Basic Tournament Types

Open up any lobby online and you’ll notice a bevy of tournament types: multi-table, single-table, turbo, and shootout, just to name a few. Holdem Bonuses will take a deeper look at what these terms mean and identify their pros and cons.

Multi-Table Tournament

Definition: A tournament consisting of more than one table.

Pros: Big money tournaments online are, by and large, multi-table tournaments (MTTs). That means if you’re looking for a sizable payday, look no further than MTTs. Because the field consists of two or more tables, the top prizes are usually quite substantial relative to the buy-in, making for a lucrative payday. You’ll play against a wide variety of opponents and likely be moved to multiple tables, meaning your experience is similar to what you’ll find in major events like the World Series of Poker. Therefore, a bad table draw may not mean an end to your tournament run.

Cons: Making the money in an MTT means outlasting a large number of people. Instead of a single-table tournament where the top three spots pay out, MTTs award money to a percentage of players that enter. Therefore, you’ll have to work a little bit harder to walk away with cash. Also, playing against a wide variety of people can make identifying your opponents’ tendencies more complicated.

Single-Table Tournament

Definition: A tournament consisting of only one table, also called a sit and go.

Pros: Single-table tournaments, or sit and gos (SNGs), are very similar to many players’ home games, making the process of transitioning to the online (Full Tilt Poker, Absolute Poker or the poker room you prefer) version fairly easy. In addition, you only have to monitor the playing styles of five or eight opponents. With a little concentration, you should be able to accomplish this task with ease and focus on playing the best poker possible. Like MTTs, SNGs come in a variety of buy-ins and are readily available online, making the process of finding a game a breeze.

Cons: The amount of money you can win in a single-table tournament is limited since only one table’s worth of players can enter. Whereas prize pools in MTTs can reach over seven-figures, the total purse up for grabs in SNGs is considerably lower. That said, many of today’s established poker stars generated a bankroll by playing SNGs, which typically pay out to the top two or three finishers. Mastering SNG play is essential to succeeding in the late stages of major tournaments.

Turbo Tournament

Definition: A tournament with an accelerated blind structure.

Pros: Turbo tournaments typically last a shorter length of time than their traditional counterparts. Gone are the days of laboring through all-day events in order to make the money. Instead, turbo SNGs and MTTs only require a few hours or less of your time. These are perfect for those looking to play as many tournaments as possible or people with a limited block of time available. Turbos exist both live and online.

Cons: Because blinds increase every few minutes, it doesn’t take too long for the price of poker to become exceedingly high. Therefore, the late stages of turbo tournaments amount to a chaotic all-in shove-fest, which may not be your cup of tea. Obtaining a sizable stack during the early portion of a turbo is critical; keep that in mind when you play.

Shootout Tournament

Definition: A tournament in which each table plays down to a winner.

Pros: Shootout tournaments are basically a series of SNGs, where the winner of each table moves onto the next one. If you’re a whiz in SNG strategy, then shootouts are for you. There can be substantial prize pools in shootouts and winners of each table receive pay jumps.

Cons: Your success in shootouts may hinge on your skill relative to the rest of the table. Getting seated at a talented table or experiencing a bad table draw means you’ll likely find yourself cast out of the event. Also, each new table starts with every player even in chips, so momentum is tough to carry over from table to table.