Overview
There are many different types and styles of poker tournaments that are available today. As the popularity of online tournaments has increased, access to a wider range of poker tournaments has become simpler. It is important to understand the different types of poker tournaments that are available so you can choose the one that best suits you.
Styles of Poker Tournaments
- Sit and Go Tournaments – sit and go tournaments are also referred to as SNG tournaments or single table, no limit tournaments. The name of the tournament describes how it functions – there are a limited number of seats at a single table and once the seats are full, the tournament begins.
- Multi Table no Limit Tournaments – there are typically a huge number of players who participate in multi table no limit tournaments. These are the types of tournaments that are played at the World Series of Poker.
- Multi Table Limit Tournaments – multi table limit tournaments are also played with many tables and many players. The prize pool varies depending on the number of players who are participating.
Poker Tournaments
There are different types of poker tournaments that are offered, particularly at online poker rooms. The strategy for play in each of the tournaments may vary depending on the types of tournament you are participating in.
- Guaranteed Prize Pool – as the name suggests, these tournaments offer a guaranteed prize pool.
- Satellite Tournaments – satellite tournaments are offered at online poker rooms. They award free entry into larger tournaments with expensive buy-ins. Most online poker rooms offer satellite tournaments for live poker events such as WSOP and WPT.
- Freeroll Tournaments – freeroll tournaments are poker tournaments with no buy-in. Most online poker rooms offer regular freeroll tournaments for all their players, but there may be exclusive freeroll tournament promotions available to new players or VIP players as well.
- Others – there are plenty of other types of tournaments available as well and you may find shootouts, heads-up tournaments, re-buy tournaments, bounty tournaments, kockouts, turbo tournaments and others.
Types of Games in Poker Tournaments
There are many different types of tournaments available and the larger online poker rooms will offer a wider variety of options. Tournaments are most commonly played in Texas hold’em and most poker rooms will offer a range of these tournaments. Omaha poker is growing in popularity and as a result, you can often find tournaments played in Omaha. Both hold’em and Omaha tournaments can generally be found in no limit, fixed limit or pot limit betting structures. You may also be able to find tournaments run in seven card stud or seven card stud hi/lo. Less common, but also possible to find are mixed games such as H.O.R.S.E.