Types of Poker Tournaments

Poker tournaments can be played with virtually any game, and for any amount. Prizes can be cash, future tournament entries, or non-cash items.

The three most common tournament types are:

SINGLE TABLE (One table full of players that typically starts when the table is full, as opposed to a set starting time)

MULTIPLE TABLE (Many tables and players, usually starts at a set time, tables break as players are eliminated)

SATELLITE TOURNAMENTS (A low cost tournament whose prizes are typically entry fees into a higher cost tournament)

There are different ways to run each type of tournament, including:

FREEZEOUT - This type of tournament is the most common. In a freezeout, players start with a certain amount of chips and may not buy more (as opposed to a rebuy tournament). Payouts occur to approximately the top 10% of the field, with amounts increasing the higher you finish.

REBUY - A tournament where you are presented the opportunity to buy more chips if your original buy-in runs out.

SHOOTOUT - A tournament format in which a single player ends up with the entire prize money, or in which play continues at each table until only one player remains. Also called "Winner Take All".

BOUNTIES - A tournament in which certain players (usually professionals or celebrities) are identified as "bounty players". Any person eliminating a bounty player from the tournament will receive a special bonus. One of the most famous bounty tournaments occurrs each year in the San Francisco Bay Area, at the Bay 101 card room.