Showdown Winnings vs. Non-Showdown Winnings
Showdown winnings and non-showdown winnings are the two ways in which a poker player can earn money. Showdown winnings are when a player wins a pot after the hand is played all the way through to the showdown, the point at which players flip their cards over. Non-showdown winnings are any time where a player wins a pot prior to showdown. Some players will find that the majority of their winnings come from showdown situations, but other players will determine that they make most of their money by playing aggressively and taking down pots before showdown. There is no defined way that a player has to play in order to be profitable, it is merely a matter of playing style.
Most players do not cater their play to fit one style or the other, instead it just seems to simply happen. For example, a particular player might play pretty aggressively, but there is a good chance that they didn’t even know that most of their winnings came from non-showdown pots. The absolute most “ideal” playing style would be one that allows players to be profitable in both non-showdown and showdown pots, but the reality is that most players won’t be able to achieve this. A large portion of poker players will actually lose money in non-showdown pots, but this won’t matter so long as they are making a greater amount in hands that do go to showdown.
Showdown Winnings
An amateur poker player is most likely to win most of their money strictly from showdown winnings. Players who play “ABC poker” do not usually fight for smaller pots or make advanced plays, instead they prefer to wait around for decent hands before they decide to get involved. This has proven to be a winning strategy and there is no reason why a player who adheres to this strategy will ever run into trouble. Most players who rely on showdown winnings will actually end up losing money in non-showdown pots, but this is compensated for by the fact that they win much more in showdown pots. A showdown winnings player will aim for the big pots while passing on a chance to take down a smaller one.
Non-Showdown Winnings
More advanced players will often find that a large portion of their winnings come from non-showdown pots. Playing a non-showdown winnings style can be a slippery slope. It takes a well refined mix of patience and aggression in order for a player to become profitable as a non-showdown winnings player. The nature of non-showdown winnings will force players to bump up their overall aggression. Where players run into trouble is when they push their aggression a bit too much. Players who try to do everything they can to win some non-showdown pots will often end up screwing themselves into the ground. It is better to let the non-showdown winnings in your style of play create themselves than it is to try and force the issue. If you are able to accomplish showdown winnings while also mixing in positive non-showdown winnings you will be on the way to untold success.
SUMMARY: Showdown Winnings and Non- Showdown Winnings
Showdown winnings and non-showdown winnings are the two different ways that a player can win the hands that they play. There is a definitive difference between each type of winnings, but both are going to prove to be profitable for different types of players.