Types of poker tournaments

Turbo or Nitro

These are usually tournaments in which the blind levels rise more quickly. The advantage of this type of tournament is that it lasts less 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 as the blinds increase. 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 on Full Tilt Poker. As soon as you fold a hand, you're placed at another table with cards to play. It speeds up the game a lot, makes the tournament much quicker, but makes it very difficult to read your opponents.

Deepstack

Tournaments with a large number of chips in the starting stack compared to the starting blinds. In regular tournaments, each player usually starts with around 100 times the big blind of the first level. Example: you start with 2000 chips and the first level is 20/10. In the deepstack, the number of starting chips 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 a rebuy option, you can buy more chips after the start of the tournament for a fee. Each rebuy tournament has its own rules for determining when rebuys are allowed, and the time period allowed. Generally, rebuys are allowed for those with the starting number of chips or less, and only during a period of the tournament (most commonly 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 opponents tend to play very liberally. Disadvantage: these tournaments are not recommended for beginners, as the action is very intense at the start and you run the risk of spending too many rebuys.

Add-on

Add-on tournaments are those which, at a given time, allow you to add chips for a fee. They are usually associated with rebuys. The difference between add-on and rebuy is that add-on can only be done at a certain 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 worthwhile because more chips means more life in the tournament. It also increases the final prize pool. Disadvantage: it increases the cost of the tournament.

Tip! Usually tournaments with rebuy and add-on are represented as "RA" in the lobby of the online poker program.

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 a single table is reached. 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 already win a small prize. When all the tables are down to three, the players are redistributed and new tables of 9 or 10 begin. When there are 3 left, a new prize is awarded and a new redistribution takes place. Advantage: these tournaments are good for those who like more action and a different format. Disadvantage: you need to beat your opponents from the start of the game to get to the next table.

Six-handed (short-handed)

These are tournaments in which each table has six players, rather than the usual nine or ten. Advantage: your hand selection doesn't have to be as rigid, as there are fewer opponents, making the game more active and faster. Disadvantage: the blinds move faster and reduce your stack if you don't act.

Sit-and-go multimesas

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

Bounty / Headhunter tournaments

These are tournaments that pay out prizes according to the number of players eliminated. In other words, if you end up with a player's chips, as well as keeping them, you also win a prize. Some bounty/headhunter tournaments distribute prizes according to the final position and the number of players eliminated. Others only award prizes for eliminations. Advantages: different game, which values individual competitiveness; usually faster than the usual ones. Disadvantages: makes the game more liberal; usually has smaller prizes, as 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 split into four tables and start the process again. This happens until only one player is left. Most of the time, the prize is paid according to the final position, defined by the number of wins. Sometimes there are best-of-three heads-up tournaments, in which the result of each table is only determined when a player wins two matches.