Party Poker Tournaments

Party Poker Tournaments Party Poker tournaments draw in some of the largest crowds in the online poker room business, particularly among European players. PartyPoker knows that when it comes to online poker rooms, the biggest thrill available is participating in a tournament. The PartyPoker card room menu offers a wide range of tournament options for its customers. To view the complete tournament schedule, be sure and visit PartyPoker.com.

In tournament games, each player starts with an equal number of chips. If a player loses all their chips, they are eliminated from the tournament (unless it’s a rebuy - more on that later). The game then continues until one player has all the chips, thus eliminating all of his or her competition.

A buy-in fee is also listed for each tournament, and this will usually take the form of two numbers (for example, $150 + $5). The first number is the buy-in, and this amount will be placed in the prize pool. The second number is the fee, and this amount will be kept by PartyPoker. Remember, the higher the buy-in, the larger the prize pool.

Types of PartyPoker Tournaments

There are two categories of tournaments offered at the PartyPoker.com internet card rooms: Scheduled and Sit & Go. Scheduled tournaments have a fixed starting time, while Sit & Go tournaments start as soon as enough players are available. Buy-ins for Sit & Go games start as low as $6. Just take a look at a tournament’s description to see which type it is.

Multi-table Party Poker Tournaments

The most popular type of poker tournament, multi-table games include many participants at a number of tables. As players are eliminated, tables are combined. Eventually, only one table is left. This is the same format used for the famous World Series of Poker Main Event.

Rebuys and Add-Ons

In rebuy tournaments at the Party Poker web cardrooms, you can purchase extra chips during the course of the game. This can only be done before the first break, and you must be at or below your original chip count. The prize pool for a rebuy tournament can really rise, as everyone essentially gets a “do-over.”

Add-ons are initially available during the first break of a tournament, and they are open to all players, regardless of how many chips they have. Other add-ons may be available later in the tournament, but this can vary. Whereas rebuys allow you to get back to your starting number of chips, add-ons allow you to increase your existing chip total.

Many tournaments only allow rebuys, but some permit both. Be sure and check the tournament description before the match begins.

Party Poker Shootout Tournaments

Depending on the number of players involved, a shootout tournament can last between one and four rounds. The action is faster than a standard tournament, and more players will end up getting paid. For these reasons, it’s one of PartyPoker’s most popular styles of tournament.

In rounds one through three, tables are not collapsed, and players will only compete against those at the same table. You will advance if you are one of the remaining three players at your table, and those who move on will receive a portion of the prize pool for that round.

Round four is conducted in the standard multi-table tournament format. Payoffs are based on the number of players who entered the round.

Time-Based Tournaments

Time-based tournaments end after a designated period of time, and they are perfect for players with busy schedules. Available for all poker variations, the top three remaining players will be paid out when the time expires. Tournament lengths include 5, 15, 20, 30, 45 and 60 minutes.

There are also tourneys without a fixed finishing time. Their ending time is randomized, and they may finish up to 10% faster than the posted time. This keeps the players guessing as to how much time is left, and it often leads to some really wild betting down the stretch.

PartyPoker Tournaments Deal Making Options

Sometimes, players at a final table will agree to make a deal and split some of the remaining prize pool (instead of playing out to the bitter end). PartyPoker now offers this option at their site online poker rooms, and it’s available for most real-money, multi-table tournaments. You can tell if this option is available by checking out the tournament description in the Poker Lobby.