MTTs (multi-table tournaments) are probably the ultimate test of a competitive poker player’s skills: deep pockets make no difference, which is why typically, only the very best players make it all the way. 

The MTT format is specifically designed to ensure that all competitors have an equal opportunity to reach the final table, but making it through the various stages and into the money demands a high level of strategy and skill. Luckily, you can gain that edge if you put in the hours by playing multi-table online poker tournaments. Let’s take a look at what makes this form of poker so unique and attractive to so many players.

What is an MTT Poker Tournament?

MTTs are live or online poker tournaments that attract enough entrants to fill multiple tables. The world’s biggest MTT is the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event, which annually attracts thousands of players who buy in for $10,000 and play for millions of dollars. Large online poker events can offer a range of buy-ins and have, at times, attracted hundreds of thousands of players.

How do MTTs work? Players pay a buy-in and fee to enter and compete for a piece of the tournament prize pool. Each player receives a pre-set amount of chips, after which play proceeds according to standard rules. 

Among the primary types of poker tournaments, multi-table No Limit Hold’em events are the most popular, which has been the case since the poker boom of the early 2000s. There are many poker tournament formats, such as knockouts, bounties, reentries, freezeouts, and turbos, that give players many choices when playing poker online. 

How Multi-Table Poker Tournaments are Structured

Players begin a multi-table tournament with a predetermined set number of chips as detailed in the tournament’s structure. They will then need to accumulate chips to stay in the event as blind levels increase. The levels indicate the small and big blinds for each level, as well as the duration of each level. Based on player preferences, they choose the best online poker game to play after comparing poker tournament chip structures to blind levels.  

MTTs will typically move through stages: from the early stage, where the blinds are low compared to the size of players’ starting stacks, to a middle stage where the blinds increase, and antes are introduced, and finally through to the bubble stage, where players start competing for actual money. Typically, 10-15% of players will end up “in the money” in an MTT. Tables merge as players are eliminated until the last nine survivors meet at the final table. The ultimate victor is the player who collects all the chips and receives the largest portion of the prize money.

Buy-Ins, Starting Stacks, Rebuys and Re-entries, and Prize Pools

The array of MTTs available live and online is vast, with each offering a range of buy-ins, starting stacks, rebuys, and re-entries, and prize pools.

Buy-Ins

Buy-ins for live tournaments can range from $100 to $10,000, while high-stakes players can compete in MTTs with buy-ins as high as $100,000 or more. Poker online offers many more options, especially for micro-stakes and low-stakes players. For example, BetMGM Poker offers daily poker tournament buy-ins for as little as $5 and $10. 

Starting Stacks

When you enter a tournament, you receive a starting stack of chips equal to that of every other player. The chips have denominational value (as shown on each chip and represented by different colors) but no actual dollar value. If you pay $200 to play a tournament, you might receive 20,000 worth of chips representing “tournament dollars.” Of course, the goal is always to win others’ chips and ultimately be the last one in the tournament with all of the chips.

Rebuys and Re-entries

While all players receive the same starting stack when entering a tournament, many events now offer rebuys or re-entries. This means that busting from the tournament within the registration period, which could be hours or even days, provides an opportunity to buy back in. There are key differences between rebuys and reentries, however.

Rebuys offer the chance to pay the buy-in again without any tournament fees and without having to go through the registration process again. In a rebuy tournament, a player who busts can simply request a rebuy without leaving their seat. Rebuys often come with optional add-ons, an extra payment that can be made to obtain extra chips.

Reentries require the player to exit the tournament when they lose all their chips. They must then pay the buy-in and fees again to obtain a new starting stack, receive a new seat assignment, and start playing again. 

Rebuys and add-ons in poker tournaments were much more common before reentries became popular within the past decade.

Prize Pools

Prize pools are determined when the registration period ends. All entries and reentries (or rebuys and add-ons) are calculated, and the tournament staff or online poker site will announce the final prize pool. Based on the structure sheet for that event, the prize pool will then be allocated for the final 10% or 15% of the field.

Table Balancing and Player Elimination

When a tournament begins, the staff or the online poker platform fills the seats at the tables. As players then bust out of the tournament, the tables must be balanced to keep the action going. 

For example, if all of the tables start eight-handed, the goal is to keep eight players per table, or as close to that as possible. If two players bust from one table and two new players register late, they will fill that table. This requires an algorithm or skilled staff members in a live poker room to keep the tables balanced.

Player elimination in poker tournaments is the most difficult for staff in the beginning stages of the event. Still, it becomes a bit easier when registration closes, and the goal is solely to consolidate as the field thins out. It’s also very important as the money bubble approaches, and it speeds up after that bubble as people bust more quickly and cash out. Players often go with the flow, while the balancing act happens behind the scenes.

Stages of an MTT Poker Tournament

There are several stages to every poker tournament. The early stage is often a slow period, as players enter and/or re-enter, and the middle stage is when registration closes, and players begin to work toward the money bubble. The early and middle stages of poker tournaments can require patience and more strategy to navigate the large fields. The bubble stage brings money into the picture, and the final stage then brings those who can survive to the final table. Let’s look at each stage a little more closely.

Early Tournament Stages

The early stage of a tournament is its beginning, as players register, possibly rebuy or re-enter, or jump in via late registration. The tournament takes shape, and the prize pool forms.

Blinds are often low in the early stages, giving players room to get comfortable, size up their opponents, and try to build their stacks or bust early. Play is often cautious for many competitors, especially in low-stakes poker tournaments. 

Middle Tournament Stage

The middle stage of a tournament is typically when registration closes, antes add up as blind levels increase, and building a sizable stack of chips becomes more important. Few players coast at this point. They either wield their larger stacks to put shorter-stacked opponents to big decisions, or they make key decisions with their shorter stacks to double up as the money bubble nears. Poker blinds and antes dictate play more during the middle stage than in the early stage, and strategies become vital to make the money.

The Bubble Stage

You paid your buy-in (more than one if you re-entered), and it would be beneficial to make that money back. The only way to do this is to make the money. This means to survive in the tournament long enough to get through the bubble and be guaranteed a payout for your hours of work. 

The bubble factor in poker often prompts players to slow down. Again, players with larger stacks will often use that to their advantage, betting and raising to push players with smaller stacks to decisions for their tournament lives. Meanwhile, those with smaller stacks often tighten up, playing fewer hands in the hopes of surviving the poker tournament bubble. 

Final Table Play

When the money bubble bursts in a tournament, play often speeds up, as short-stacked players risk it all to double their stacks or take a minimum payout, often referred to as a min-cash. For some players, each money jump matters, though all players want to make the final table.

Final table stages in poker tournaments can play out in a variety of ways, depending on the stack sizes and the players themselves. Shorter stacks might move all-in early in final table play and bust out, though a few double-ups can change the entire dynamic of the table. Strategy becomes vitally important at this point, and it should change with every player elimination. Ultimately, the goal is to play heads-up against one last opponent and win the tournament.

How Stack Size Impacts Play in MTTs

An unavoidable part of playing a tournament is considering how stack size affects poker strategy. If your chip stack is 100 times the big blind (100bb), then you’re comfortably deep stacked. Blinds and antes aren’t much of a concern, so you don’t have to try to steal them before the flop. Instead, you can wreak havoc on loose players with a tight, aggressive play style until you’re on the bubble. At this point, your deep stack will allow you to steal chips with loose-aggressive play.

If you have a medium stack (50bb), you must be more selective with your spots. You’ll want to play looser than when you’re deep-stacked and raise a reasonably wide range of hands. Don’t go head-to-head with deep-stacked players; try to take chips from short-stacked players as you approach the bubble and then again as you approach the final table.

When your stack is short (25bb or less), you’re in dangerous waters. With blinds and antes biting into your short stack, you don’t have the luxury of playing tight. A conventional poker tournament tip is to go all-in or fold. Stealing blinds and antes is a great way to grow your stack back, so be prepared to raise aggressively from a late position.

Since chips are the currency in a poker tournament, different stack sizes in poker tournaments should play a significant role in your strategy.

Are MTT Poker Tournaments Worth Playing? 

Some poker players love MTTs, while others avoid them. Choosing to focus on tournaments vs cash games helps some players hone their strategy more specifically, though many players find ways to balance dabbling in both. 

As for MTTs, they can offer huge rewards for successful players, with large cash prizes for players who make the money and run deep. Even low-stakes live poker online tournaments can see you winning 100-500 times your buy-in, which is an excellent return on investment. There are also many opportunities to play a plethora of MTTs online at micro and low stakes, for which there are many educational courses and training materials available with tips for multi-table tournaments. Gaining experience and developing your strategy can be beneficial in the long run.

On the flip side, MTTs take a long time to complete, averaging 5-8 hours and often longer (sometimes days in live events), depending on the number of players. This requires a lot of mental preparation for long poker sessions. Also, only 10-15% of players will make the money, so you’ll often compete for no reward. As a result, MTT players have to be tough-minded and resilient. If you’re really determined to succeed, you may want to consider hiring a poker coach.

Play MTT Poker Tournaments at BetMGM

Keen for some great MTT action? Want to try some low-stakes MTTs to see how it goes? Register now to play online poker tournaments at BetMGM  any time of the day or night. There are many Texas Hold’em and Omaha poker games daily and weekly, with buy-ins to suit your budget and skill level, so start trying multi-table tournaments today.

Play Poker Online at BetMGM

Whether you choose MTTs or cash games, and no matter the poker variant or game format, you can play poker with real money legally at BetMGM Poker. Just be sure to utilize the exclusive online poker welcome bonus when you make your first deposit, as it allows you to build your starting bankroll through the match bonus.