Event types
Flagship main events
High buy-ins over three to five days. Requires time off and a plan for stamina.
Series side events
Lower buy-ins, one or two days — where most live experience is actually accumulated.
Satellites
Online or on-site, converting a small buy-in into a main-event seat.
Japanese amusement rooms
A legal non-cash-prize format. Japan guide →
Three routes to a seat
| Route | Cost | Certainty | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Direct registration | Full buy-in | 100% | Fixed budget and fixed dates |
| Online satellites | One tenth to one fiftieth of the buy-in | Low — you must qualify | Flexible schedules, cost-conscious players |
| ClubGG free events | Zero | Very low | Players trading time for a chance |
← swipe the table →
Treat satellite buy-ins as instalments on the entry fee. Ten failed $20 satellites is $200 spent with no seat. Set a ceiling — “once I have spent 50% of the buy-in, I register directly” — and stick to it.
Budgeting properly
A workable rule of thumb: total budget = buy-in × 2.5 for overseas events, or × 1.4 locally.
| Item | Share | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Buy-in | About 40% | The main event entry |
| Flights | About 20% | Seasonal swings are large |
| Accommodation | About 20% | Hotels raise rates during the series |
| Food and transport | About 10% | Several days of meals adds up |
| Buffer and side events | About 10% | Your plan for busting on day one |
← swipe the table →
Structural illustration, not a quotation. Actual proportions vary by destination and travel style.
Budget only the buy-in, bust on day one, then register three side events on the spot — and end up spending double the plan. Budget the side events before you leave, with a hard ceiling.
Preparing for your first event
Pre-event checklist 0 / 8
Etiquette and rule differences
- Single motion. Put a raise out in one movement; two trips to the pot is ruled a call.
- Verbal is binding. Say “raise” and you have raised, whatever chips you then push.
- Protect your hand. Without a card cover, a hand swept by the dealer is dead, with no appeal.
- Do not discuss a live hand. Even after folding — this is a serious breach.
- Act in turn. Signalling your intention early affects other players and earns a warning.
Online, the interface prevents every illegal action. Live, nothing does. Act slightly slower, push chips cleanly, declare audibly — those three habits prevent nine out of ten newcomer disputes.
Online satellites are the cheapest way in
Find out which online qualification routes exist for the event you want and cut the cost by an order of magnitude.
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Frequently asked questions
How does live poker differ from online?
The pace is much slower — around 25–30 hands an hour against 70–90 on a single online table — and there is a whole extra information channel in physical behaviour. Mistakes also cannot be undone. The classic problem for strong online players at their first live event is doing too much with a slow clock.
What budget do I need?
The buy-in is one line item among several. The real cost is buy-in plus flights, accommodation, food, visas and possible re-entries. For overseas events, non-buy-in spending frequently exceeds the buy-in itself. Japan cost estimate →
Where should a first-timer start?
A small local event. Get used to dealer rhythm, betting declarations and chip handling before travelling. Flying straight to a large main event means spending half your attention on the environment.
Can online satellites win live seats?
Yes — multi-stage satellites are the mainstream route and cost a fraction of direct registration. The strategy is quite different from a normal tournament. Satellite strategy →
Where do I check the schedule?
The official event calendar and the in-client tournament page. We do not publish specific dates because live schedules change often, and stale information is worse than none.
Do I need to speak English?
Basic table vocabulary is enough: call, raise, fold, all in, check. Dealers at international events routinely handle non-native speakers. What matters is pushing chips out cleanly and declaring clearly.