Compared to other games found in land-based and online casinos, poker attracts many players due to the huge sum paid to the winners of the biggest tournaments worldwide. Regardless if you are a Canadian, a Portuguese, or an Australian, everybody has the chance to qualify and get in a major poker tournament.
The biggest and most popular tournaments are:
- European Poker Tour (EPT);
- World Poker Tour (WPT);
- World Series of Poker (WSOP);
- World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP);
- Triton Super High Roller Series (Triton Poker).
Choosing and Getting In a Poker Tournament
Before anything else, it is important to realize that there are some poker variations out there, and the one picked for a tournament may vary. Therefore, get used to the basics of variations such as Texas Hold ‘Em or Omaha, and figure out which one is featured in the tournament you want to get in.
Qualifying For a Major Event
Each one of the main poker tournaments mentioned before has entries worth a few thousand dollars. Fortunately, those who are not so fortunate to be able to invest that considerable sum have an alternative. There are special and smaller tournaments known as satellites. They differ from all the cash tournaments, as their prizes involve travel and accommodation prizes plus the buy-in for the big ones.
One great example is the famous story of Chris Moneymaker, who won a $10,000 seat from a $40 satellite, as stated on Wikipedia.
To make it easier when searching for those satellite events, they can be divided into a few categories:
- Full Package Satellites: together with a seat to the main tournament, players have their expenses paid. They usually occur 30 to 60 days prior to the event. As an example, PokerStars gave away 15 EPT packages in 2020, according to their website.
- Seat-only Satellites: works great if the major event occurs nearby, as nothing but the seat is granted.
- Steps Satellites: after each win, the poker player makes a progression until reaching the main prize and granting his seat.
- Flip Satellites: ideal for those who do not have a lot of time in their hands. For example, The WPT offers the opportunity to participate in super-fast events with instant all-ins and low buy-ins.
How to Get In Small Poker Tournaments?
If seeking stardom in the poker world is not for you, or if you simply feel it is too soon to aim big, there are small poker tournaments. However, there is no mystery in how they work: you purchase your entry, and that is it. Besides, with so many great poker websites out there, entering online tournaments from wherever you are is much more comfortable than heading to a live one.
Getting in Online Poker Tournaments
The only thing between registering for online tournaments and players is the creation of an account and having money available through online deposits. There are several websites out there, including some that work as exclusive online satellites, like PokerStars and 888Poker.
After creating an account, players can play for free and practice, and then decide which type of tournament they want to get in:
- MT (Multi-Table): the standard type of poker tournament, in which the goal is to keep on while others lose all their chips.
- Bounty: similar to MT, but you receive extra prizes for busting a player.
- Sit & Go: a favorite when it comes to online poker. It is fast and counts on rooms starting a new round every minute. It is an excellent choice for practice.
- Shootout: combines S&G and MT events, with lots of players sharing a single table.
The Takeaway
There are no big secrets when it comes to how to qualify and get in a major poker tournament. Players either pay a high price to enter them or find their way through satellite events, which have way smaller fees.
All other poker tournaments that do not function as satellites are simple to enter, especially when it comes to online competition. With an internet connection, you can access them wherever and whenever you want.
