Poker Tournament

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Poker tournaments a good way to make money?

How many people will enter a tournament?

How many people win prizes in a poker tournament?

Will there be professional players in my tournament?

How long will the tournament last?

How will I know how many people remain in the tournament? When I go out, how will I know what place I finished in?

If my table breaks up, what new table do I go to?

When I get assigned a table, can I sit in any seat?

Can I get up and take a break at any time?

Q: Are Poker Tournaments a good way to make money?

A: They can be very lucrative when you win. Last years World Series of Poker Champion took home 5 Million Dollars!

Q: How many people will enter a tournament?

A: That depends on many factors including location, entry fee, any additional sponsored prizes, game being played, and expected duration. A good way to estimate though, is to approach the tournament directors podium and make a simple inquiry. They can usually predict the approximate turnout to a relatively high percentage.

Q: How many people win prizes in a Poker Tournament?

A: Many factors determine this. For a more complete discussion, see our Tournament Prizes page.

Q: Will there be professional players in my tournament?

A: Again, that depends on many factors. Usually you can expect various tournament pros to be in attendance for all of the higher buy-in tournaments. However, if there is nothing going on, a tournament player may find a lower buy-in tournament a nice way to "stay warm". Do not be intimidated by them, just play your game.

Q: How long will the tournament last?

A: That also depends. Tournaments can be structured to end almost precisely on time, but more often they are designed to escalate at a specific page and the turnover happens naturally. The best way to get a feel for the estimated end-time is to ask a tournament staff member. Realize they may not want to commit a time to you, so reassure them you are only interested in their personal "give or take" estimate. (And then realize it may not be completely accurate!)

Q: How will I know how many people are left in the tournament? When I go out, how will I know what place I finished in?

A: Both of these questions can be abswered (approximately) by the tournament clock. In most medium and large tournaments, the house used a computerized system to display current standings. It is not real-time, and it does not track by player name, but it does contain a lot of valuable information such as:

Current Level and Blinds
Time to Next Level
Time to Break
Players Remaining (Approximate)
Payouts
Chip Leader/Average Stack Size

Q: If my table breaks up, how will I know what table to go to, and how do I find it?

A: When a table breaks, the Tournament Director will usually come around with a handful of seat cards. He will put one card in the center for each player at your table. Each player picks one, and goes to the table/seat indicated. You may also have to move tables selectively, that is, you may be picked to move even though your table does not break. This is done when there is an imbalance in the number of players.

In either case, you need to find your new table. In large events, there will be table number signs hung above the tables. If not, just ask where the table is.

Q: When I get assigned a table, can I sit in any seat?

A: No. Your table assignment should come with a corresponding seat number. Seat numbers are standard in poker rooms and casinos. The table will generally be an oval, with a dealer cutout in the middle of one side. The first seat to the left of this cutout is seat 1, and it progresses around from there. Normally, 10 seats are used. In especially small cardrooms however, do not be surprised to see 11 (even 12 in a pinch!) players at your starting table.

Q: Can I get up and take a break at any time?

A: Yes. You will be dealt cards, and they will be folded when it is your turn to act, with no penalty. If you are absent when it is your turn to post the blind bets, the dealer will put in the bets for you. Your cards will be folded, and the bets placed in the pot.

For this reason, it is advisable that you get up when there are several hands to go before the blinds come to you.