Online Tournaments

The questions and answers about tournaments online.

1. Are these multi-table tournaments safe?
2. What is a STT?
3. What is a freeroll tournament?
4. What happens if the site crashes during an online tournament?
5. What is a guaranteed poker tournament?
6. What happens when you sit out?
7. What sites host Pot Limit Omaha freerolls?
8. How many players can play in a Sit'n'Go?
9. What happens when I am disconnected during an online tournament?

1. Are these multi-table tournaments safe?

   Absolutely. Many worry about cash games where two people may be working together on the table. While every online site has software in place to detect this and to flag whenever people play together often, in a tournament seating is random. Not only is your starting seat random, but throughout the event you'll find yourself moved amongst a lot of different tables as they make sure every table is filled (or close to filled).

2. What is a STT?

   STT is an abbreviation for "Single Table Tournament." This is usually a one table Sit'n'Go tournament. STT is more precise term for 1 table tournament, because SNGs have become more complicated recently.

3. What is a freeroll tournament?

   Freeroll (sometimes it is spelled free roll) is a tournament where the buy-in and tournament fee is $0.

   The prize pool of the freeroll is guaranteed by the poker room. It cannot be bigger or smaller because add-ons or rebuys are not available.

   In most cases poker rooms allow only real money players (players who have made a deposit) to participate in freerolls. However, PokerNews does occasionally host freerolls for play money players. Qualification requirements differ from room to room and may include a raked hand or points requirement to receive full eligibility.

   We recommend you read the full details prior to participating in any freeroll promotion.

4. What happens if the site crashes during an online tournament?

   Site crashes are extremely rare, but they will happen every so often to any site.

   In the event of a crash, don't worry, you won't be out any money -- and they'll decide what to do in a timely fashion with all those left in the tournament.

   For more details, check the FAQ on your site's tournament question sheet, as there are variations from site to site.

5. What is a guaranteed poker tournament?

   Guaranteed poker tournaments usually have a guaranteed prize pool, for example $2000 guaranteed. Some rooms make add-ons applicable, so there is a possibility to buy chips (unlimited buy before 1st break; one buy during 2nd break no matter how many chips the player has). The money for add-ons goes to the prize pool, so if there are more buy-ins than guaranteed prize pool, the total money pool increases according to the add-ons amount. This is very good, because winners recieve more than stated before the tournament starts.

6. What happens when you sit out?

   In a non-tournament setting, you can sit out for a few minutes and not lose any money. After a time, if you sit out for too long, your funds will be taken off the table, credited to your account, and when you come back to your screen, you'll find that you're just in the lobby again.

   However, in a tournament, if you sit out, your blinds will still be taken and your chips will gradually diminish. Even if you're in the big blind and no one raises, you cannot win the hand, even if it gets checked down. So you should wait for the scheduled breaks if you're making a bathroom trip or want to grab a sandwich out of the 'fridge.

7. What sites host Pot Limit Omaha freerolls?

   Pot Limit Omaha is not as popular as Texas Hold 'em, but there are freerolls for it: Titan Poker and Noble Poker host $500 Pot Limit Omaha freerolls every Saturday.

   Please see the additional information in our freeroll tournaments page.

8. How many players can play in a Sit'n'Go?

   Usually there are two types of SNGs:
   1. 6 player SNG - 6 players
   2. 10 player SNG - 10 players

   There are exeptions. Noble Poker have a 12 player Sit'n'Go which is called "Dirty Dozen SNG". It is played at 2 six player tables. So poker rooms may set 18 player SNG or even 20 player SNG. The main principle of a Sit'n'Go remains the same - the tournament starts when required number of players register to the table or tables.

9. What happens when I am disconnected during an online tournament?

   When you are disconnected because of an internet connection or leave the online tournament yourself because of any reason you are set to Sit-out mode. That means you are still in the tournament and blinds are counted from you until you lose all the chips.

   This means sometimes you can win if you have lots of chips and there are not so many players.

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