Re-buys and Add-ons
Re-buys allow players to buy back into the tournament. Players can purchase the same amount of chips they started with when they lose all their chips or they are low stacked. There is usually a set time limit during which re-buys are allowed, and then the rest of the tournament is played as a freezeout. At the end of the buy-in period, add-ons allow players to purchase chips to add to their current stack. Play tends to be looser at the beginning, since players know that they can re-buy. Players tend to take bigger risks. Some players will re-buy at the beginning so that they can start with a large stack. This gives them an advantage as they can place large bets early in the game. Purchasing an add-on depends on how many chips you get in comparison to your current stack.
Speed Tournaments
Blinds go up quickly. Luck is a major factor; most betting occurs before the flop. Players tend to go all-in early. Being aggressive with your betting is best, as increasing blinds will reduce a passive player’s chip stack quickly.
Satellite Tournaments
Satellite tournaments reward winners with entry into tournaments with higher buy-in. Play tends to be aggressive at the beginning and less aggressive towards the end as there are fewer prizes with respect to the number of players. Accumulating chips is not the ultimate goal, since all winners gain entry into large tournaments.
Steps Tournaments
Steps tournaments are the same as satellite tournaments. Each step is a single table satellite tournament. Winning the first step provides entry into the next step, and so on. Buy-ins increase as you move up the steps. Major prizes are only awarded at the last step. Strategies are similar to single-table tournaments and satellite tournaments. Be aggressive when necessary and steal blinds when you can. Keep your stack relatively large to avoid being attacked by other players.
Shootouts
Shootouts consist of a series of single-table tournaments. Players either advance to the next round or are eliminated. Some shootouts will award one winner per table who advances to the next round, while some will have several players per table advance. The prize pool is distributed among the players who reach the final table. Player strategy will depend upon the structure of the shootout. If there is only one advancing player per table, then being aggressive is the key. However, when there are several players advancing from each table, then you need to be selectively aggressive.
Winner Take All Tournaments
Only the winner takes the pot. Being aggressive and trying to take the pot are keys to winning in this type of tournament. However, common caveat of tournament poker usually applies: At a loose table, play tight; at a tight table, play loose. |
