Cash game poker offers consistent profit potential for skilled players who master fundamental concepts and maintain disciplined game selection.
Bankroll Management: Proper bankroll management is non-negotiable for serious players. Maintain at least 30 buy-ins for your regular stake, and 50+ buy-ins if you're playing professionally. This cushion protects against variance and prevents emotional decision-making during downswings.
Table Selection: Your hourly win rate depends heavily on game quality. Seek tables with recreational players, loose-passive opponents, and players making obvious mistakes. Avoid tough, grinder-heavy tables unless your skill advantage is substantial. Don't let ego drive you to play in unprofitable games.
Bet Sizing Fundamentals: Standard opening raises should be 3-4 big blinds, adjusted based on position and opponents. Continuation bets typically range from 50-75% of pot, depending on board texture and opponent tendencies. Avoid telegraphing hand strength through inconsistent sizing.
Stack Depth Considerations: With deep stacks (150+ big blinds), implied odds increase, favoring speculative hands and set mining. Medium stacks (50-100 big blinds) are standard, allowing for normal postflop play. Short stacks require tighter ranges and simplified strategies focusing on preflop equity.
Session Length and Focus: Quality over quantity—playing tired leads to expensive mistakes. Schedule regular breaks every 90 minutes to maintain peak mental performance. If you're tilting or distracted, end the session regardless of results.
Opponent Profiling: Categorize opponents quickly: tight-passive players fold too much (bluff them), loose-passive players call too much (value bet relentlessly), tight-aggressive players are solid (avoid marginal spots), and loose-aggressive players bluff too much (trap them).
Win Rate Expectations: Winning cash game players typically achieve 5-10 big blinds per 100 hands at low stakes, declining to 2-4 big blinds per 100 hands at higher stakes. Track your results to identify profitable stakes and conditions.
Moving Up in Stakes: Shot-taking requires careful planning. Ensure you have proper bankroll, study higher stakes dynamics, and be prepared to move back down if you're not beating the game.
Responsible Gaming: Set time and money limits before each session. Cash games can be particularly addictive due to their continuous nature. If you find yourself chasing losses or playing beyond your limits, seek support from gambling counseling services.