A satellite in poker is a type of tournament where players compete to place wagers on certain poker hands played by other players in order to win a prize. Prizes can include cash, airfare, and hotel rooms.
The hands being wagered on can be anywhere from a single hand to an entire tournament.
Satellites began as a way for operators of poker tournaments to generate more money by attracting more players. They are now popular among recreational and professional poker players alike because of their low-cost entry and the potential for big payouts.
A satellite is a simple concept: each player puts down a small wager on the hand being played, and if that hand is won, the player collects his or her original wager plus the pot bonus (usually around 10%). If the hand is not won, the player loses everything.
There are several advantages to playing in a satellite: First, satellites are low-cost entry events, meaning that even relatively new players can get in on the action and try their luck. Second, since satellites are open to all players, no matter their skill level, they provide a good opportunity to test your skills against those of more experienced opponents.
And finally, satellites usually have very high tournament payouts – often exceeding $2,000 – so even if you don’t win your initial bet you can still come out ahead if the tournament pays out well.
