Most poker fans have, at some point, sat down at a poker site, looked at an upcoming tournament calendar and said to themselves “what the heck?!” There are many different poker tournament types, which may seem confusing, but the truth is that they’re simply different answers to three very basic questions:
- Will I be allowed to re-enter if I bust?
- Will the game speed up as we play?
- Will I receive additional incentives such as side bets and/or mystery bounties?
As soon as you understand those three things, the rest makes sense. Let’s take a look at every single poker tournament format explain it in simple fashion, so that both amateurs and ring-game heavy grinders, can learn the basics.
The Most Common Poker Tournament Types (the ones you’ll likely play most of the time)
These are the two most common poker tournament formats that account for about 90 percent of what you’ll find online. Once you learn these poker tournament types, you’re off to the races!
Freezeouts
In Freezeout tournaments, poker is played in it’s purest form. You buy in, receive your initial stack, and when you lose that stack…that’s it. No re-buys, no rebuy periods, etc.
People like Freezeouts because they feel fair. With no opportunity to continually fire bullets hoping something finally catches on, you must think carefully before committing your stack.
What it feels like: The only place where thinking before risk is a necessity
Who it is for: Structure and control-loving players
Rebuys
Rebuys are quite different from freezeouts. During the rebuy period players tend to be a little wild. All-ins are made left and right; loose calls abound; large pots develop. Why? Because if anyone busts during this period, he/she/they can just buy back in.
After the rebuy period is finished, everybody tends to remember how to play again.
What it feels like: Crazy early on, normal late on
Who it is for: Those that don’t get tilted when the deck turns against them
Re-Entries
Re-entries are essentially the modern version of Rebuys. In a re-entry tournament, you can buy back in to continue playing at any time after losing your original stack.
While a little less chaotic than Rebuys, Re-entries provide a similar experience as far as strategy and focus is concerned. Among all poker tournament types, freerolls, rebuys and re-entries attract the most recreational players.
What it feels like: You’ve got a safety net-but not complete chaos
Who it is for: Most players
Knockout (KO) Tournaments
Things get exciting when you add bounties to the mix. Each player has a bounty attached to him/her/them. When you knockout another player-you immediately earn his/her/their bounty.
Bounty hunters are motivated to remove other players, giving you an added reason to attack. And yes, people do play differently due to this fact. Knockouts are among the most rewarding poker tournament types.
What it feels like: Much more action; tougher decisions
Who it is for: Those that aren’t afraid of confrontation
Progressive Knockouts (PKOs)
The same as KO tournaments but with an additional twist. When you knockout another player:
- You receive a portion of his/her/their bounty immediately
- The remainder of his/her/their bounty goes onto your own head
This means the more successful you become-the higher value you represent. And people will target you accordingly. These are among the most preferred poker tournament types over the last few years.
What it feels like: Slightly more strategic than standard KO tournaments
Who it is for: Those that think beyond their cards.
Turbo and Hyper-Turbo Tournaments
For those that hate sitting around waiting for hours for a game to finish-this is for you. Turbo tournaments have rapidly increasing blind structures. Some are so fast-paced that you’re forced to act almost instantaneously. You can’t afford to wait for a perfect hand-they just don’t exist anymore.
What it feels like: Instant pressure from the beginning
Who it is for: Short-stack players who thrive under duress.
Deep Stack Tournaments
For those that love waiting around to get their game going-this is your baby. You’ve been given a generous stack and the blinds increase gradually. You’ve got ample opportunities to play poker-not just react to bad beats.
What it feels like: Slow paced, more thought required
Who it is for: Post flop players that like thinking about their actions.
Sit & Go (SNG) Tournaments
Simple concept here. A certain number of players pre-register. At the appointed hour- they all begin playing simultaneously. No schedules to follow-no lengthy waits.
They tend to be among the quickest and most straight-forward poker tournament types.
What it feels like: Simple; clean; contained
Who it is for: Beginners looking for simplicity; those who want a quick fix.
Multi-Table Tournaments (MTT)
MTTs are what people typically mean when referring to poker tournaments. Large player pools-long sessions-big money for winners. You could spend hours grinding away-and still leave empty-handed-or hit big and walk home with serious bankroll growth.
What it feels like: Long grueling sessions with potential explosive wins
Who it is for: Players that chase the dream
Satellite Tournaments
Satellites are unique in nature. Instead of competing for cash-you’re fighting for entry into another tournament. That alone affects how you play. Since you don’t need massive amounts of chips-you can survive on minimal funds while attempting to reach the end.
What it feels like: Survival over domination
Who it is for: Patience-waiting-for-an-opportunity-to-win players
Shootout Tournaments
Here is a format that limits your options dramatically. You compete solely against the other players on your table-only winning your table earns you entry into further rounds. No moving tables-No juggling players-only winning your table advances you further.
What it feels like: Small battles; not big wars
Who it is for: Players that adapt quickly to their opponents.
Mystery Bounty Tournaments
These are fun folks-seriously fun. Every time you knockout another player-he/she/they receives a random reward based upon their elimination. They can be small or gigantic-it’s unpredictable.
What it feels like: Similar to opening a loot box
Who it is for: Fans of surprise and randomness.
Spin & Go (Lottery Tournaments)
These three-player tournaments feature rapid-fire structures and randomized prize pools. Games are over extremely quickly, and variance runs rampant. If there are poker tournament types, which focus targed online players, Spin & Go are the perfect examples.
What it feels like: Quick; Extreme; Unpredictable
Who it is for: Players that can handle volatility.
Heads-Up Tournaments
Here is the ultimate test of wills. Just two players compete against each other. No extraneous factors-no distractions-no blending in within a larger group-every single error is magnified.
What it feels like: Intimate; sometimes brutal
Who it is for: Direct competitors.
Mixed Game Tournaments
With Mixed Game tournaments, the usual suspects-Holdem, Omaha-Stud etc. rotate throughout the course of the event. As opposed to relying on a specific skillset or strategy-you must be prepared to adjust and learn.
What it feels like: Constantly adapting
Who it is for: Experienced players that thrive in adversity.
Phase/Multi Flight Tournaments
Players have several chances to enter Phase tournaments-at various entry points. Your progress accumulates across each phase, however, only your highest placement counts towards advancement. You can also attempt to accumulate entries through re-entry attempts as well, keeping your best results.
What it feels like: Flexible; Practical
Freerolls and Guaranteed Tournaments
Both Freeroll tournaments and guaranteed tournaments offer free entry-and both award actual money payouts. While Freerolls cost nothing-Guaranteed tournaments ensure a minimum payout regardless of participation numbers.
Simple, yet functional formats.
Niche Poker Tournament Formats (a few smaller mentions)
These poker tournament types are relatively uncommon-so you probably won’t encounter them often:
- On Demand tournaments use a combination of small-field size and turbo timer-creating a hybrid-style of Mini MTTs.
- Win The Button awards the button to whomever wins the preceding hand.
- Six Max and Four Max shorten tables from ten to six and four respectively-making games more aggressive.
- Ante Up tournaments use ante’s rather than blinds.
- Add On Only tournaments allow only one chip addition prior to break-with no rebuys.
- Matrix tournaments create multiple identical games-simultaneously entering you into all of them.
- Step tournaments advance you through increasingly difficult level-based challenges leading toward larger events.
- Time Attack uses a shot clock limiting decision time.
- Full KO tournaments award winnings exclusively through bounties.
- Flip & Go begins with all-in luck rounds-followed by traditional gameplay.
- Survivor tournaments guarantee payment to all participants reaching the designated cut-off.
- Double or Nothing awards half of the field equal payments.
- Fast Fold moves players automatically into new tables upon folding.
- Stack Based formats modify only the initial chip stack size.
Which Poker Tournament Types Suit You ?
There isn’t a single “right” answer regarding poker tournament formats. It truly comes down to individual preferences-and skills.
Some individuals prefer slower paced games where they can think through each decision. Other individuals prefer faster paced games requiring greater instincts-and pressure. There are poker tournament types suitable for each taste.
Regardless of whether or not you’re able to identify each name-this article has helped you understand how each format alters the way you should approach your game plan.
As soon as you grasp these concepts-playing becomes significantly easier. If you love playing in club-poker apps, there is a weekly updated MTT schedule with variety of poker tournament types. There, you can check the most noteworthy MTTs on apps such as ClubGG, X-Poker, PPPoker and PokerBros.
As far as more traditional browser based sites are conderned, QQPoker MTTs catch the eye.
