what do you prefer?contest play or live cash?
 

With the nhc and many new ways to play CONTESTS on line wondering what the people prefer and why.Some people prefer live cash contests and others just like the feeder system to get in to the big ones. bcbc nhc

I much prefer live money and it isn’t even close. There are many advantages:

-you play only the races you like
-you can bet more on your stronger opinions
-you keep your bankroll even if you don’t win a prize. Just as an example, at last breeders cup, I finished 45th which is far down the list. In a mythical contest, I walk away with nothing. Instead, I kept my bankroll of $18,000.
-far less stabbing at huge price horses to chase the leaders
-maximizes betting skills as well as handicapping skills. In my opinion, the former is much more important.

Paul

This is why I prefer the mythological contest. If it came down to it, I just don't have the testicular fortitude to take a gigantic shot to win with my bankroll and possibly walk away with nothing.

It really takes a special type of player to play in those live money tourneys.

There are live events at all price points. Don’t be afraid to give them a try.

Paul

I agree with Paul's points and do prefer the "Betting Challenges". I hoping that smarter people than me come up with some sort of hybrid that combines both contest types, maybe even a live money, mythical live, mythical pick and pray.

I am leaning more towards contest play in general as opposed to daily cash play. (Saratoga is an exception.)

Most weekly cash tournaments come with about a 10% takeout which is not difficult to overcome. If you are a reasonably good player, and you can win a $260 entry into a Saturday cash game for less than $234 you have eliminated the rake and should have a positive expectation in the long run.

I also like the idea of tournaments, especially during the week in qualifiers, of saving me $$$ long term because I can be a degenerate at times, placing "action bets". If I have races 2-9 at Belmont in a $26 qualifier I have action throughout my day for a set monetary amount.

Many of you are more serious players than me and play at stakes I'll never approach.

You'd think it would come down to picking winners, but I'm not sure that is the case. In fact I know that is not the case. In every Toga contest I've run on DT, it's the guy that hits the long shots that wins.

In contests, it seems the same. Chalk eaters never put together enough wins even if its more than others to beat out the guys that hit a couple shots.

For some reason I do better at contests than straight action. I think Paul said that money management is key and contests kind of put you on cruise control to not get carried away. I need that.

I'll tell you what's a lot of fun is live one on one. After a couple races it's usually easy to profile your opponent. I had one chalk player that needed $15 to beat me in the last in a live race and chose a 9/5 shot.:zz: Those people are easy money if you have a have decent day

playing everyday, I have had to find a happy medium between contest play and my everyday live money play.

I have found it was too much and final results for that days play were affected.
I have to skip contest play certain days to focus on important race cards, where I have key plays and mapping out pick5's,6's.

I would say map out a game plan and the execute it for best results.

i enjoy feeder pick and prays as live contests end in tears with a bomb that noone would play with their own money live yet beat you as a last ditch effort.
in my play i have not done the bcbc contest yet but it is may current goal

hooves