An Overview of Different Types of Poker Tournaments

Over the course of the part five years, a significant number of men and women have been drawn towards online poker. Literally thousands of people can be found playing online poker for the first time each and every month.

You may be one of the legions of people who have become interested in online poker in recent times. As a consequence, you may be interested in finding out more about the various types of online poker tournaments that are conducted online with regularity. When it comes to online poker tournaments, there are essentially four different types of competitions:

- Elimination Tournaments

- Shootout Tournaments

- Rebuy Tournaments

- Satellite Tournaments

Through this article, we provide you with a brief overview of the different types of online poker tournaments to see if these types of online competitions might be something of interest to you. Because there are different type of tournaments, you should be able to find a competition that interests you and that is appropriate for your current skill level.

Elimination Tournaments

The most common type of online poker competition is the elimination tournament. There are significant numbers of this type of poker tournament being conducted online throughout the course of the year. Indeed, if you were so inclined, you likely would be able to find a different elimination tournament to play in on a consistent basis.

In an elimination poker tournament, play continues until one participant has all of the chips. In short, all of the other players are eliminated. The elimination poker tournament begins with each player being given the same amount of chips. In the brick and mortar world, in an elimination poker tournament, the remaining players actually will be seated at fewer and fewer tables.

Of course, in the online elimination poker tournament, there are no actual tables. However, there can be groupings in certain online poker tournaments -- electronic groupings of participants rather akin to tables in a real world casino. In such a case, in an elimination poker tournament online, there are fewer player groups as the tournament progresses and participants are eliminated.



Shootout Tournaments

Online shootout poker tournaments are rather like elimination tournaments. In fact, shootout poker tournaments really are a variety of elimination tournament.

In shootout poker tournaments on the Net, players are put into groups at the start of the competition. (In the brick and mortar world, these players would be seated at different tables.)

Tournament play continues until there is only one player left in each group. At that juncture, the players are all brought together for a final round of play. The tournament continues until there is only one player left standing, the player who will have all of the poker chips.



Rebuy Tournaments

Online rebuy poker tournaments are rather different from elimination play. In an online rebuy poker tournament, players do start off with the same amount of chips. However, during an initial period of the tournament, players who do lose their chips have the option of "rebuying" their chips to continue in the tournament.

Online poker experts believe that rebuy tournaments tend to begin far more aggressively than elimination tournaments. Players in a rebuy tournament do not risk elimination early on in the competition because they have the ability to rebuy their chips and carry forth.

In many instances, an online rebuy poker tournament will end up with a larger pot at the end of the competition because players contribute more money through the rebuy process early on in the tournament.



Satellite Tournaments

Online satellite poker tournaments are becoming more and more common as a larger number of people have taken to playing online poker. A satellite tournament is rather like a preliminary tournament in a larger poker competition.

In a satellite tournament, a group of players compete against each other, the winner advancing onward to the main event, to a larger poker tournament.

In many instances, the prize awarded in a satellite tournament is a paid entry fee to the next level of competition.

Selecting a Tournament that is Right for You

When it comes to selecting an online poker tournament that is right for you, there are a number of factors that you should consider.

First, you need to make an honest assessment of your skill level. There are a wide array of different types of tournaments geared towards people of different skill levels. It is not recommended that you enter into a tournament with people who are far more advanced in your level of play that you are at a given point in time. The process for you of participating in a tournament in which you are greatly outmatched will be very frustrating.

On the other hand, by entering into a tournament geared towards newer players will be equally frustrating. While you might have a better chance of winning, the process of getting to a tournament victory will be boring and unchallenging. In addition, the prizes awarded in such tournament usually are minimal.

By making an honest assessment of your skills, and by entering into an online poker tournament with people at a similar level, you will have an enjoyable and appropriately challenging experience.

Second, when considering entering into an online poker tournament, you need to seriously consider how much money you want to put on the line, how much money you want to pay to participate in such a tournament.

By being thoughtful about which tournament you choose to enter when it comes to online poker, you will be more satisfied with the experience -- even if you do not take home the first place prize when all is said and done.



As mentioned, each and every month, more and more people are flocking to the World Wide Web to play online poker. More and more people are entering online poker tournaments all of the time.

With the growth in online poker tournaments that are being held each and every year, you have a number of different opportunities to test your skills and to perhaps even take home a cash prize after lively competition.