Types of Poker Tournaments

Turbo or Nitro

These are usually tournaments in which the blind levels increase more quickly. The advantage of this type of tournament is that it lasts for a shorter time than usual. The big disadvantage is that it increases the “luck factor”, since players will be pressured to enter more hands, to avoid losing their chips just by increasing the blinds. They are not recommended for novice players. They are recommended for more technical players, who like more action and taking risks. All online poker rooms have this type.

Rush

These are tournaments available at Full Tilt Poker. As soon as you fold a hand, you are placed at another table, with cards already in hand. This speeds up the game a lot, making the tournament much faster, but it makes it much harder to read your opponents.

Deepstack

Tournaments with a large number of chips in the starting stack in relation to the starting blinds. In regular tournaments, each player usually starts with about 100 times the first level's big blind. Example: starting with 2000 chips, and the first level is 20/10. In deepstack tournaments, the starting chip count is higher than usual. For example, 4000 chips with the first level at 20/10. Advantage: these are more technical tournaments, as they allow you to play conservatively and wait for the best hands. Disadvantage: they tend to take longer.

Rebuy

In tournaments with the rebuy option, you can buy more chips after the tournament has started, for a fee. Each tournament with rebuy has its own rules to determine when rebuys are allowed, and how long they are allowed. Rebuys are generally allowed for those with the initial number of chips or less, and only during a certain period of the tournament (most commonly during the first hour). You can rebuy even if you lose all your chips. Advantages: this type of tournament usually has a high prize pool, as each rebuy increases the pool of money to be distributed at the end. Another advantage is that good players can take advantage of the rebuy period to increase their stack, as their opponents tend to play very liberally. Disadvantage: these tournaments are not recommended for beginners, as the action is very intense at the beginning, and there is a risk of spending too many rebuys.

Add-on

Tournaments with add-ons are those that, at a given time, allow you to add more chips by paying a fee. They are usually associated with rebuys. The difference between add-ons and rebuys is that the add-on can only be done at a specific time, usually during the first break of the tournament. In addition, the add-on can be done even if you have a lot of chips. Advantages: the add-on is very valid because more chips means more life in the tournament. In addition, the final prize pool increases. Disadvantage: it increases the cost of the tournament.

Tip! Rebuy and add-on tournaments are usually represented as “RA” in the online poker software lobby.

Freeze-out

These are the most common types of tournaments, in which everyone starts with the same number of chips. The tournament tables will have a similar average number of players, until there is only one table. The tournament continues until there is only one player left, with all the chips in the tournament.

Shoot-out

In shoot-out tournaments, each table plays separately until a certain criterion is reached. Example: in some shoot-out tournaments, the table plays until there are 3 players left. These three players already win a small prize. When all the tables have three players left, the players are redistributed and new tables of 9 or 10 players begin. When there are 3 left, a new prize is awarded and the tables are redistributed again. Advantage: these are good tournaments for those who like more action and a different format. Disadvantage: you need to outplay your opponents from the beginning of the game to move on to the next table.

Six-handed (short-handed)

These are tournaments where each table has six players, instead of nine or ten as is usual. Advantage: your hand selection doesn't need to be as strict, as there are fewer opponents, making the game more active and faster. Disadvantage: the blinds roll over faster and will reduce your stack if you don't act.

Multi-table sit-and-go

They are similar to regular multi-table tournaments, but they start when a certain number of players are reached, rather than at a specific time.

Bounty / Headhunter Tournaments

These are tournaments that pay out prizes according to the number of players eliminated. In other words, if you take out a player's chips, in addition to keeping them, you also win a prize. Some bounty/headhunter tournaments distribute prizes according to the final position and the number of eliminated players. Others only pay out for eliminations. Advantages: different game, which values individual competitiveness; it is usually faster than the usual ones. Disadvantages: it makes the game more liberal; it usually has smaller prizes, since they are divided among a larger number of players.

Heads-up Tournaments (HU Matches)

These are single-elimination (knockout) tournaments, with two players per table. Example: 16 players start a heads-up tournament. Eight tables are formed, each with two players facing each other until one wins. After each table has a winner, the remaining eight are divided into four tables and the process starts again. This continues until only one player remains. In most cases, the prize is paid according to the final placing, determined by the number of wins. Sometimes there are best-of-three heads-up tournaments, in which the result of each table is only decided when a player wins two games.