Poker is becoming a widely played sport these days. In each of these poker tournaments the winners are decided by playing a particular style of poker. Primarily these tournaments can be open or invitational. Of all these tournaments the most esteemed is the $10,000 buy-in no limit Texas Hold 'Em tournament, the main event of the World Series of Poker falls under the open category of poker tournament.

Again there are single table tournaments and multi table tournaments. In multi-table tournaments players play at more than on table, is it tow or twenty or even two hundred. The best entry point to gain entry to a major poker even without depositing a major amount of money is the satellite tournaments to high-range, costly poker tournaments. The buy-ins for these games are very less – almost just one-tenth to one-fiftieth of the buy in of the main tournament. The other major advantage is that these tournaments can be conducted anywhere or everywhere or even online. The winners or top listed players in this tournament are awarded entry into the main tournament instead of cash prizes – more or less a wild card entry in certain other sports. We need to make special mention of Chris Moneymaker here. He was the 2003 World Series of Poker Main Event champion and had gained entry into the actual tournament by winning one of the online Tournaments and his buy-in was a surprisingly low $39 buy-in. In 2004, Greg Raymer, won the World Series of Poker championships, through the seat he got while winning a $165 online poker tournament.

In a single-table tournament or an STT, there are certain numbers of places assigned to a particular table and play at that table starts when the specified numbers of players are ready and have taken their positions. Because these games start off when all their players are seated, these games are fondly referred to as sit and go tournaments.
Rankings in poker tournaments are always in the reverse Players are ranked in reverse sequential line up. The person finishing last comes first and so on and so forth. Because of this tie-ups that occur in most of the other games are ruled out in poker tournaments. When prizes are awarded, the house can use either the fixed or proportional method to distribute this prize money. In fixed method the first, second and third ranked players get a certain fixed amount of pay off whereas in proportional payouts, there is a certain percentage of the total amount that is paid out. In the latter type of payouts, if there is more number of participants, then the prize money increases.

Now that we are done with the various forms of poker, let’s stray our attention to the various forms of poker that are played in tournaments. For improved returns, there is always a good mix of various games – HORSE stands out among the lot and is a combination of Hold’em, Omaha, Razz, Stud and Stud Eight. It is history that at least one type of stud or community card poker game has a marked place in each and every poker tournaments.
Another form of poker that needs special mention is the game of sit and go. This game starts off when all its players are seated and hence they are called sit and go. They begin the games when a particular number of players register and then it becomes a regular poker tournament where the usual rules and regulations are followed. Blinds and antes increase for every fifteen minutes in usual sit and go tournaments and not like other cash games. Freeze outs are those sit and go tournaments that provides first prize as money. Rest of the tournaments normally heads on one on one and never increases the blinds. It stays the same throughout the complete tournament, ensuring most skilled play to be prized in the continuing games.

Unlike any other game like cricket or baseball, poker does not need a properly infra structured venue. You can play poker in a casino or college campus or even over the sea – Surprised! Don’t be – because it is a fact that the World Series of Poker games in 2005 and 2006 were played over the sea at the Rio Hotel in Las Vegas

The most initial games to be conducted somewhere external to the Binion's Horseshoe Casino where the 2005 World Series of Poker games. The last days of the primary event were however held in the historic Benny's Bullpen. For tournaments that were played at various later stages, either of the Harrah's Entertainment properties served as the venue, but since 2005, the venue has been the Rio. Across the continent of Europe, the most celebrated is the WSOP Europe which had its genesis in 2007. Annette Obrestad had the pride to become the first ever winner of the same. Betfair has offered to sponsor the WSOP Europe games till 2011. Other tournaments that are broadcasted by the World Poker Tour include various tournaments with buy-ins starting anywhere from $ 5,000 to $25,000 all across US and the Caribbean. Of these various events, some that need special mention because of the fact that they stand alone is the Caribbean Poker Adventure. However, most of these tournaments are held in combination with tournaments that are being conducted at the casino which is the host like the Commerce Casino's LA Poker Classic, the Grand Sierra's World Poker Challenge and the Bicycle Casino's Legends of Poker.

While talking of tournaments, the two of the most prestigious are the World Poker Tour championship event and the World Series of Poker. These are both conducted in the flamboyant city of Nevada in Las Vegas. These games have been The World Series has been conventionally broadcasted over the ESPN Channel dedicated to games.
The other games that have been broadcasted on ESPN include The United States Poker Championship at the Trump Taj Mahal casino.