Single Table

These competitions involve one complete table of players who each pay the same amount to enter the tournament.

They are given a fixed amount of chips each, say 1500.

Play starts with low blind levels (10/15) and increases after a fixed number of rounds, or after a fixed time.

The blinds increase continuously, meaning that everyone has to take part – it’s not that efficient to just sit on your chips (?)

Prizes go to the top places (usually 3), and all of the entry fee is redistributed, with the hosting company taking a small fee at the start of the tournament. For example, 10 players pay $10 each for the prize pot and $1 each as a table fee. From the $100 prize pot, First place could get $50, Second $30 and third $20.

Tournaments are available at all levels, from £5/ $5 up to hundreds or thousands per event.

Multi Table

These tournaments allow many more people to enter than on a single table, and hence the prizes are much larger too. This way of playing means that tables merge as people get knocked out, eventually just a final table will remain to decide the big prizes.

Due to the high number of participants, these tournaments take longer to complete – certainly value for money. There’s a break after each hour of play. Many players try to aggressively win chips early on, this leads to a rapid depletion of the field. If you make it through the first half hour then you’re in good shape to be in contention for the payouts.
Look out for regular weekly and monthly large prize games at the companies listed here.

 

Tournament Variations

Turbo

In turbo tournaments the blinds rise at a much quicker rate than usual, causing people to run out of chips faster.

Express

Players start with a low amount of chips and the blinds increase incredibly fast, meaning all-ins happen frequently. This style is more of a lottery, but takes less than half the time to play.

Freeroll

A free to enter tournament.

Qualification Tournaments

The prizes might not be in a cash credit form, but instead you’ll get a free entry to a much wealthier tournament – for example a ‘Poker Million’, a larger online event, the WSOP or a trip to a glamorous European casino tournament .

There are always a wide choice of tournaments at any of the companies listed here