If you’re new to poker, you’d typically start off by playing a few rounds of online poker games or some cash games at home with friends, but poker tournaments may still seem a bit intimidating. The truth is, tournaments are just another form of poker.
It’s up to you whether to play tournaments live or online or even both. Live and online poker tournaments work exactly the same way – with only a few minor differences – which means you can apply most of what you learn here to both.
In this guide, we’re going to give you a quick breakdown of how poker tournaments work and what type of tournaments are available to you. Let’s dive right in.
How do poker tournaments work?
Online poker tournaments are actually quite straightforward. If you’d like to know how to join a poker tournament, you’ll be relieved to find out that it’s relatively easy. You simply pay the entry fee and buy-in, and that earns you a stack of chips and a seat at one of the tables. Some tournaments, like single-table tournaments or sit-n-goes, begin when all players are seated, while others (multi-table tournaments or MTTs) have a set start time..
The simplest way to think about how online tournaments work is by looking at them as longer poker games with a fixed format, where everything is predetermined; the blinds, antes, buy-ins and starting stack sizes are all established and made known to players before they sign up. Once you’ve entered a tournament, you need to log in to the online poker site at, or just before, the time the tournament is supposed to start.
So, you’ve got your seat and your chips, but what now? Well, this is when your poker tournament strategy and preparation is put to the test. The game will start and play out much like a cash game – players post their blinds and antes,the dealer provides their hole cards, and the action starts. Unlike cash games, though, online and live poker tournaments have different levels, each of a predetermined length or duration (it can be five minutes or one hour). Once the time for a certain level expires, the blinds increase and the next level starts. This is an incredibly important factor to remember when playing in poker tournaments because if you aren’t getting any action or playing many hands and your chip stack isn’t growing, you might end up getting “blinded out” by losing your stack to paying the blinds (and antes) as they increase over time.
The tournament will play out like this until only one player is left at the final table holding all the chips, and they’re declared the winner of the tournament.
That is mostly self-explanatory, but the question now becomes, “What kind of tournaments should I be playing?”
How to prepare for your first poker tournament
- Learn the basics: Before you enter your first tournament, it’s important to understand the basics of the game. Familiarize yourself with the different types of poker, hand rankings, and the rules of the games.
- Choose the right tournament: There are many types of tournaments, so it’s important to select the one that best suits your skill level. Consider the buy-in amount, the structure of the tournament, and the number of players.
- Set a bankroll: Determine how much money you are comfortable spending on the tournament and how much your bankroll can afford. Make sure you have enough money to cover the buy-in and any additional fees that may be required, leaving enough in your bankroll to cover future play. Proper bankroll management dictates a player spend less than 5% of their bankroll on an online tournament buy-in.
- Practice: Practice playing poker with friends or online to get comfortable with the game. Online freeroll tournaments are a great way to do this. Focus on developing your strategy, take notes,and learn from your mistakes.
- Manage your emotions: Poker can be a stressful game, and it’s important to stay calm and focused throughout the tournament. Take breaks if you need to, and remember to have fun!
- Familiarize yourself with the rules and regulations: Make sure you know the specific rules and regulations of the tournament you are entering. This will help you avoid making any mistakes that could cost you the game.
What kinds of poker tournaments are there?
When it comes to poker, there is a variety of tournaments, all with their own rules and formats and suited for different types of poker games and players. There really is a tournament out there for everyone. If you’re just starting out, there are three main types of online tournaments that are the most popular for beginners.
Sit and Go tournaments
If you’re a new player and haven’t played poker in a tournament before, your best bet would be to start with the most casual (and often the lowest stakes) of the bunch. “Sit and go” games are like mini tournaments, usually with about three to 10 participants, playing at varying stakes. The low stakes and smaller player count make these tournaments a great way to play poker online, even if you’re new to the competitive poker scene.
Players pay the entry fee or buy-in plus a small rake, a fee that the casino takes for hosting the game. The buy-ins combine to create the prize pool.
The payout structure may vary between tournaments. But in general, these tournaments split the prize pool between the top two or three players of a table of nine. Special jackpot SNG games have special rules, as they are usually restricted to three players, and there is a multiplier involved to determine the prize pool. But normal SNGs offer straightforward payouts.
The blinds will typically start small in sit-n-go tournaments but will increase at regular intervals. The intervals can be determined by either the number of hands that’ve been played at each table or a specific amount of time per interval. Turbo structures enable fast play, keeping SNGs from lasting very long.
Multi-table tournaments
Multi-table tournaments (commonly known as MTTs) are quite a step up from the sit-and-gos we just discussed but very similar in how they play out. We understand that the word “multi-table” might sound a bit daunting, but that merely indicates that it is a tournament with more than ten players..
An online MTT can host practically any number of entrants, usually from a few hundred to a few thousand players, as long as there are spots at full tables for everyone who signs up. Due to the high number of players that can take part, the prize pool will be significantly higher than that of most SNGs.
The number of players that’ll receive prize money is also much larger. Typically, the top 10% to 20% of the field is rewarded for surviving a certain portion of the tournament. Multi-tables also take much longer to finish, with some tournaments running for between three and six hours, with short breaks every hour or so, and very large events running up to 12 hours or two days.
The “multi-table” aspect has nothing to do with you playing multiple tables at one time. Instead, it means that you can be moved from table to table to keep all the tables balanced as players are knocked out. This means you’ll be playing against new and different players throughout the tournament.
Satellite tournaments
Satellite tournaments can come in varying tournament formats but with a significant difference – you’re not playing for a cash prize.
Instead, you’re playing for the opportunity to gain entry to a higher-stakes tournament at a hefty discount. Players with all bankroll sizes play satellites regularly, even the high rollers, so they can save money on their buy-ins. In fact, there are entire books written about satellite strategy, as it’s become so mainstream in today’s poker world.
If you’re interested in playing real poker online in higher-stakes tournaments but don’t want to risk (or can’t afford) the huge buy-in, then a satellite tournament is your best shot at getting a seat. These basic strategies will get you started on that journey:
- Play tight: Playing tight is one of the most important strategies for winning tournaments, especially at the beginning of satellites. You should only play premium hands and avoid getting caught up in marginal situations. Playing tight will also help you conserve your chips for when you need them.
- Pay attention to stack sizes: Paying attention to stack sizes can be a key factor in winning tournaments. If your opponents have smaller stacks than you, they will be much more likely to fold when you make a big raise. On the other hand, if you have a smaller stack, you should be more willing to take risks.
- Be aggressive: Being aggressive is another important strategy, especially in late stages of satellite tournaments. Skilled players can often spot new satellite players and exploit their tendencies to play tight, which is another time to apply aggression.
- Play the players: Pay attention to your opponents’ tendencies and play accordingly. If you observe a particular player playing too many hands, you should be willing to try a bluff. On the other hand, if you notice a player folding often, you can try putting more pressure on them with aggressive play.
- Monitor your table image: Table image is very important in tournaments. If you’re playing too many hands, your opponents will begin to think of you as a weak player. On the other hand, if you’re playing too few hands, they may think you are a tight player. Be aware of your table image and adjust your play accordingly.
Play in online tournaments at Borgata Online
Wondering how to play in poker tournaments? Well, if you want to get a seat at any of our online tournaments, all you have to do is register at Borgata Online. You can check out our selection of poker games, including fan favorite – Texas Hold’em online.Need a break between tournaments or have a moment to spare before your game starts? Check out our other online casino games. We feature everything from online slots to live dealer table games, including blackjack, baccarat, roulette and, of course, poker.