With $10 and the goal of multiplying it, I’d still choose
tournaments — but with a plan.
You’re right about the upside. In MTTs, a small buy-in can realistically turn into 20x–100x if you run deep. In cash games, doubling or tripling is possible, but you’re usually grinding small edges and need a bigger
bankroll to absorb variance.
That said, here’s how I’d approach it strategically:
🎯 If the goal is maximum upside:
Tournaments win.
- Higher ROI potential
- Soft fields at low stakes
- Satellites can multiply bankroll quickly
- One deep run changes everything
But you must accept:
- High variance
- Long sessions
- Long stretches with no cash
💰 If the goal is steady growth:
Cash games might be better.
- You can quit anytime
- Lower variance (in the short term)
- Easier bankroll control
- Skill edge shows more consistently
With only $10, though, cash is tricky unless you’re playing very small stakes (like 2NL) and are disciplined.
My personal choice with $10:
I’d split it:
- $6–7 into low buy-in MTTs or small field tournaments
- $3–4 reserved as backup or maybe 1–2 short cash sessions
This way, you give yourself a shot at a spike while still protecting against immediate bust.
The real key isn’t format — it’s:
- Avoiding tilt
- Not chasing losses
- Proper bankroll discipline
If you had to choose only one long-term, I’d say:
- Love strategy depth and control? → Cash
- Love big scores and excitement? → Tournaments
