Satellite Poker Strategy

There are literally hundreds of satellite poker tournaments available to online poker players but yet you see so little actual satellite poker strategy. Players actually overlook the value on offer in satellite poker tournaments and disregard the benefits of qualifying and playing in poker tournaments that are out of their current bankrolls. Not to mention the fact that satellites usually have good value on offer and are full of donks trying to get rich quick!

There is one major difference between regular multi table tournaments and satellite poker if you only learn one thing about satellite poker strategy then it should be this. Satellites pay out on a flat structure and regular MTT’s are always top heavy. This means that finishing first become irrelevant in a satellite tournament because players that cash all get paid the same. There are many times in a satellite tournament when the best strategy is to fold every single hand your are dealt, yes even pocket aces, to ensure you win your seat. You only aim is to qualify for the next tournament, winning the tournament is totally irrelevant.

Early on in satellite poker tournaments you are going to find that your table has two types of players, serious players and donks. Serious players are actually trying to win a seat by playing good poker, donks on the other hand are keen to gamble early on and are simply taking a shot at big money. Taking the get chips or get out attitude is actually more incorrect in a satellite than ever. Your aim is to qualify not to win the tournament. Yes accumulating chips early will give you a chance of making the money but your tournament life is more important in satellites than in a regular MTT.

Towards the bubble is the most important time in any satellite tournament and is also one of the times when most players get their satellite poker strategy wrong. Folding solidly for 6 orbits might get you into the money but there is no crime worse than blinding down and being forced to go all in. Remember everyone in the tournament is hanging on at this stage and you can exploit this. Aggression is key, use it to maintain your stack. Don’t go mental but identify the players at the table who are playing way to tight and exploit them, then identify the players who are trying to exploit the tight players and exploit them as well! Do not let yourself get blinded down to the point in which your preflop shove has no fold equity.

Don’t overlook the opportunities on offer in satellite poker tournaments. They are a great way to get experience in higher buy in tournaments. The EPT satellites or UKIPT satellites on Pokerstars are well worth a look if you fancy trying to qualify for some live poker tournaments. If online poker is more your thing then you can qualify for some of the biggest poker tournaments on the net at pokerstars as well.