets you into trouble, and you are risking a lot more money in these circumstances.  The long term gains of a cash game are relevant based on what happens over the next year, not necessarily what happens in a few sessions.  Bet all your strong hands strong, and you will get paid off in the long run.

In a tournament, your money is already invested.  Chips are generally managed more strictly and therefore; you have to take the best opportunities to build your stack gradually without risk.

Keep in mind my previous post however (Flopping a Monster).

There is more than one way to play a hand when you flop a monster! Obviously you want to extract as much money as possible, but you have to watch the board before you try to be too tricky. If you flop a set or straight you have to make sure that the board isn’t to dangerous that if you do try to slow play that you are not going to get caught by a hand that can beat you!

A set is a very strong hand and most of the time your going to have the best hand.  Just keep in mind that if you have 66 and the flop is 678 you are strong, but a straight draw could easily catch up (or already be hit).

Just be conscious of what is going on when you have a strong hand like who is in the hand with you and what hands they may have as well.

When we all lose a big hand in poker we all react differently.

Some people go on mad tilt and just keep chasing their lost money and keep losing. I think that the players that can keep their cool or at least calm down before returning to their game are the players that will continue to be profitable over the long run. Some players that I play with don’t react to a big loss knowing that if they just keep playing their game they will get their money back.

A great online poker secret would be that if you feel like you are steaming in any way: take a walk, get a drink, play your PS3, do anything that will take your mind off the poker game for a bit so that you can refocus and refuel!

I have been playing in poker tournaments online for about 6 or 7 years and cash games for about the same. I have to say that when you are playing in a tournament you have to play tight and try really hard not to lose chips. Chips are so valuable in online poker tournaments that you shouldn’t play hands that you can play in a cash game. Hands like 10J suited under the gun or even AJ suited should be folded in an online poker tournament, but I would easily consider raising with them in a cash game (depending on the play of opponents at the table of course).

The biggest difference is that if you lose your chips unnecessarily in a tournament you can’t reload them like you can in a cash game!

We all love to look at our cards a see AA! Yes this is the best STARTING hand in Texas Hold Em poker, but this hand can be beaten (and yes people, even on the flop!).

I hear all the time “I had a bad beat, I had AA and some guy called my pre-flop raise with 10J and hit two pair on the turn”. I’m not saying that you shouldn’t bet your hand, I’m just suggesting that AA is only one pair and if you have been called you have to think of the possible hands that someone else could have to beat your AA. If you keep betting and are getting called and your hand does not improve, then maybe you should think about slowing down.

You can always win another pot if you still have money in front of you!