How Do Satellite Poker Tournaments Work?

Satellite poker tournaments are a type of tournament in which the prize is not money, but instead entry into a larger tournament. The World Series of Poker, for example, has many satellite tournaments leading up to the main event.

In order to win a seat in the main event, players must first win a satellite tournament.

Satellite tournaments can be either single-table or multi-table. In a single-table satellite, there are only nine or ten players competing against each other. The prize pool is typically the buy-in to the next level tournament, plus any additional fees.

PRO TIP:Satellite poker tournaments are an excellent way to gain entry into a larger-scale tournament without having to put up the full buy-in. Instead, you can simply enter a satellite tournament and pay a smaller buy-in. The top finishers in the satellite tournament will earn entry to the larger tournament with the prize pool being filled by everyone who entered the satellite tournament.

For example, if the buy-in to the main event is $10,000 + $300, then the prize pool for the satellite tournament would be $10,300. The winner of the satellite tournament would then receive entry into the main event.

Multi-table satellite tournaments are larger, with hundreds or even thousands of players. The prize pool is usually much larger as well, often being several thousand dollars.

The top few finishers in a multi-table satellite will typically win entry into the next level tournament.

Satellite poker tournaments are a great way for players to win entry into larger tournaments without having to put up a lot of money. They also provide an opportunity for smaller stakes players to compete against some of the best in the world.