Game Formats

OK! If you have been following the poker school up to this point, then you know what “$1-$2 FL Texas Hold'em” is. So far we have studied the limits and the games, but there is additional information in the “$1-$2” part of the game description. $1-$2 not only tells that you that the game has a $1 betting increment on the first two betting rounds and a $2 increment on the subsequent ones, it also tells you that it is a cash game (ring game). And a cash game is not the only game format available.

If it is not a cash game then it is a tournament. A cash game is a cash game (although the number of players can vary), but a tournament can have various structures. In this section four game formats will be presented. First the cash games, and then the three most influential tournament structures:

• Cash Games
• Multi-table Tournaments
• Sit'n'gos
• Satellites

All game formats have their own merits. Depending on your preferences and mood they can all be fun and rewarding.

Pot Limit Poker

Game Formats

Cash Games

Additional Poker School Articles

This is part of a series of articles designed to teach the beginner how to play poker, either "for real" or on the internet. Feel free to keep reading!

1. Poker School Introduction > 2. What is Poker? > 3. The Aim of the Game > 4. Hand Rankings > 5. Betting Rules > 6. Why Play Poker? > 7. From Riverboats to the Internet > 8. What Online Poker Offers > 9. One Hand of Texas Hold'em > 10. Subjects > 11. The Dealer > 12. The Blinds > 13. The Pocket Cards > 14. Betting Before the Flop > 15. The Flop > 16. The Turn > 17. The River > 18. The Showdown > 19. A New Beginning > 20. Basic Strategy > 21. Luck vs Skill > 22. Decisions > 23. The First Two Cards > 24. Categorization of Starting Hands > 25. Phil's Starting Hands > 26. Reading the Flop, Pairs > 27. Reading the Flop, High Cards > 28. Reading the Flop, Suited Connectors > 29. Position > 30. Bluffing > 31. Betting After the Flop > 32. Game Types, Betting Structures and Game Formats > 33. Game Types > 34. Community Card Poker > 35. Stud Poker > 36. Draw Poker > 37. Lowball and Hi-Lo Variations > 38. Betting Structures > 39. Fixed Limit Poker > 40. No Limit Poker > 41. Pot Limit Poker > 42. Game Formats > 43. Cash Games > 44. Multi-Table Tournaments > 45. Sit'n'gos > 46. Satellites