Shootout tournaments

Shootouts are a special type of poker tournaments designed to increase the adrenaline and the poker experience. Shootout tournaments are tougher than regular Sit and Goes and are suitable for strong players who like to play for the win.

In a classic multi-table tournament, the players are distributed to the tables, and when some of them are eliminated players get moved to other tables to fill their places, and some of the initial tables are closed. This way it is ensured that all the active tables are full, and in time the number of tables diminishes until there is only one table left: the final table. In such a tournament, a player can make it to the final table without even eliminating a single player, if he constantly grinds chips from his opponents as the blinds raise.

A shootout tournament is totally different. The players are distributed to the initial tables, and will have to play at the same table until they get eliminated or they win their table. Each table is like a single table tournament where the winner qualifies for the next stage, while the others are eliminated. The next stage is started only when all the tables from the initial stage are finished. In such tournaments only those who make it to the final table will get paid, and the winner will get a large share of the prize pool.

Most shootout tournaments are either Double Shootouts or Triple Shootouts. A double shootout has two stages, so those who win their first table qualify to the final table. For example, in a 100 players tournament, the players are divided to 10 tables of 10 players each. Those who win their tables qualify for the final table, and they all get a prize. A triple shootout has three stages. If a tourney has 216 players, the first round consists of 36 tables of 6 players each, the winners qualify to the second stage where they play at 6 tables (6 players / table), and those who win the second stage will qualify to the final table. If the tournament is not filled to its maximum capacity, there will be tables in the first round with one player more than others.

There are many varieties of shootout tournaments. Some of them employ tables of 10, 9, 6 or 4 players, while others may have different qualifying criteria. For example, in some shootout tournaments from Carbon Poker the first three players from a 10 players table qualify for the next round.

These kinds of tournaments are very tough compared to classic Sit and Goes because you must take out your opponents in order to qualify to the final table. You can’t wait for your opponents to be eliminated hoping to catch a paying position. If only the table winner qualifies he must gather all the chips from his table. To be able to get paid in such tournament you must win a smaller tournament, which includes eliminating opponents and facing a heads-up.

Another unique feature of the shootouts is the fact that the players from the final table start with the same amount of chips, having equal chances. In regular tournaments the final table starts with different stack sizes according to the past tables action.

Not all the poker rooms feature such tournaments, but you will certainly find them at Poker Stars, Carbon Poker or Party Poker.