In case you missed it, the Ace Chase missions at PokerStars are adding some extra value for cash game players until the end of November.
$3K in cash rewards are being paid out every day to those who climb the daily leaderboards. To earn points you just need to win with hands containing an ace — do it four times and you’ll receive a randomized score to claim a spot in the rankings.
You can try for bigger scores up to 12 times per day, at stakes from $0.02/0.05 to $1/2, with leaderboards available at the different stakes.
And now, with the help of a group of PokerStars ambassadors, you have the chance to compete directly against the likes of Ben ‘Spraggy’ Spragg (above), Marle Spragg, Nick Walsh, Seb Huber, Felipe Phil, and guest streamer Joe Bold in a livestreamed online cash game.
The best part of all: PokerStars will provide your buy-in, and you’ll keep whatever you win.
We asked a few of these pros what it is that draws them to cash games — see below for more — but first here’s what you need to know to take them on in ‘Ace Chase Mission: The Sleeper Agent’. Then you can get started at PokerStars.
The Big Game Online
These missions will take place on November 6 and November 21, and will pit specially selected ‘sleeper agents’ against the six players named above, who will all stream the action on their Twitch channels simultaneously.
Each 90-minute no-limit hold’em cash game will be at stakes of $1.50/$3 with a $300 buy-in. The selected sleeper agents will have their buy-ins covered by PokerStars, with auto-top-ups enabled and a total of $1,000 credit.
Players will keep what they win, with an additional $1,000 bonus prize available for the player winning the most hands at showdown with an ace.
To be selected as one of the sleeper agents you need to have been a member of an ambassador’s channel for at least 3 months, and record a leaderboard score between October 30 and November 1 (for the first mission) or November 14-16 (for the second).
The top 5 eligible players on the leaderboard, who submit their Stars ID via Discord, will then be entered into a random draw to be held on Spraggy’s Discord channel with two players selected to take on the pros.
Why the pros love cash games
Tournament poker can be huge fun, and a great way to make a big return on an investment of time and money. But in the grand scheme of things tournaments are a relatively new addition to the poker world.
Cash games were where poker was born, and for many they’re the truest test of a player and the best way to play.
We asked Spraggy, Nick Walsh and Marle Spragg for their thoughts on cash game poker.
What do you love about cash games?
Spraggy: The freedom and flexibility. You can play for as long as you want and leave when you’re done. You’re not committed to playing for hours like in a tournament. Tournaments are great, but sometimes you sit down for what you think will be a quick session and suddenly it’s been hours.
Nick Walsh: I love the social aspect of cash games and the fact that a cash session is as long (or short) as you want it to be. Jump in when you're feeling strong and leave when you're ready.
Marle Spragg: I love playing in tournaments but cash games are much easier to jump in and out of. I love the fact that cash games give you so many opportunities to battle with people. If there's a bit of friendly rivalry at the table, it makes things more fun.
Any tips for cash game strategy?
MS: I'd focus on the fundamentals before trying to get too fancy. Understand position, know which hands you're comfortable playing, and have a reason for the bets you're making. Also make sure you're playing at stakes you're comfortable with.
NW: Cash is just 'one long session' which means that solid strategy will win in the long run. Learning solid preflop fundamentals will put you in good stead in most pots and help you stay in line consistently over the long run.
If you feel like you're not playing well in a session, just remember you can always call it a day and try again when you're feeling more confident which is also part of the beauty of cash game poker!
Spraggy: Pay attention to what your opponents are doing, think about why they’re doing it, and look for spots where you can take advantage.
How can skills in cash games help tournament poker play?
MS: The more comfortable you become with making difficult decisions, the better equipped you are when those spots come up in a tournament.
Cash games give you opportunities to practice thinking through hands, considering what your opponent might have and working out which options make the most sense.
If you've spent time studying those situations and understanding the reasoning behind your decisions, you're much less likely to panic when you find yourself in a big pot in a tournament. You can focus on the actual decision rather than being overwhelmed by the moment.
Spraggy: Cash games are great as you can play without the pressure of a tournament ticking down around you. You can focus on the fundamentals and figure out how to get the most value from strong hands and get practice with bet sizing and bluffing. All those skills carry over to tournaments.
NW: By learning how to play purely for chips you give yourself a solid foundation from which to learn to deviate to prioritise survival in tournaments.
Additionally, learning how to play deep stacks better in cash games will make you more confident when playing the earlier, deeper stages of a poker tournament.
Finally, what are some of your favorite cash game memories?
Spraggy: Playing cash at live events. There's a great social side to poker that people sometimes overlook, often because tournaments can be a bit serious. But cash games are a bit more relaxed.
Getting to see friends you haven’t seen in a while and playing at the cash tables is always a fun time.
MS: Playing against Spraggy is always fun. I’m super competitive and I particularly love to win against him, obviously.
It's also interesting because we know each other's games so well, which can make certain situations even more complicated. I'm not going to give him too much credit, though, I'm always happy to remind him who’s the better poker player.
Head to PokerStars now to get involved.
Additional images courtesy of Rational Intellectual Holdings Ltd.
