Tournament Poker vs. Cash Games...

I have started playing cash games at a casino I feel comfortable playing at, they know me because I play in their daily tournament on Tuesdays (Angel of the Wind 45 miles north of Seattle). I usually buy in for $100.00 and play $3.00-6.00. So, the thing is I have won the tournaments but lose in the cash games.

For instance, in a cash game I called Big Blind $3.00 and so did three other players. I had a king-queen suited. Flop comes up two hearts, everyone checks, and I do too. Turn is a card that I thought did not mean too much (not a heart) Next card is the ace of hearts. I have the nut flush, I bet $6.00 everyone folds and one person raises, I call and raise, he calls that and raises. I do not know how he did it but he got a full house. Nobody could believe it so I lost that hand.

Next two hands I was dealt ace-two. I call the three dollars. Flop comes up Ace-two, so I have two pair. I bet and I get raised again from another player. I call. It urns out he had three sevens. I was then dealt the same A-2. I almost folded, but the flop comes up 2-2-7. I now have three of a kind, so I check. Everyone else checks too. River nothing happens, so I check. Finally on the turn no help, so I bet $6.00 and I get raised. I call and get beat by four tens.

They say if you do not know who the sucker is at a table then it is probably you, well I walked out a hundred dollars poorer. I have heard it said that right now I am "paying dues" but I feel like I am missing something and can't figure out what it is.

Once, in the game I had the best possible hand, and somebody raised $6.00. Instead of re-raising him, I only called, so when I do win I short myself. I might have been just so happy to win a hand I forgot how to play it correctly. In a tournament I would have gone, "all-in".

Sorry for this long question, but if you were me would you, only play tournaments and stay away from cash games, or just quit playing?

Stumped in Seattle.

I'd say if your doing well in tournament play just stick to it. It sounds like you are playing scared in the cash games (e.g. "I would have gone all in in a tournament"). If you don't have the money to lose getting better in the cash games play tournaments to build your bankroll until you have enough to feel comfortable at the cash games then you'll be able to get some practice in on the cash tables.

Well, I really love playing poker and that's what I do. It must be able to focus and have the best skills with the game.