If you’re new to poker, you’d typically start off by playing a couple of rounds of online poker games or some games at home with friends, but online poker tournaments may still seem a bit daunting to you. The truth is, tournaments are just another form of poker: you just need to find the one that suits you best.
It’s up to you whether you 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 nothing much goes into joining one: 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. Once you and your opponents are all seated, the tournament will begin.
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 available 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. Depending on the type of tournament you enter – and we’ll cover a few of these below – your game may start at a specified time or, in the case of a “Sit and Go” tournament, as soon as your table is full.
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. Once everyone is seated, the game will start and play out much like a cash game – players post their blinds and antes; they’re dealt their 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 has expired, the blinds increase and the next level starts. This is an incredibly important factor to remember when playing in online 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 as they increase over time.
The tournament will play out like this until eventually only one player is left at the tables holding all the chips and they’re crowned the winner of the tournament. So, it’s simple to understand the basics of how tournaments work. 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, the rankings of hands and the rules of the game.
- Choose the right tournament: There are many types of tournaments, so it’s important to select the tournament 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 set a bankroll accordingly. Make sure you have enough money to cover the buy-in and any additional fees that may be required.
- Practice: Practice playing poker with friends or online to get comfortable with the game. Focus on developing your strategy and learn from your mistakes.
- Manage your emotions: Poker can be a stressful game and it’s important to stay calm and collected 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 are myriad types of tournaments, all with their own rules and format and suited for different types of poker games. There really is a tournament out there for everyone. If you’re just starting out, there are three main types of online tournaments that you should look out for. These are the most popular beginner poker tournaments.
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 five to 20 participants, playing at tables with 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 their entry fee or buy-in plus a small rake fee that the casino takes for hosting the game, which is pooled together to create the prizes. So, for a game with five players at a buy-in of $5, the total prize pool would be $25. Simple enough, right?
The payout structure is just as simple, though it may vary between tournaments. But in general, these tournaments split the prize pool between the top two or three players. So for our five-player, $5 buy-in example, if the tournament pays the $25 prize out to the top two finishers, the person who finishes in first place will get $17.50 and the player coming in second will get $7.50.
The blinds will typically start small in Sit and Go tournaments but will be increased 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.
Multi-table tournaments
Multi-table tournaments (also known as MTTs) are quite a step up from the Sit and Go tourneys we just discussed, but very similar in how they play out. We understand that the word “multi-table” might sound a bit daunting, but don’t panic just yet: it’s not as complicated as it sounds.
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 any Sit and Go tournament.
The number of places that’ll receive prize money is also much larger. Typically, the top 20 to 100 players are rewarded at the end of the tournament, depending on the number of participants. 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.
Its “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 and some tables empty. This means you’ll constantly be playing against new and different players throughout the tournament, which is really fun and a great way to improve your game.
Satellite tournaments
Satellite tournaments can come in the format of both Sit and Go and multi-table tournaments, but with a significant difference – you’re not playing for a cash prize.
Instead, you’re playing for the opportunity to gain entrance to a higher-stakes tournament, but at a hefty discount – assuming you can “felt” (knock out) everyone else at the table. Let’s go back to our five-player, $5 buy-in example and assume that this was a satellite tournament. You’d be paying $5 to enter the “Sit and Go Satellite” and a win would mean you get free entry to a $100 multi-table tournament where you could potentially win much, much more in terms of prize money – even if you don’t place particularly well.
Satellite tournaments can also give you the opportunity to enter more prestigious poker tournaments for a fraction of the buy-in, such as the World Series of Poker and the Poker World Tour, which are both live tournaments and can have buy-ins exceeding $10k. Here, you can compete against professional and celebrity poker players from all around the world.
If you’re interested in playing real poker online at higher-stakes tournaments, but don’t want to risk the huge buy-in, then a satellite tournament is your best shot at getting a seat with the whales.
Strategies for winning poker tournaments
- Play tight: Playing tight is one of the most important strategies for winning tournaments. 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 and push your luck.
- Be aggressive: Being aggressive is another important strategy for winning tournaments. You should be willing to put your chips at risk when you have a good hand. Aggressive play is often rewarded in poker tournaments and can help you accumulate chips quickly.
- 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 more willing to bluff them. 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 to gain access to a wide variety of poker tournaments that all have seats waiting for you. You can also 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.