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5 Reasons to Play Satellites at the World Series of Poker

Satellites at the World Series of Poker are extremely popular, so much so that an entire room of the Rio is regularly dedicated for single and multi-table satellites. If you’ve never played at the World Series of Poker, we recommend that you give satellites a try. Here are five reasons you should play satellites at the World Series of Poker.

Get Into an Event for 10% or Less

Players can save massively by playing in satellites. If you play in single-table WSOP satellites, you will put up 10% of the event’s buy-in to try and win your seat. A $1,000 event satellite costs $125, a $5,000 event satellite $550 and a $10k event satellite $1,100.

If you play in multi-table super satellites, you can buy-in for about 5% of the buy-in. A $10k event satellite is normally $550, with some running $325.

In most cases, you get lammer chips that can be exchanged for your buy-in. For the Main Event satellites, you get a non-refundable seat on your first seat win and then lammers for additional seat wins if you happen to be so lucky.

Imagine how much you can save if you win multiple satellites. There are some players who will hustle the satellites and sell the lammers to boost their cash bankrolls. Others will sell pieces of themselves and further reduce their costs.

Prepares Your Mindset

Satellites are single or multi-table tournaments and are a great way to get yourself into the proper mindset for playing in a WSOP event. While you’re already familiar with how to play in tournaments, some of you have never played at the WSOP.

The WSOP is the biggest stage in the world and for some, it can be overwhelming. Playing a satellite or two can help you get through the pre-game jitters that some experience when playing the WSOP for the first time.

It also gets you thinking about the actual playing of poker rather than just the experience of playing at the World Series. Taking down a satellite before entering into an event can help get you in the proper mindset to allow you to perform well in the bracelet event.

Get Extra Practice

In addition to getting the proper mindset for a tournament, satellites also give you a bit of extra practice prior to an event. This can be incredibly helpful if you’re playing in satellites for mixed games such as Razz or Seven Card Stud as very few live tournament outlets offer those games.

For some players, the WSOP is the only place they play live Stud, Razz or certain other games all year. The extra practice is extremely beneficial to knock off the rust and get you prepared for the upcoming bracelet event.

You Never Know Who You’ll Run Into

It’s no secret that pros shell out a ton of money to play in WSOP events. Some can fund their own way while others have to be more creative with creating a WSOP bankroll. Many pros, especially lesser known pros, will regularly play in satellites and you may even run into a few in games as low as $125.

In addition to using them to supplement their WSOP bankroll, pros know the benefits of playing satellites and are taking advantage of them just as you’re learning to. It’s not uncommon to see bracelet winners and even former World Champions playing in satellites, especially the larger buy-in satellites.

Get the WSOP Experience For Less

For many of us, we can only afford to play in a couple of events and some may not be able to afford that. However, most of us can probably come up with $250 for a couple of satellite buy-ins.

WSOP satellites allow you the chance to say that you played at the World Series of Poker and for a fraction of what you’d have to pay in bracelet events. Of course, if you play well, you can earn your seat in a bracelet event and compete for truly life-changing money and a WSOP bracelet.

Even if you have enough money to afford the buy-in for a bracelet event, satellites are a great way to get practice and save money while playing at the World Series of Poker. Good luck and hope to see you at the tables.

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