Tournament Poker Guide for Beginners

Poker players begin their careers playing at home, in casinos or in poker rooms online. After some time when they are winning consistently in these "ring" games as they are called, some think it may be time to move up to the next level: tournament poker. Here you will learn about multi-table tournaments or MTT. This format is the one used in professional tournament poker. But first, a few words about tourneys.

Let's dispel one misconception here. Tournament play is VASTLY different from ring games. If you plan to a buy in to a poker tournament intending to play the same game you play in poke rooms, you are wasting your time (and money). Typically, some amateur who has been bashing poker tables online will wake up one day thinking they are ready for tournament poker, they buy in with their whole bankroll, and a few days later they get handed their ass and walk away broke. It would take many months of hard work in the ring games again to regain what was lost. That is a bitter lesson to learn.

The problem there is the player thought that tournament poker would be no different from ordinary play. Nothing can be further from the truth. For one thing, ring games go on indefinitely. You can sit down, play and leave practically anytime you want. Tournament poker is not like that. The event progresses from early to middle and final stages, and each stage requires its own strategy. Further, in ring games you just try to win as much as you can. In tourneys, you have to get all the chips within a limited period. So you have to play more hands and gamble instead of waiting for those pocket aces. Otherwise, you will only lose your chips posting the blinds.

Of course, there are similarities, but the dissimilarities are very significant. Knowing or not knowing about these can make all the difference for your bankroll and confidence as a poker player.

These lessons are designed to help you make the transition from ring games to tournaments. Read from the beginning and then concentrate on the type of tournament you are interested in.

Tournament Poker Basics Entry Fees, Buy-Ins and Prize Pools Play, Tables, Re-Buys and Betting Structures

Tournament Poker Multi-Table Tournament Sit N Go Tournament Freeroll Tournament HORSE Tournament Heads Up Tournament Satellite Tournament Re-Buy Tournament

Miscellaneous Major Events and Online Tournaments Glossary of Terms