For this purpose, some defensive strategies are recommended:

1. A player plays only a few times, but he has very strong cards, for example "monster".
2. Player starts every game in a way the decisions he has to make later will be easy.
3. Player avoids all-in situations, if he does not have winning cards.

For many years, World Series of Poker was the only game played according to the formula No-Limit. The cash games have predominated. Many players used to follow the same strategy like in cash games. However, in tournaments this strategy turned out to be less effective than in cash games.

The main difference between cash games and tournaments is a blind. Blind cannot be changed during cash game. Meanwhile, blind during tournaments increases with time.  In cash games, players take the positions BB. There is no need for many dealers playing. You just have to wait patiently for good cards, and then make a right move to rake in your opponents` stack.

Opening the game in conservative approach (Full-Table):

• Early position: a raise with the strongest cards -pair of bullets, cowboys or queens or a raise with medium cards- hooks or a pair of tens, to eliminate potential opponents. The raise with Big Slick (suited or not) or with a pair of suited ace and queen are possible.
• Middle position (position between the third and the sixth player after dealer): raise with all cards constellations mentioned above. The raise is also possible with 99 or 88, as well as a pair of as and queen, ace and hook or king and queen (suited or not).
• Late position (position between seventh and eighth player after dealer): raise with all cards constellation mentioned above. The raise with 77, ace and any different card or any two strong suited cards.

Remember that there is a big difference between getting into the pot as a first player and getting into the pot, when there are already players in the game (it does not apply to blinds).  If there is already some player in the pot, you want to join the pot having better cards than he has. If, for example, a player plays pre-flop from the middle position, you have to play a strategy of early position. Only in this way, you can win.

When you play in the conservative way the umber of surprises, you may expect, is limited:

1. You will not take part in the game very often.
2. If you are already in, you will have probably better cards than your opponent will. It means that another player will be forced to draw cards, if he wants to win.
3. After flog you will not have to do any complicated decisions.  If you have Gut Shot, you will have "monster". If, however, the flop does not help you, there is still a chance, that your cards are the best.
4. You will win a lot of small pots and only a few important pots. Based on your results Sharks will classify you as a rock and they will match their strategies with it.

Most Poker specialists recommend the new and inexperienced players the conservative style of playing. Selecting this style, you may avoid unnecessary problems and after some time you may get needed experience. Even starting to play you are able to win small pots. On the fourth day of the World Poker Championship in 2025, one tight player became a leader. He was collecting his stack during many hours game and looses everything in two deals over 5 minutes.

No-Limit holdem is a game with unpredictable results. Everybody can choose conservative way of playing as his basic strategy. However, if you do not feel well playing this way, you should try something more exciting.  Aggressive style is a good choice.