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!

If you go to play live poker and you have been playing for an hour and you don’t know how at the table that you could exploit then maybe you shouldn’t be at that table? You have to know your opponents and know what your opponents know about you! If you don’t have this information then you are relying on luck and that will not get you too far in your long run poker career. KNOW YOUR TABLE!

This happens to everyone that hasn’t accepted that AA is just a pair! Everyone seems to over play AA even when they are called pre-flop and the flop is scary. If you have a player call your pre-flop raise you have to imagine what they could have. If the flop comes with high cards, they could have very well flopped two pair or if you don’t feel trouble and are raised on the flop your opponents could also have a set or draws that can easily beat AA. Just remember that AA can be beat and don’t over play them unless you feel you have the best hand.

I see this happen often with players who have been paying too much attention to the professional poker players around.  Being aggressive, means you must be SELECTIVE in your aggression.  Raising in the cutoff just because its folded to you – is not a smart move in the early stages of a poker tournament.  Play tight, protect your chips, play aggressive when you have hands in all positions, and wait for the opportunity to take advantage of your opponents.