Are you new to the poker scene and unsure what online tournaments are all about? If so, you’ve come to the right place. Read on for more information regarding online poker tournaments, the best sites to find them, and the great software you can use to beat them.

Tournament Options

Online poker tournaments come in two general varieties, Multi-Table Tournaments (MTTs) and Sit and Gos (SNGs). MTTs can range anywhere from 100 to 10,000 entrants and $1 to $2,500 in buy-in. Prize pool dispersion varies depending on the site, but most MTTs pay between 18% and 25% of the field, with the winner usually getting 13% to 20%.  In order to play MTTs, you need to have a large block of time set aside because tournaments – especially ones with over 1,000 entrants – can take up to eight hours to complete.

SNGs, on the other hand, actually come in two sub-categories, Single-Table Tournaments (STTs) and Multi-Table Tournaments (MTTs) SNGs. SNGs were popularized, and formerly exclusive to, STTs, which are two, six, or nine-man tournaments. These SNGs are relatively quick and, therefore, extremely convenient for time-constrained players. Alternatively, many people – especially those uninhibited by time – have managed to make a decent living by grinding STTs.  So, whether you plan on playing recreationally or full-time, SNGs could be for you. MTT SNGs are, by nature, a combination of MTTs and SNGs; you get the larger field size and prize pool associated with an MTT, but a much shorter run-time than standard MTTs. Over the last few years, MTT SNGs have grown in popularity, mainly because they are less robotic and more fun than STT SNGs.

Places to Play

In terms of the best sites to play MTTs and SNGs on, there really is no contest. PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker dominate the online poker tournament scene and you can’t go wrong with either one, or better yet, both. Each site has its own flagship tournament. PokerStars features the Sunday Million, while Full Tilt runs the $750,000 Guaranteed. Both guarantee life-changing money to players who make the final table. If you’re just after some smaller stakes tournaments or sit and gos, that’s fine too. Both PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker have a slate of daily guaranteed tournaments that range from $1 to $200, including nightly $55 tournaments on both sites that usually end up paying out over $10,000 to the winner. The two sites run freeze-outs, rebuy, six-max, and heads-up tournaments nightly. Both sites have also started to feature Omaha tournaments more prominently and will likely further that trend in the future. STT SNGs of every imaginable level run constantly on both PokerStars and Full Tilt,and there are also many MTT SNG options, such as $22 180-man SNGs on PokerStars and 90 or 45-man SNGs on Full Tilt Poker. If you don't currently play on PokerStars or Full Tilt, download Stars through our links and get free software, or download Full Tilt Poker and start getting rakeback immediately!

Helpful Software

Where does PokerSoftware.com fit in? If you’re going to be playing online poker tournaments, we’ve got software that can help you become a winning player,or even elevate your game if you’re already successful. The most essential poker tool for tournament players is tracking software, more specifically, Holdem Manager or PokerTracker. These programs can help you keep track of all hands you play, compile data on your opponents, and provide you with useful features like a Heads-Up Display (HUD) for real-time stats and a replayer for hand review. Another must-have piece of software for tournament grinders is Tournament Shark, a program that attaches itself to your tables and displays relevant statistics on all of your opponents, such as where they typically finish and how often they play.

For beginning players who aren’t ready to jump into something so in-depth and complicated, Poker Push Bot provides the perfect middle ground. Another necessary tool for all poker players,and one that’s absolutely free is PokerTableRatings.com. At PokerTableRatings, you can search for information on any one of your opponents and get a clearer picture of how and what they usually play. For players who strictly play SNGs, SNG Wizard is a piece of software that can make you a profitable player overnight.

For more information on all of our tournament poker software and how it can help you, visit our Recommended Software page for details.