Poker tournaments types

Although there are many types of tournaments, the main criteria is the number of tables available for the competition.

Sit & Go Poker Tournaments (Tournaments at a single table )

S&G or SNG tournaments as a rule are held at one single table. Tournaments of this type are characterized by the following:

Constant Availability

Almost any poker room at any time offers a S&G tournament. These tournaments don’t take place according to some schedule rather than start when the required number of participants gathers at the table.

Buy-in + fee.

To participate in a tournament one has to pay a buy-in, which is added to the prize money, plus a small fee for holding the tournament.

Number of players.

In the general case S&G tournaments are meant for 10 participants. Sometimes, however, there can be shorthanded tournaments intended for 5 or 6 players.

Distribution of prize money

If the tournament is intended for 10 people, the prize money, as a rule, is divided between the top-three players. In the tournaments intended for 5-6 players it’s divided between the top-two players. However, there are exceptions, as, for example, in the tournaments held by Pacific Poker, where from five participants top-three players are rewarded (the third player gets the buy-in back).

Initial number of chips.

At the beginning of the championship every participant receives a certain number of chips, usually they are 10-15 obligatory bets of the big blind. This quantity gives the good players the opportunity of maneuvering and decreases the impact of accidental winnings.

Multi-Table Poker Tournaments (MTT)

This is the most widespread format of tournaments, both online and real ones. Among others, such famous international tournaments as World Series of Poker and European Poker Tour are held in this format. The following characteristics of this type of tournaments can be distinguished:

Buy-in.

Such tournaments can be divided into the ones with buy-ins and without them (freerolls). In the tournaments with buy-in, poker room rake is already included.

Buy-in tournaments can be divided into:

    • Tournaments with a guaranteed prize

These are the tournaments with prize money exceeding the amount of buy-ins. Sometimes prize money can rise if there is an opportunity for the players out of the game to re-buy. Meanwhile other players can add on. The money received from buy-ins and add-ons is added to the pot. Before the registration starts it’s very important to find out whether it’s allowed to re-buy and add-on, as you may find yourself in a less advantageous position if you are not planning on buying additional chips.

    • Freezeout.

All the money derived from the buy-ins, except for the rake, goes to the prize pot to be later distributed between the players according to the rules. It’s not allowed to add-on.

    • Poker Satellites

Satellites are classification tournaments the winners of which can qualify for a more prestigious tournament with big prizes and often astronomical buy-ins. As a rule, buy-ins in satellites are very low and the prize, as it was mentioned, is the right to participate in a prestigious tournament for free, or be entitled to a considerable discount upon registration. Only a limited number of players receive prizes, which is characteristic of final games in such tournaments. Some satellites can be held in the S&G format, but, as a rule, they are Multi-Table Tournaments.

    • Special tournaments

For their clients poker rooms often organize special advertising tournaments to fit any taste: micro-limit games; games with raked hands; games with rules slightly different from those of traditional Texas Hold’em, where, for example, it’s allowed to either double the bet or pass, or the winner takes all the pot; as well as tournaments with special prizes for the winners.

Heads-up poker

Heads-up poker is another widespread offer from poker rooms. The winner takes the money deposited by the rival (buy-in), less a small rake for the room.


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