Tournament Poker
Tournament poker is poker's ultimate test—a structured battle where hundreds or thousands of players compete for a single prize pool, and only the last one standing claims victory. Unlike cash games where you can rebuy indefinitely, tournaments are finite: lose your chips, and you're eliminated. This creates unique strategic dynamics where survival matters alongside chip accumulation. Escalating blind levels force action, ICM pressure changes decision-making near payouts, and the nonlinear prize structure means every finish position matters. Tournaments blend poker skill with endurance, adaptability, and the psychological warfare of competition.
| Component | Description |
|---|
| Buy-in | Entry fee (goes to prize pool) |
| Starting chips | Equal for all players |
| Blind levels | Increasing forced bets |
| Eliminations | Lose all chips = out |
| Payouts | Based on finish position |
Prize Pool=(Entries×Buy-in)−RakeTypical payout structure (1,000 entries):
| Place | % of Prize Pool | Example ($100K) |
|---|
| 1st | 18-22% | $20,000 |
| 2nd | 12-14% | $13,000 |
| 3rd | 8-10% | $9,000 |
| 4th | 6-7% | $6,500 |
| 5th | 5-6% | $5,500 |
| 6th-9th | 3-4% each | $3,500 |
| 10th-15th | 1.5-2% | $1,750 |
| Min cash | 0.8-1.2% | $1,000 |
Registration → Seating → Play begins
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Early levels (deep stacks)
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Middle levels (medium stacks)
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Late registration closes
↓
Bubble approaches
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Money bubble bursts
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In the money (ITM)
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Final table
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Heads-up
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Champion crowned
| Type | Description | Key Feature |
|---|
| Freezeout | One buy-in, no rebuys | Pure skill test |
| Rebuy | Can rebuy during period | Bigger prize pools |
| Re-entry | Can re-enter after elimination | Multiple shots |
| Turbo | Fast blind increases | More variance |
| Hyper-turbo | Very fast blinds | High variance |
| Deep stack | Extra starting chips | More play |
| Type | Description |
|---|
| MTT | Multi-table, unlimited entries |
| Sit & Go (SNG) | Starts when seats fill |
| Spin & Go | Lottery prize pool |
| Satellite | Win seat to bigger event |
| Shootout | Win table, advance |
| Type | Description |
|---|
| Bounty | Prize for eliminating players |
| Progressive KO | Bounty grows with knockouts |
| Mystery Bounty | Random bounty values |
| Knockout | Standard fixed bounties |
| Format | Variance | Skill Factor | Duration |
|---|
| Deep stack freezeout | Low | Highest | Long |
| Standard MTT | Medium | High | Medium |
| Turbo | High | Medium | Short |
| Hyper-turbo | Very high | Low-Medium | Very short |
| Spin & Go | Extreme | Low | 10 mins |
| Starting Stack | Description | Skill Level |
|---|
| 200+ BB | Super deep | Maximum |
| 100-200 BB | Deep | High |
| 50-100 BB | Standard | Medium |
| 25-50 BB | Shallow | Low |
| <25 BB | Very shallow | Minimal |
Example: Standard MTT structure
| Level | Blinds | Ante | Duration |
|---|
| 1 | 25/50 | - | 20 min |
| 2 | 50/100 | - | 20 min |
| 3 | 75/150 | - | 20 min |
| 4 | 100/200 | 25 | 20 min |
| 5 | 150/300 | 50 | 20 min |
| 6 | 200/400 | 50 | 20 min |
| 7 | 300/600 | 75 | 20 min |
| 8 | 400/800 | 100 | 20 min |
M=SB+BB+Total AntesStack| M-Ratio | Zone | Strategy |
|---|
| 20+ | Green | Full range, all options |
| 10-20 | Yellow | Tighten up, fewer speculative hands |
| 6-10 | Orange | Looking for spots to shove |
| 1-5 | Red | Push/fold only |
| <1 | Dead | Any ace, any pair, any two broadway |
Effective Stack=min(Your Stack,Opponent Stack)Example:
- You: 50 BB
- Opponent: 30 BB
- Effective stack: 30 BB (you can only win/lose 30 BB)
Independent Chip Model converts tournament chips into prize pool equity.
Equity=P(1st)×1st Prize+P(2nd)×2nd Prize+...| Cash Game | Tournament |
|---|
| 1 chip = $1 | Chip value varies |
| Double up = 2x money | Double up ≠ 2x equity |
| Bust = rebuy | Bust = eliminated |
| All decisions = chip EV | Decisions = $ EV |
Final table, 5 players:
- 1st: $10,000
- 2nd: $6,000
- 3rd: $4,000
- 4th: $2,500
- 5th: $1,500
| Player | Chips | Chip % | ICM Equity |
|---|
| A | 50,000 | 50% | $8,200 |
| B | 25,000 | 25% | $5,800 |
| C | 12,500 | 12.5% | $4,200 |
| D | 7,500 | 7.5% | $3,100 |
| E | 5,000 | 5% | $2,700 |
Note: Player A has 50% of chips but only 34% of prize pool equity. Chip leader's chips are worth less per chip than short stacks'.
| Situation | ICM Impact |
|---|
| Bubble | Extreme—survival critical |
| Pay jumps | Higher prize = more caution |
| Short stack all-in | Can ladder for free |
| Big stack aggression | Can pressure medium stacks |
| Strategy | Recommendation |
|---|
| Approach | Similar to cash games |
| Goal | Chip accumulation |
| Risk tolerance | Can take calculated risks |
| Speculative hands | Playable |
| ICM pressure | None |
| Strategy | Recommendation |
|---|
| Approach | Balance aggression and caution |
| Goal | Build stack for late game |
| Risk tolerance | Moderate |
| Speculative hands | Position-dependent |
| ICM pressure | Beginning |
| Strategy | Recommendation |
|---|
| Approach | Push/fold considerations begin |
| Goal | Find spots to double or steal |
| Risk tolerance | Lower |
| Speculative hands | Rarely |
| ICM pressure | Significant |
| Strategy | Recommendation |
|---|
| Big stack | Aggress relentlessly |
| Medium stack | Survive, pick spots carefully |
| Short stack | Maximum pressure on mediums |
| ICM pressure | Maximum |
| Strategy | Recommendation |
|---|
| Approach | Maximize $ EV, not chip EV |
| Goal | Ladder up when possible |
| Risk tolerance | Varies by stack |
| Pay jumps | Critical consideration |
| ICM pressure | Varies by structure |
Players remaining: 156
Players paid: 150
Bubble = 6 more eliminations until everyone is paid
Bubble dynamics:
- Short stacks gain fold equity (nobody wants to bust)
- Big stacks can bully medium stacks
- Medium stacks must play tightly
- Each elimination is worth min-cash to survivors
| From | To | Jump Value |
|---|
| 5th | 4th | $1,000 |
| 4th | 3rd | $2,000 |
| 3rd | 2nd | $4,000 |
| 2nd | 1st | $7,000 |
Higher jumps = more ICM pressure
Even with one chip, you're not eliminated. Famous examples of players coming back from 1 BB to win tournaments.
| Type | Description |
|---|
| ICM chop | Divide prize pool by ICM equity |
| Chip chop | Divide by chip count |
| Even split | Equal shares (rare) |
| Plus save | Lock minimum, play for remainder |
| Stack Size | Primary Strategy |
|---|
| 100+ BB | Play your hands |
| 60-100 BB | Standard poker |
| 40-60 BB | Tighten slightly |
| 25-40 BB | Look to reshove |
| 15-25 BB | Push/fold begins |
| <15 BB | Pure push/fold |
Example: 15 BB, Button opens 2.5x, you're in BB:
| Shove Range | ~22%+ |
|---|
| All pairs | 22+ |
| Broadway | A2s+, A9o+, KTs+, KJo+ |
| Suited | QTs+, J9s+, T9s |
| Offsuit | QJo |
| Position | Stack 50BB | Stack 20BB | Stack 10BB |
|---|
| EP | 12-15% | 8-10% | Push/fold |
| MP | 16-22% | 12-15% | Push/fold |
| CO | 25-35% | 20-28% | Push/fold |
| BTN | 40-55% | 35-50% | Push/fold |
| Stack | Strategy |
|---|
| Big (40+ BB) | Raise everything, pressure medium stacks |
| Medium (20-40 BB) | Fold marginal, pick spots vs. big stacks |
| Short (10-20 BB) | Shove wide, exploit fold equity |
| Micro (<10 BB) | Shove any two vs. medium stacks |
Problem: Ignoring ICM, playing for chips not $
Solution: Adjust for ICM pressure, especially near bubble/final table
Problem: Waiting for premium hands while stack shrinks
Solution: Pick spots to shove before M drops below 5
Problem: Busting right before the money
Solution: Tighten up, especially with medium stack
Problem: Playing 20 BB like 100 BB
Solution: Use appropriate push/fold ranges
Problem: Taking -EVgamblesfor+chipEV∗∗Solution:∗∗Calculatewhetherchipgainjustifies risk
Problem: Letting chip leaders run over table
Solution: Defend appropriate ranges, especially with reshove stack
ROI=Total Buy-insTotal Winnings−Total Buy-ins×100%| ROI | Skill Level |
|---|
| 50%+ | Elite |
| 20-50% | Very good |
| 10-20% | Good |
| 0-10% | Break-even |
| Negative | Losing player |
ITM%=Tournaments PlayedCashes×100%| ITM% | Description |
|---|
| 20%+ | Very high |
| 15-20% | Above average |
| 12-15% | Average |
| <12% | Below average |
FT%=Tournaments PlayedFinal Tables×100%Typical: 2-5% for winning players
