A poker tournament is one of the most exciting events for a player. Hundreds (or even thousands) of fans pay a buy-in and start under the same conditions on a path to crown a champion: the last man standing with all the chips, who usually claim a trophy or similar, and, of course, the best prize.

Although like many industries, you can play poker tournaments from home on the Internet, the experience in a casino handling chips and the cards remains unmatched. In this article, we will tell you everything you need to know about live poker.


Tips for live poker tournaments

The first tip is to learn the tournament rules. For example, Although you can always ask the dealer the poker chips value, it's best to learn it, so the game remains smooth. This is a crucial difference from online poker sites like 888Poker, where advanced software does all the math, and you'll never get to see a stack of chips.

Many players do little tricks with chips to hide their emotions and relax while playing. Also, remind you to take a break when necessary, turn off the phone so you can focus, and take advantage of the possibility to see your opponent's face for tells that can give you information about his hand.

It's also important to wear comfortable clothes as the tournament can last several hours. And don't forget your lucky charm!


Stages of a tournament

First of all, the tournament must be promoted to know about the event and decide to play it. Nowadays, this is done through social networks, although some regular events don't need much advertising.

You can either pay the buy-in in advance (which includes a commission charged by the casino) or pay it at the casino. Some sites provide benefits like extra chips or better seats to players who confirm their participation earlier. However, there is another way to qualify for a live tournament: satellites, smaller events with a fraction of the buy-in that rewards the winner with a ticket.

When the day arrives, the first hand is dealt, and all players begin clashing according to the tournament rules; some events feature several starting flights or give the possibility to reentry by paying another buy-in. There will be scheduled breaks to take meals or just rest from the table.

Just before entering "in the money," the "bubble must burst." This happens when the last player who doesn't cash a prize is eliminated. Usually, the tournament goes into a hand-to-hand scheme until this stage ends, and after this, all players will get a reward. Now the way down to the final table begins.

Depending on the structure, six or nine players will qualify for the final table, where the winner will be crowned.


Tournament series

Massive tournament series like the World Series of Poker (WSOP), an event with over 50 years of history that is played each year in Las Vegas, are responsible for the global boom that poker has been experiencing for several years.

It's no secret why: the Main Event winner wins millions of dollars, and the final table is broadcast globally on popular sports channels like ESPN.