PokerStars is excited to host the best multi-table online poker tournaments and poker satellites anywhere on the Internet! Poker tournaments are elimination games that are played until one player has all the chips. Prizes are distributed based on the number of entrants.
For basic information about playing in our online poker tournaments, see about poker tournaments.
Before registering in one of our poker tournaments, please take a moment to look over our poker tournament rules.
Playing in a PokerStars Tournament
To play in a poker tournament, select the "Tourney" tab from the main PokerStars lobby. If you select any tournament in this tab, you will see information about this tournament in the information box at the right. Under the State column, look for a tournament which has a state of "Registering".
You will find the details of each poker tournament game, such as game type (Texas Holdem, Omaha, Stud), structure (limit, no limit, pot limit), and buy-in are listed beside the state column. Double-click on a tournament in "Registering" state or click on the "Tournament Lobby" button and this opens the tournament lobby. Click the Register button, and log-in if you have not already done so. The software will confirm your registration. You may take your seat by selecting the "Take your seat" button. Check the tournament lobby screen for registration and seat times.
Online Tournament Lobby at PokerStars
Note that for all poker tournaments and multi-table satellites, players are all assigned random table seats when tournament play begins. This is a counter-measure designed to prevent collusion. As is customary in poker tournaments, seat changes are not allowed. The button in Texas Hold'em and Omaha tournaments will be assigned to Seat 1.
As in a regular poker game, when it is your turn to act, you may check, bet, raise, call or fold (where applicable). You will notice another button called "Time Bank" when it is your turn to act, shown after you receive a time warning in the chat window. The Time Bank allows players extra time to decide on a course of action during a tournament, and will slowly deplete as it is used throughout the tournament.
Another way in which the PokerStars tournament interface varies from the side-game interface is the "Info" tab on the chat box. This tab gives your current position in the tournament, as well as the highest, lowest, and average stacks for remaining players. The Info tab also tells you how much time is left in your Time Bank. The "Stats" tab provides statistical information about your play during the current poker tournament.
Tournament Lobby Screen
At any point during the tournament, players can check the tournament lobby screen for information about the current progress of the tournament. The lobby will show the current limit level for the tournament, information about players' stack sizes, and the breakdown of the prize pool. A good poker tournament tip is to check the lobby fairly often, so keep an eye on your progress.
Also in the tournament lobby is a player search function. The tournament lobby lists all players, and double-clicking on any player's User ID (nickname), or clicking on the "Player info" button, will give you current tournament information for that player.
After the poker tournament, the winners will receive an e-mail that provides comprehensive information about the tournament. Anyone can request a tournament history at any time after the tournament conclusion by going to the main lobby and selecting "Tournament History" from the Request menu. Final information for each completed tournament will remain in the lobby for a few hours after the tournament conclusion.
Specific prize money breakdown will be shown after the registration is closed.
Viewing a Poker Tournament or Table in Play
A player in a poker tournament can observe any other table by double-clicking on that table in the tournament lobby's table list, or clicking the "Observe Table" button. Players who are not participants may also observe any table of a tournament.
Poker Tournament Dollars (T$) - PokerStars Exclusive
As the world's largest online poker tournament site, PokerStars is proud to offer a unique Tournament Dollar system. When you qualify to any event through a satellite (excluding the W Dollars events discussed below), you have the option to unregister from the target event and receive Tournament Dollars. These Tournament Dollars can be used to register in any other PokerStars tournament, including Sit & Gos, and satellites. If you win multiple seats to the same target event, the value of these seats will be automatically credited to your Tournament Dollar account. Tournament Dollars differ from real money, because they cannot be used in real money games - only for buying into poker tournaments.
Many events will not allow you to unregister until one hour prior to the event. In that case, you may email PokerStars support at support@pokerstars.com to have us unregister you immediately. Please include your User ID, and the tournament number you wish to be unregistered from.
To check your Tournament Dollar balance at anytime, please visit the cashier window through the lobby.
W Dollars (W$)
In addition to our Tournament Dollars, we also offer special W$. W$ can be used to register into any qualifying special PokerStars event.
Special poker events currently include:
When you win a seat in one of the W$ special events, for example a seat in the 2005 PCA-WPT event in the Bahamas, you must play the event and will not be allowed to unregister. If you win multiple seats in the same event, the value of these seats will be automatically credited to your W$ account. If you win a seat to a satellite for a W$ special event, you have the option to unregister from the satellite and receive W$. W$ can be used to register in any W$ special event.
Many events will not allow you to unregister until one hour prior to the event. In that case, you may email PokerStars support to have us unregister you immediately. Please include your User ID, and the tournament number you wish to be unregistered from. The email for the poker tournament support team is: support@pokerstars.com.
To check your W$ balance at anytime, please visit the cashier window through the lobby.
** Tournament Dollars can be used to register into regular and special events; W$ can only be used for special events.
PokerStars is the Internet's largest site for online poker tournaments. We welcome you to download our free poker software and see for yourself the large selection of online tournaments we have to offer in our poker room. Whether you are looking to play small games or enter big events such as the World Poker Tour or *World Series of Poker, PokerStars has you covered.
* World Series of Poker and WSOP are trademarks of Harrah's License Company, LLC ("Harrah's"). Harrah's does not sponsor or endorse, and is not associated or affiliated with, PokerStars or its products, services, promotions or tournaments
Click on any poker games listed above for a detailed description of that game's rules. If you're a new online poker player, we recommend that you read our 
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