Leading online poker network GGPoker has launched the latest sensation in the poker world. target stack satellite. This format, which is gaining traction in live poker, brings a fresh twist to traditional satellite tournaments.
Unlike traditional satellites, where players compete for tournament tickets until there are only a few left, target stacked satellites change the dynamic. Rather than fighting for survival, players set their goal on accumulating a certain number of chips (usually around 10 times their starting stack). Reaching this goal earns you a ticket to the goal event and the stack is removed from play. This process repeats until all available seats are occupied.
For example, let's say 100 players join a satellite with 10,000 starting chips each, and every 10 players are given one seat. In a traditional satellite, the last 10 survivors take the seats after many eliminations, with some qualifiers accumulating as much as 200,000 chips, and others making it through with just their one big blind. There are also people who passed the qualifying round.
However, in the Target Stacks format, players take a seat as soon as they reach the 100,000 chip threshold, regardless of when it occurs. This means that players can qualify for tournaments within their first orbit.
If a player accumulates more chips than the target stack, the excess chips are divided among the players participating in the hand that reached the threshold. The remaining fractional chips are allocated to the first player to act in that hand.
Already popular in live poker tournaments
This format is similar to the World Poker Tour (WPT), World Series of Poker (WSOP), PokerStars promotes it under various names such as Milestone Satellites, Landmark Satellites, Win Your Seat @ xxx Chips, etc.
Despite the different names, the core principles remain the same. This means accumulating a specified chip count to earn a seat at a qualifying event. This player-friendly format became so popular that more organizers started adopting it. especially, WPT I successfully implemented it for them WPT World Championships and other live events.
WSOP Introduced the format in them WSOP It will be used in circuit events and will debut at the 55th annual series in Las Vegas this summer. PokerStars also features this as part of its features. EPT Live tour.
Target stack concept spread across online poker satellites
Now, GGPoker has joined the fray as the latest online poker platform to adopt the Target Stack format. This addition went into effect on March 29th as part of GGPoker's regular software updates.
These satellites address common issues found in traditional formats, such as stalling and collusion, making them particularly appealing to recreational players.
The possibility of collusion remains, but eliminating stalling encourages continued action. Additionally, this format encourages action rather than letting players sit back and let the action stagnate.
It also saves time as players don't have to survive to the end of the tournament. They win seats as soon as they achieve their goals. Tournaments proceed at a faster pace compared to traditional satellite tournaments, as players are eliminated when they reach the target stack, making them more attractive to organizers as well.
Poker journalist Barry Carter, along with satellite specialist Dara O'Kearney, wrote a book dedicated to the concept of target stacks.
This concept, which goes by various names such as target stacks, milestone satellites, and landmark satellites, has witnessed recent growth. However, it's worth noting that this idea has been around for quite some time. French online poker giant Winamax introduced a poker room under the name Hit&Run in 2016 and he is one of the first online poker rooms.
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