A poker tournament is a tournament at which the winners are decided by playing poker, usually a particular style of poker.
A typical tournament will have an entry fee, with which competitors are given a certain amount of (for lack of a better term) play money in the form of casino chips to play with. Players are required to play every hand. Players play until their supply of chips is exhausted, and the re-buy options, if any, have been exhausted. The last player standing wins.
1 Entry fees
The typical tournament will have an entry fee, from which the winners' prizes will be derived. This is not required per se. Closed tournaments are more likely than open tournaments not to have an entry fee, but this is an extremely rare occurrence.
In exchange for the entry fee, the player is given a specific value of play money. For example, an entry fee of $35 will provide a player with $500 in play money. The amount of play money given is typically a significant multiple of the entry fee (in this case, 14:1.) An alternative method is the use of a chip-buy fee in addition to the entry fee. This scenario would be used if the organizers intend for the entry fee portion to cover expenses relating to the event and the chip-buy fee for the prizes.
Some tournaments offer the option of a re-buy. A re-buy allows a player who is low on chips early on in the tournament the option for, at a given price, a boost to his supply of chips or to re-enter the tournament with a fresh supply of chips. There are two types of re-buys: conditional and unconditional. For example, if in the first three rounds ofthe tournament a player is below his $500 play money, for $15 the player may get increased by another $500 in play money. This is conditional. Between the third and fourth rounds, any player may, for $20, purchase $1,000 in play money. This is unconditional.
This is not always true. In the marquee $10,000 event at the World Series of Poker, a player receives exactly $10,000 in play chips. These are not negotiable; a player in the gutter could not swap his play chips for real money.
Depending on the tournament, the re-buy money will go to either the organizers as a way to defray costs or to the prize pool.
2 Open tournament
An open tournament is, quite simply, any tournament which is open to any player capable of legally playing and putting up the entry fee. The World Series of Poker is such an example; if you can pony up the $10,000 entry fee, you're in the game.
3 Closed/Invitational Tournament
A closed or invitational tournament is any tournament to which one must be specifically invited to participate. If, for example, Binion's Horseshoe invited all previous winners of the WSOP to play a tournament, this would be a closed tournament since there is a restriction on who may enter.
4 Satellite Tournament
For large tournaments with high entry fees, there are sometimes satellite tournaments available. A satellite tournament is simply a mini-tournament, for which the winner or winners receive a buy-in for the main tournament. Single table satellites generally consist of tenplayers, with the final winner receiving a buy-in to the main tournament. Chris Moneymaker, winner of the 2003 World Series of Poker, initially paid only $40 to enter a satellite tournament held on the Internet.
5 Format
Depending on the game involved, there may be structured, semi-structured, or unstructured betting.
Structured betting involves fixed denomination wagers and raises. For example, many Texas Hold 'em tourneys use a structured raise component. For example, in a 50-100 round, after the blinds are played, in the forst two rounds of wagering. one may only bet or raise 50, so the first bet is 50, a raise makes it 100, etc. In the final two rounds of betting, the bet or raise amount would be 100.
Semi-structured betting provides a range of potential wagers for the players. Seven-card stud will typically be of this format. At a 50-100 round, each round's minimum wager is 50, though a player may wager any permitted increment to 100. Raises are required to be equal to or exceed the current raise; thus, a player raising a current wager of 75 may not raise it by 50, but may only raise by 75 or 100.
Unstructured games are typified by No Limit Texas Hold 'em. Though there is a regularity to the blinds, there are essentially no restrictions to the wager size. The two most common words in No Limit are all in, meaning that the player is risking the lesser of his stake or any player who calls his bet on the turn of the cards. (If one player has 15,000 and calls "All In", anda player with 5,000 calls, only 5,000 of the first player's chips are at stake.)
6 Prizes
Depending on the tournament, most to all the money entered in the form of entry fees, chip-buy fees, or re-buys are placed in a prize pool. This pool will pay out to the top players in the event, as determined by fall-out order, and may vary due to the size of the tournament.
For example, the top ten players are given prizes ranging from 2% to 30% of the prize pool. This means that the ninth-to-last player to lose all his chips will be in 10th place and receive 2% of the pool, the eighth-to-last player will receive (in this case) 3%, etc., until the final player to drop receives 20% and the final survivor of the match receives 30%.
Go with Poker Tournament with your Strategy
It is a challenging experience when one thinks of playing in a live poker tournament. Somehow it is quite monotonous to play only online poker. But playing online does help sharpen the poker player in you. The big difference between the two is that with online tournaments, a player feels much more at ease and confident since he cannot see his opponents; whereas with live poker tournaments, the anticipation alone can weaken one's knees because of the live audience and opponents. But there's no need to mope on the situation, because if anyone has the guts and the skill, why waste it?
Here are some tips for those who wanted to join a major poker tournament. The first thing to do in order to prepare for a tournament is to face one's fears and pressure issues. Going for a live tournament is more than just playing the game. If you are the type who does not enjoy a live audience, might as well decide early on in order to save time and money.
Another tip is to wear comfortable attire. Remember, it is not a fashion show you are going to, it is a tournament that needs concentration; and clothing has to do with comfort in order for you to concentrate on your game. Wear something comfortable but presentable.
Do not drink any alcoholic or sugared beverages because it could affect one's concentration. Water is the best thirst quencher, but try to drink it at a minimal. As much as possible just take sips in order to avoid going to the lavatory during the game.
In most poker tournaments, players are allowed to pick their preferred seats, so take the advantage of doing so. Sometimes it is also best to sit opposite the dealer in order to see the other players or opponents. And when seated, try to relax and minimize your movements. This could distract you further as well as the opponents.
When a break is announced, try to maximize it by going to the toilet to do your thing or drink some water if you have to. Avoid chatting with other players because sometimes you'll never know, some of them might be getting tips from you. Be observant of how other players are doing. Most players on the losing end will only play if they have strong hands and those with large funds are the risk-takers.
One last important tip is to learn the rules of the poker tournament you chose to enter. This could save you lots of hassles, not to mention money.
Poker tournaments are a real challenge. But for those who are willing to risk their fears of facing large crowds and opponents, it is worth trying. Just always remember that great strategies work and being one's self and having the confidence to try the impossible is worth it
TOURNAMENT STRATEGY: EARLY ROUNDS
This is the most crucial stage in online poker tournaments, where more than half of all the poker players will be eliminated. You can't get too wild and try to bump up your chip stacks right away. The antes and blinds are very low at this stage and you can play very few hands without having to worry about losing too much.
1. Play patient and tight in the early rounds because you won't have a read on any of the bettors at this point. There will most likely be erratic bettors that need a little getting used to.
2. Never go all-in in pre-flop. You may have A-A or K-K but someone crazy with a 7-2 might call you, luck out with a flush and send you home way too early.
3. Keep them guessing early on. When you have a great poker hand. Let your opponent think they have you beat by having them lead the betting. Then come out betting on the river if you still think you have the best poker hand.
4. Continue to keep them guessing. If you're not sure you have the best poker hand, don't let anyone know. Be a little aggressive and try to steal the pot. However, if anyone bets big, don't wait to see if they're bluffing- Get Out!
5. If your table is full of beginners and amateurs, trying to eliminate them with pre-flop raises is not a good idea. They may call your raise and take your chips by getting lady luck on their side.
6. Survival. The main objective in the early stage of a poker tournament is to get to the next stage with as many poker chips as possible. Don't try to be a hero. You have the later rounds for that.
The early stage is done and the beginners and amateurs that didn't pay attention should be gone by now. It is time to move on to the next stage....
TOURNAMENT STRATEGY: MIDDLE ROUNDS
The quality of poker players and the quality of play should increase significantly in the middle stage. If you want to make the money, you need keep all eyes on your opponents and play even smarter.
1. The majority of players in the middle rounds should be skilled poker players, but keep an eye out for the few bad poker players who stay alive by getting lucky.
2. Try not to bluff too often. At this stage, skilled poker players will most likely only call a bet if they can beat you and will call you out to the showdown.
3. Do not worry about how many poker chips the other players have. Be patient, and wait for your turn to win their chips.
4. Only call bets when you have a very good poker hand because the blinds will be getting high in these rounds.
5. Make every player pay to see the turn if you have a good poker hand on the flop. You may let a player beat you with a free card if you don't force to fold with a bet.
6. On the other hand, if you have a bad poker hand after the flop- FOLD. The only way you should stay in is after watching the betting, you think the flop did not help any other players either.
TOURNAMENT STRATEGY: FINAL TABLE
You made it. You are at the final table and a big payday. Keep focused and follow these tips and with a little strategy and luck, you will be the last player sitting at the poker table.
1. If you have a short stack, go all-in with a great poker hand like AK-A2 suited or AK-AJ unsuited. Due to high blinds, you most likely will end up all-in pre-flop at some point so might as well put in all your poker chips with a great hand.
2. If you have a large chip stack, make the other players stay in the hand. Bet the amount of the smallest stack at the table if you have a good poker hand.
3. Since all the poker players are already in the money at the final table, some players might go all-in with bad poker hands. If you have good cards, be sure to call. If you don't have a good hand, it is best to fold.
4. Go aggressively after the blinds if you have good cards pre-flop. Call or fold if you don't think you have good cards.
5. Play a focused and tight poker game even if you are the chip leader. Otherwise, you will drop to a short stack before you know it.
6. If you are in the final two or three without the chip lead, play conservatively and wait for the big poker hand.
7. If you are in the final two or three with the chip lead, go after your opponents with a good poker hand.
These poker tips should help you become a good online poker player. To become a great poker player, keep practicing and keep playing. Start with Pacific Poker online school and move to the real money tables. |
