What Is a Satellite in Poker?

In poker, a satellite is a type of tournament in which the prize is not money, but entry into a larger tournament. The idea is that by winning a satellite, you win the opportunity to play in a more prestigious or expensive tournament that you might not otherwise be able to afford.

For example, the World Series of Poker (WSOP) is one of the most prestigious and expensive tournaments in the world. But there are many satellites leading up to the WSOP, where the winner gets their entry fee covered to play in the WSOP Main Event.

PRO TIP:Satellites in poker are tournaments with a smaller buy-in than the main tournament, allowing players to gain entry into the main event for less money. The prizes in a satellite are typically either cash or tickets to enter the bigger tournament. It’s a great way to qualify for a major tournament with less investment!

So, if you can’t afford the $10,000 buy-in for the WSOP Main Event, you could potentially win your way in by playing in a satellite tournament. .

Satellites can be single-table tournaments, multi-table tournaments, or even online tournaments. They usually have a lower buy-in than the tournament they are feeding into, and often have a smaller field of players as well.

Winning a satellite is often seen as a cheaper way to get into a big tournament, and can be a good way for players on a budget to build their bankrolls.