Winning your way to the World Series of Poker continued

Double shoot out tournaments can also offer great value for the strong player. Players that prefer sit-n-go style tournaments may prefer this sort of structure. There are some major adjustments that need to be made to win one of these tournaments.

In traditional single table tournaments the top 3 players are generally awarded prizes. This has an impact on the strategy and creates a relatively flat payout schedule. This is not the case in shoot out tournaments. You must win not only your first table but the second table as well. You need to play for all the chips, with disregard to moving up the ladder, as there is no pay ladder. Some gambles that may not be worth it in a traditional single table tournament are worthwhile at this structure. Play aggressively and do not be afraid to gamble for your tournament life.

Live Satellites

The majority of live satellites are either super-satellites, very similar to the ones found online, or single table satellites. These tournaments can similarly offer great value to the experienced player. There are sometimes guarantees to how many seats will be awarded, but overlays are not as common as they are online. The prize packages are also generally given in the form of vouchers or lammers that can be redeemed for entry in the tournament. Some venues require you to play in the event with the first seat you win while any additional seats are transferable, while others will allow you to transfer any seat that you win. This can be important as some players prefer to sell their entries rather than actually play in the tournament. Make sure you know the policy of the card room you are playing at.

Live Super-Satellites

The main difference between the live super-satellites and those that are found online, is that most of the live events feature re-buys. Most of the super-satellites have buy-ins of around $200-$300 dollars with re-buys for the first hour, and an additional add-on at the end of the hour. These can get very expensive, very fast. Set an amount that you are comfortable investing in a tournament and try not to go overboard. Often times the add-on will give extra chips for the same amount as the initial buy-in, and you should be prepared to take advantage of this if that is the case.

Live Single Table Satellites

is where satellites started and they are still very popular today. Ten players put up slightly more than 10% of the buy-in for the main event and play until one person has all of the chips. The strategic considerations are the same in these events as in the double shoot outs. There is no second place prize (or very little anyways) and you must play for all of the chips.

One additional subject worth mentioning in these events is that it is common for the last two or three players to make a deal of some sort. The chip leader may offer to buy out a player, or in essence pay him a certain amount so that he will forfeit. It is also common for players to make saves, or agree to each take a certain amount of money off of the table and play for the rest. Depending on how the prizes are awarded the winner may pay the other players out of their pocket or they each may simply take a lammer out of the prize pool. Think ahead of time about what deals may be amenable to you and do not let yourself be pressured. If you do not fully understand what is being proposed do not hesitate to reject any deals. It is always fine to just say that you prefer to play it out and let the chips fall where they may. Deals may only be made if everyone still active in the tournament agrees, and it is perfectly acceptable to decide to not make a deal.

Conclusion

There is a lot of reasons to look towards satellites to secure your entry to large tournaments, whether you are a recreational player, or a hardened tournament veteran. There are also many different options to choose from, and different satellites will suit different players better. Spend your satellite money carefully to give yourself the greatest chance of success. Make sure you are familiar with the terms and conditions of the online site if you are playing a satellite on the internet. Pay close attention to the structure, prize distribution, and how your chip stack affects strategy. Play well and hopefully, if we both get a little lucky, I will see you in the main event.