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Multiplayer Online Poker Tournaments, as they are called at PokerStars.com, are exactly that. They are multiplayer online poker tables, where each player pays the same entry fee into the tournament. This format is similar to a single table event, in that, you are seated at a table with 9 or 10 players (depending on the poker site) The difference being, in multiplayer online poker tournaments, your table can be one of a hundred tables all playing to make one final table (and today the payouts can be huge!) This is the same format that you see at the World Series of Poker or on the World Poker Tour.
The total of everyone's entry fees is what makes for the huge payouts that you see at many of the televised Texas Holdem poker tournaments. For many of the larger multiplayer events, there are smaller feed in events, where for a fraction of the cost, you can qualify for the larger multiplayer poker event, without having to come out of pocket, for the oft hefty fee. Here’s what I do... If I’ve hit my goals playing single table events I build a surplus that I use to play the multiplayer events. I don’t expect to win these events... but one good result here can dramatically impact my bottom line for the year. For more in depth multiplayer strategy tips read this Clove's Column I wrote: Playing Small Pairs and Over Cards Early in a Tournament. Last year I won a $100 multiplayer holdem event and came in 5th at one of the massive Sunday online tournaments at PokerStars.com... netting alot of $$$ in those two tournaments alone. Again this year, I came in 5th at a big multiplayer online tournament at PokerStars.com and qualified for the WSOP in a multiplayer online poker event. Today, first prize in some of these multiplayer online poker tournaments can pay upwards of $500,000. Coming in the top three in one of these multiplayer tournaments can change your life...
Remember, just like in a single table online poker event, your risk is defined to what the entry fee is. For the big multiplayer Sunday tournament at PokerStars.com all players start with $10,000 in chips. This is important because you can make a mistake or take a bad beat... and actually come back from it. In the big Sunday event at PokerStars.com, if your stack is halved early, a couple double ups and you could be back amongst the chip leaders. There are different schools of thought on what approach to take when playing in these big online multiplayer events. A lot of players will play aggressive early on, taking more risks with the hope of doubling up. If you have a large stack early on, you can start flexing your muscles, pushing shorter stacks around. Players don't want to play with you... because they know that you can knock them out with one blow. It allows you to play in more hands, then if you were in the middle or back of the pack, giving you more opportunities to crack somebody... who has little idea where you are in the hand. But more often than not, the early chip leaders are usually more lucky than anything and don't make it anywhere near the final table. A better way is to play tight for the first couple levels, get an idea who you're playing with and try and double up at the expense of one of the weaker players. A good rule of thumb in, online multiplayer poker tournaments is to try and increase your stack by each break and keep adding to it... easier said than done. Oh yeah, some good luck also helps, as you will have to win most of the race hands you're involved in, if you make it deep into the online event. Hands where you hold overcards vs. an underpair and vice versa. These multiplayer online poker events are so very exciting...playing is so much fun and can really get the heart pumping. If you enjoy competition, then this is for you. Remember, all it takes is a chip and a chair.
To become a more complete tournament poker player you need to have knowledge of the math behind Texas Holdem, read these sections: Pre Flop Odds, Outs and Odds, Starting Hands and Drawing Hand Odds. Click Here to see our full review of the best online poker rooms
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