The online gambling industry is booming in various parts of the globe. More than any other point in history, the demand for online gambling services is widespread and prominent. Left and right, some of the best Australian online casinos are competing to satisfy the increasing demand of online gamblers. And one of the greatest appeals of online gambling is that it offers so much variety in terms of its gameplay. There’s a game that suits different gamer and personality types. And one example of a game that appeals highly to the ultra-competitive is poker.
While poker is an incredibly popular casino game, it also has various off-shoots and variations. Traditionally, poker is played as a cash game wherein a player is free to enter or exit the game whenever they please. However, one particular variation of poker that is also amassing much popularity these days is tournament-style poker. If you’re completely new to the world of online poker or if you’ve just been playing cash games all this time, then you might want to consider playing tournaments instead. In this article, we are going to go over all of the basics of online poker tournaments and how you can start playing.
How Do Poker Tournaments Work?
As was mentioned earlier, the most popular form of poker is typically the cash game. This is when a player buys in with a certain amount of chips and leaves the table whenever they want, regardless of how much money they have left. Most cash games have certain caps to how much a person can buy in, but there’s no fixed amount. The poker tournament is different because players buy into the game at the same amount and are given the same amount of chips as well. Then, all of the buy-in money is thrust into a large pool of funds.
Then, the tournament is essentially a series of different poker games with players trying to eliminate one another from the competition. Some tournaments will allow for a certain amount of rebuys, but ultimately, the game is played until only one person is left standing. Depending on the tournament, the total pot can be divided among the top remaining players or it can also be a winner takes it all kind of tournament setup wherein only the first placer gets the entire pot. Tournaments are also typically designed to be fast-paced and pressure-filled with blinds and antes regularly increasing after a set amount of rounds.
Beginner Tips and Tricks for Online Poker Tournaments
If you’re still new to tournaments or just poker in general, it can get really overwhelming. But just make sure to practice the following tips and tricks, and you should be fine:
Learn the Rules
First off, you need to learn the rules. Different tournaments will have different sets of rules. It’s important that you orient yourself on these rules before you even place your first bet.
Be Prepared for Long Hours of Play
Tournaments are designed to be marathons, not sprints. Make sure that you’re prepared to play long hours, especially if you’re looking to win.
Start Off Small
If you’re still learning the ropes, then don’t go for high-stakes tourneys just yet. Start off small and get a feel for the rhythm of tournament play.
Aim for Survival, Not Elimination
One key mistake that newbies make during tournaments is that they get very aggressive at the start. They will try to eliminate everyone else by betting big and playing loosely. However, this is a losing strategy. At the start of any tournament, the goal is survival, not elimination.
Keep Practicing
Lastly, just keep practicing. The more you play, the better you will become over time.
