BB vs. Cash: Is hiding the money making us better players? 📊💵

[martinlgs]

BB vs. Real Money: How do you track your stack?

Hi everyone,
As I've progressed in the game, I've realized how much my mindset changes depending on how I view my chips. Lately, I've been playing exclusively with the big blind (BB) display instead of showing the actual money value on the table.

In my experience, playing in the big blinds helps me stay calm and focus on technical analysis. It's easier to calculate SPR, 3-bet sizes, and fold equity without the emotional pressure of seeing the amount of money. However, I wonder:

Are we losing touch with reality by hiding the money?

I'd love to compare both perspectives with you: 1. Visualizing the BB: The game becomes more like a mathematical puzzle. It reduces the fear of spending money and helps maintain a solid strategy.

**Showing cash: You feel the real pressure of the stakes, which can be better for budget discipline, but could lead to playing too cautiously.

For those who play a lot of live poker, do you find it difficult to return to real money games after playing a lot online at high-stakes tables?** I'm interested in your opinion. Which one do you use and why?

 

[martinlgs]

I'm a bit torn on this topic as I think hiding the money in cash games can actually help players like myself who tend to play more at lower stakes, as it allows us to see how others behave over a larger sample size and potentially gain a better read on their betting patterns, but I've also noticed that higher-stakes live games often use the BB model due to its perceived greater level of realism and player authenticity, which raises a question - do you think the BB model would be more effective at promoting skillful play than the cash model?

I'm doing better online using BB visualization. I don't know if I have 500 or 250,000; it manages the hands according to my BB ratio and the ratios of those at the table. It helps me stay focused. I'm finding that it does help foster a more skillful game than visualizing real money.

My big question is: what happens when I go to a real tournament? I have to be constantly calculating, and I have an advantage because I calculate multiple ratios instantly. It's possible that when I have a decent bankroll in my poker room account, I'll play one out of every five visualized tournaments with real money, so my mind doesn't get stuck on a single pattern.