Satellites are often the only way to play poker in a big buy-in tournament if you aren’t sponsored or have an ample bankroll. It’s not uncommon to see a satellite online poker tournament where several seats are rewarded. One of the general rules when playing in satellites is this: do not make calls – if you have a comfortable stack size, calling off chips is one of the worst moves you can make.
Satellite poker tournaments are becoming more and more popular. They are a good entry point for a less experienced or cash strapped player, especially since a lot of the big tournament poker games are incredibly expensive to enter. An online poker tournament or a live satellite poker tournament, begins by downloading the poker room software (try this: http://www.titanpoker.com/download.html), and can cost as little as $100 to enter, while a championship event like the WSOP can cost as much as $10,000, a price that is prohibitive to many.
World Series of Poker tournament winner Chris Moneymaker, was able to afford his seat by winning an Internet tournament with a $39 buy-in back in 2003. The 2004 winner, Greg Raymer, acquired his seat via a $165 Internet tournament. Both men are now professional poker players.
A satellite poker tournament is usually a multi-table local poker event with more than ten players. Persons winning these minor casino tournaments gain entry into the next level of competition: a hierarchal type structure. R/A tournaments have special features known as “re-buys” and “add-ons.” That means that if you bust out you can “re-buy” into the tournament and continue to play. Add-ons give those who are short stacked a chance to top up their chips.
Winners of satellites always gain entry to the main tournament. Satellite tournaments are always one level removed from the main event. A tournament whose prize is a seat in another satellite is known as a “super satellite.”
If you wanted to host a satellite event for a tournament like the WSOP, you could hold a single-table 10-person satellite for $1000 each, or make it a multi-table event with 100 people paying $100 each. Your poker tournament winner would win the $10,000 entry fee as the first prize. How about planning one for the next WSOP? Your winner may just make it to the finals.
