Almost eight times larger in terms of traffic than its nearest poker rival, Pokerstars, is the most impressive global poker room, rightly establishing the standards and guidelines for the worldwide poker online industry. Unlike most of its competitors, its distinguishing characteristic consists in the impressive sit and gos format along with the generous variety of multi table tournaments. The gaming activity within this online poker room stands outside any competition.
When it comes to online poker, Pokerstars is the main reliable source of entertainment. This is mainly for its exhilarating volume: it acquires 20%-40% of the global online gaming business. The provided security standards have a top-notch level, at the same time inserting the check mark as a player friendly software.
Limits
Pokerstars brings not simply a wide array of poker games, but it also fetches different betting formats. It means that every game has a customized betting structure, which involves certain specific limits for the players. Currently, PokerStars provides fixed limit real money poker with the following stakes: 0.02 USD / 0.04 USD – 1000 USD / 2000 USD.
Tournaments
Aside from betting limits, Pokerstars serves as the housing for the various poker tournaments throughout the entire world, bringing the largest prize pools and the largest fields. When being in the middle of the action, all the players start the tournament from the same point and under the same conditions. It means that the same amount of chips is dealt to every player; when a player runs out of chips, he or she is automatically out of the competition. The last player who stands within the tournament is considered to carry the day. For the victory, the winner takes the largest part of the prize pool, while the rest of it is being handed out to the rest of the participants.
Game play
All tournaments have the players assigned randomly at tables, without any pre-established place. If you choose to play in a poker tournament at PokerStars, then be prepared to face the position you are assigned.
When the action is in your hands, you can choose between the three options: “call”, “raise” or “fold” (additional two options are available: “check” or “bet”). In order to respect the time, you can make the decision within a specific timeframe: 16 – 20 seconds are allowed in accordance with the type of the tournament. If you exceed the time limit, you will be given the chance to benefit of “Time Bank” option. It ensures you with the necessary additional time for a good call.
The section “Info” allows you to discover regular information about the competition, such as: the average stake and the current position. Also, you can discover more information about your own play in the section “Stats”.
If you choose to see details about the game or, in general, the tournament, the most indicated section is Tournament Lobby. There, you can learn information about current blind level, rankings, structure and progress for every single player, along with prize pool payouts and other details concerning the tournament.
Poker Tournament Money
Another distinctive feature that PokerStars offers its players is the Tournament Money system. The used currency is either T$ or T€. In case if you win a seat at any event via one of the satellite tournaments, you can successfully unregister from it, receiving instead T-Money. With it, you can easily choose another preferred tournament, including Sit & Gos, special events and even satellites. At the same time, you should know that T-Money cannot be withdrawn and used as real money. In order to check the balance, you may go and click to “Cashier” window at the Pokerstars lobby.
TYPES OF TOURNAMENTS
Concerning the tournaments’ variety, Pokerstars is popular especially for their overwhelming number and diversity. You may find a short description of the most popular in the list below:
- Multi-Table Tournaments
Within this tournament, players enter the event with the same amount of chips. The main idea is to compete and to gain the chips of rivals, and this happens at the same time as the blinds increase gradually. A player who does not have chips anymore is automatically excluded from the game. A table without players is dubbed a ‘broken’ one; that means that players permanently circulate in order to keep the tables completed. The finalist is considered to be the one who surmounts the rest of players and grabs all the chips at the final table.
- Sit & Go
They are renowned for their specificity: the tournament does not offer a pre-established starting time. This type of tournament begins whenever there are no more seats available at the table.
- Spin & Go
Spin & Go has a very similar structure as the Sit & Go format has, offering the possibility to players to grab a prize pool that is much more impressive than it is in a standard buy-in tournament. The specificity of it lays in its always three-number players that compete for a randomly selected prize pool. You can enjoy such games in diverse buy-ins.
- Satellites
The main benefit of satellites is the free entry tournament prize that allows entering another larger game. This lucky ticket can be obtained if you win the big prize within the respective satellite. Players prefer this kind of tournaments as they ensure a free or less expensive entry to the costly events. As a rule, Pokerstars brings both one-table and multi-table satellites.
- Rebuy Tournaments
This type of tournament allows acquiring more chips even during the ongoing event. Unlike an ordinary tournament when you remain without chips and you are out of the competition, a rebuy event offers the opportunity to get again in the middle of action by buying more chips (with some specific restrictions implied although).
- Steps
If you are willing to gain substantial profit from a small investment, Steps is the most indicated tournament. The initial required amount varies and it can be 7.50 USD, 2.20 EUR or 500 Frequent Player Points (FPP). More you progress on the ladder, the more appealing prizes you get!
- Shootouts
A shootout is the competition that encompasses a multi-table format, but unlike a traditional multi-table tournament, players remain at the same table at which they began playing until the last standing player shows up. The game continues with the winner of the table who moves to the next table, at a ‘superior’ level.
- Heads-Up Tournaments
A Heads-Up tournament, also known as 1-on-1 tournament, has a duel play format. Like shootout tournaments, late registration is not permitted in 1-on-1 tournaments. There are players who are given ‘byes’ label. Usually, they do not take part in the game, as it is necessary to have a number of registered players within the tournament divisible by the power two.
- FREEROLLS
Freerolls, the tournaments with free entry and free cash prizes offered to the winner, are the Pokerstars’ visit card. The global poker room ensures a daily activity with such kind of game formats.
When it comes to prize pool freerolls, winners can reach weekly a cash prize up to 1000 USD. The main requirement that you should respect is downloading the software, after this all you need to do is to create a Pokerstars account. A player does not have to search specifically for a freeroll, as they are included in all poker games, mainly in such as Omaha, Seven Card Stud and Texas Hold’em. From time to time, Pokerstars fetches special formats of freerolls that, if won, bring lastly to the notorious World Series of Poker.
If you decided that freerolls format is mostly what you are looking for, then do not hesitate to access them on pokerstars.com in the “Tournament” section. After pre-selecting the ‘freeroll’ format in the ‘buy-in’ upper compartment, the whole list of free-entry tournaments will appear.
Another way to find the Freeroll tournament you are looking for, is to access the Pokerstars software and run the tournament ID or the related keyword in the Search option you can find on Tools.
You should know that from now on, BET-IBC sponsors Freerolls on PokerStars. Stay tuned, you will discover more great opportunities with us!