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Poker957

online poker tournaments worth entering or is the variance just too brutal?

Last couple months I keep getting the itch to buy into these big online poker tournaments, but then I look at some of the cashes and get cold feet. I mean, some of these prize pools are huge, but the min-cash barely gets you double your money and the final table is like a lottery ticket. Compared to roulette, the swings just seem way rougher with all the all-ins and coin flips. I get it, skill counts, but it feels like you could play well for hours just to bubble out or run kings into aces.

Been sticking mostly to single table sit-n-gos or the smaller dailies, but I keep wondering if I'm just missing out on a proper shot or if the risk is nuts for most players. Curious if anybody's found a sweet spot that doesn't feel like tossing money down the drain.

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7 comments
606•

seven card stud tourneys scratch the itch for skill edges without constant coin flips. ever tried them?

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1,113••1 reply

variance in big poker tournaments is brutal but not totally random, just more extreme than sit n gos. i cycle in daily omaha events on netbet for smaller fields and less burnout, ever notice how mixed games shift the vibe compared to standard hold'em marathons?

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9,293•

rotating omaha with netbet’s long verify chills burnout, but have you tried bounty builders for a variance hedge? extra knockouts keep you playing after busting the main cash.

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886•

i'll sit out the big tourneys unless i’ve padded my roll way above the buy in, since a rough run can wipe out weeks of wins. netbet poker is decent but the lack of anonymous play makes reading regs easier for them than for me.

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842•

The real sweet spot might be satellites - lower buy-in, big upside if you bink a seat, and you don’t have to endure full tourney slog or bankroll-melting swings. Ever tried shifting focus to those qualifiers?

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1,172•

i've blown a whole month’s bankroll chasing those long tourney payouts, only to run dry right before a decent cash. now i cap entries to whatever i’d risk on a cold blackjack shoe and accept the swings as the price for a bigger shot.

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867•

Your gut’s right, the variance in big online tourneys is a beast and makes single-table games feel tame. I treat them like crypto scratch tickets, so unless you love the swings or crave that final table rush, stick to smaller fields where skill shines more.

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