What Are Multi Table Tournaments?

The word “multi tables” reminds one of mega poker events of international repute such as the World Poker Tour (WPT) and the World Series of Poker (WSOP).

Though multi table tournament offer high poker action for hours altogether, not many poker players participate in them because they present a number of challenges. In spite of this, multi table tournaments occupy a special place in the hearts of poker players.

How Multi Table Tournaments Work

Multi table tournaments accept a large number of players—anywhere between 11 and 5,000. The prize structure depends entirely on the buy-in, the number of players, the policies of the poker site that organizes the multi table tournament, and the type of multi table tournament.

The rules of a multi table tournament are similar to the rules of a Sit ‘N’ Go or a single table tournament (STT). The only difference is that Sit ‘N’ Go’s are shorter in duration while multi table tournaments last for several hours. Players have to buy-in to the event for a specific amount. On gaining entry to the tournament in this manner, players will receive an equal number of chips and be seated at as many tables as the number of players demands.

During the course of the multi table tournament, players get knocked off the tables and the survivors are reseated to ensure equal number of players at each table. All this means that a multi table tournament might take several hours or even days to reach its final stages. Only a few players who finish at the top get to share the prize pool.

Multi table tournaments have 2 unique features - table mergers and breaks. Table mergers are nothing but reseating surviving players in such a way so as to ensure equal number of players at each table. Breaks, as their name suggests, are just short breaks permitting players to take a breath of fresh air, fetch a drink, and visit the bathroom, and so on. How often players get breaks depends on the poker site and the nature of the tournament. Usually, a break is given every hour for around 5 minutes.

Disadvantages of Multi Table Tournaments

Unlike single table tournaments, multi table tournaments don’t fetch poker players their bread and butter. In other words, multi table tournaments are not that popular among people who gamble for a living. They cannot be considered as a way to earn a regular income simply because, owing to the large number of players at a multi table tournament, only a small fraction of the participants make any money. Many people play poker as a hobby and simply do not have the time to play a multi table tournament that might stretch on for days. In spite of this, poker players still love them and consider them great as an occasional treat.

Winning Multi Table Tournaments

First, players should learn to become survivors. Making it to the final tables is a must in multi table tournaments, and players can do this only if they adopt an aggressive style of play. The element of luck is very important in case of multi table tournaments, however, excellent poker skills, experience, and knowledge of strategies is equally important.

Since players’ chief goal is to separate opponents from their chips, they can afford to play loose only in the early stages of a multi table tournament when the blinds are small. When the blinds get bigger in the later stages of the tournament, players must get aggressive.

Multi table tournaments are very exciting and provide non stop poker action for hours. But players are advised not to be in a hurry to participate in one of them. First, players ought to hone their skills by playing a variety of Sit ‘N’ Go’s. This will give them the expertise they require to play multi table tournaments.

Finally, players should participate only if they have enough time on their hands. It would be a disaster if a player is forced to quit and leave on account of time constraints just as he/she has reached the final table.