Min-Cash
最小奖金
**Term: Min-Cash** Min-Cash refers to the lowest payout a player receives in a Texas Hold'em tournament upon just entering the money (i.e., after all players outside the money have been eliminated). Its core meaning is that the player at least breaks even or makes a small profit, avoiding leaving empty-handed. In practice, Min-Cash is often viewed as a psychological and strategic milestone: near the money bubble, players may adjust their strategy from aggressive to conservative to secure this payout. It also reminds players to avoid over-aggression that could cause them to miss out on cashing. Typical scenario: In a 100-player tournament with payouts for the top 10, the 10th place gets the Min-Cash, e.g., $100, while the champion might receive $5,000.
Context: Term article: Minimum Cash (Min-Cash)
Overview
Min-Cash is a term in poker tournaments that refers to the minimum prize a player receives when they just make it into the money (ITM, In The Money). Typically, tournament prize structures allocate different levels of prizes to players who reach the money, and Min-Cash is the smallest amount among them.
Significance
For players, obtaining Min-Cash means at least recovering the entry cost (if the prize is greater than the buy-in) or part of the cost, but it is usually not enough to cover the total investment of multiple entries. In the late stages of a tournament, many players adjust their strategies to ensure they make the money and thus obtain Min-Cash. This strategy is known as "bubble phase strategy."
Strategic Impact
When approaching the money bubble, players tend to play more conservatively to avoid being eliminated during the bubble phase. Although Min-Cash does not offer a high prize, it brings psychological satisfaction and may accumulate funds for subsequent tournaments. However, overly pursuing Min-Cash may also lead to missing opportunities for higher finishes.
Example
Assume a tournament with a buy-in of $100, 100 total players, and the top 10 places pay. First prize is $3000, and tenth place pays $150. Then, the $150 earned by the tenth-place finisher is the Min-Cash.