The poker tournaments offer us a nice way to learn more about poker’s playing, aside and apart from the competition and the fun factor, tournaments are a terrific way to learn new games. Here’s why: The game you want to learn might not be offered at betting limits that are comfortable for you. In fact, in smaller casinos, the game might not be available at all. Without tournaments, how can you ever learn to play Omaha18, or Razz, or Seven-Stud18 in a card casino that has enough room for only a few Hold’em and Stud tables?

While we can’t give you all of the secrets to winning a world championship poker tournament (both of us have visions of winning that some year), this chapter does offer some of the basics of tournaments and practical tips. To get really good at poker, and to have a shot at the World Championship, you need to get experience.

So plan to enter a number of smaller tournaments before you invest $10,000 to enter the World Championship. Oh, and if you do get there and win, don’t forget to credit us for giving you the initial insight! (Acknowledgments and cash sent to the authors will be graciously accepted.)