Playing poker delivers an adrenaline rush that is hard to beat with any other activity. The thrill of taking a big risk with your chips, the anticipation of the cards being turned on the river, and the ecstasy of getting one over a rival bring people back to the game every few weeks.
If you have been taking poker more seriously over the past few months, you may be thinking about playing online poker for real money. Now that you have a complete mastery of the poker rules and skills required to compete in poker, you are ready to test yourself against some of the best – and if you participate in tournaments, the returns on your buyins can get quite large with the right amount of luck on your side.
Luckily, there are many online poker tournaments taking place around the world that you can enter. Below is our rundown of the four most interesting online poker tournaments in 2023.
WSOP Online Spring Circuit
The WSOP Online Spring Circuit Main Event is among the most reputable online poker tournaments in the world. Part of the hugely popular and valuable WSOP Circuit, this event features some of the best online poker players you can come up against.
One of the most unique aspects of this tournament is that you can compete in different styles of poker. While most events focus on Texas Hold’em, you can even play Omaha or Seven-Card Stud for money. The main event for this tournament, however, is limited to Texas Hold’em.
If anyone has an interest in participating in this event, they would likely need to perform well at WSOP satellite tournaments to qualify.
World Poker Tour Online Championship
Another outstanding tournament that online players can enter is the World Poker Tour Online Championship. Serious players from around the world attend this virtual event, as they can win up to $1 million if they emerge as the best player of the group. Given the buy-in is only $3,200, such a potential profit is very hard for anyone to turn down.
The 2022 version of the event saw almost 4,000 people participate, making this a tournament where you have to showcase your skills even to have a chance of entry. The gameplay at the event is Texas Hold’em with 30-minute limits.
European Poker Tour Online Series
The best poker tournaments are not necessarily North America-centric. Anyone from around the world can enter, while the buy-in is only $25. With such a low barrier to entry, the European Poker Tour Online Series is one of the most accessible “elite” poker events in the world.
Players will have a lot of fun at this virtual event, as there are several poker variations that you can play. No Limit Hold’em is the star of the show, but Omaha Poker (PLO) and mixed games are also a feature.
Competing for and winning the grand prize, which amounts to €1 million, will be tough for anyone but the best players. This event, however, has ample side games that you can enjoy. If you were not successful at the main event, you can enter one of the daily event tournaments. Those have even lower buy-ins and let you hone your skills in a less pressurized setting.
PokerStars Players Championship
A high-end poker event that does have a significant barrier to entry, the PokerStars Players Championship is the highlight of the year for many online players. With a $25,000 buy-in and a prize pool that is more than $2.5 million, the very elite compete for success at this event.
One of the reasons this event has become so popular is due to its format. There is an 8-game mix at the PokerStars Players Championship, which includes games such as No Limit Hold ’em, Omaha Hi/Lo, 7-Card Stud, and others.
Think of this event as a true test of your poker skills, not only of how well you play Texas Hold’em. Only the very best can attend, which is earned through paying the buy-in and by winning satellite tournaments.
While this event does test the limits of most poker players, the fact that such a prestigious and valuable event takes place virtually is a testament to how far online casinos have come. You may not be coming up against AI players, but you will face the best poker players in the world who have studied the game with GTO poker solvers.
Other Interesting Tournaments Series With Large Guaranteed Prize Pools
Besides the 4 interesting tournaments series presented in this article, you can find online tourney series with huge guaranteed prize pools at GGPoker. GGPoker is the global leader in online poker when it comes to amount of players online, cash game tables and tournaments, so we warmly recommend adding to your selection of poker sites.
In case you live in Asia, you can access the same tournament series at Natural8.
To Conclude
Becoming an expert poker player takes a lot of time and energy. Even if you have understood the rules and can win money from playing against your friends, you would have a long way to go before you can beat the very best.
Online poker tournaments are the best way to improve the game, as you can play a great deal whenever it is convenient for you. Start with smaller tournaments at the online poker platform of your choosing before you level up to more prestigious and financially rewarding events.
The journey may take a few years, but you may eventually reach a stage where you are good enough to compete at one of the online poker tournaments mentioned above.
