If you’re looking for great non-Hold’em tournament to play in, the Sunday $20,000 HORSE tournament at Pokerstars is a good choice. The top prize is usually in the $5,400 - $7,500 range, and anyone making the final table can expect at least $1400. It runs every Sunday at 19:45 ET, and typically generates 110-170 players.

Tournament Structure

Players start with 3000 chips and the blinds go up every 12 minutes. With 12 minute blinds, this means each HORSE round takes a complete hour. When the second hour starts, the blinds are still just 100/200 with a 16 chip ante. This is slow enough to allow good players to rise to the top.

While the $20K HORSE tournament has a healthy buy-in of $215, you can play in satellite tournaments for as little as $30+2. This satellite is a single table, 8 player sit-n-go where the winner receives a seat into the event. The second place finisher gets $25 in cash. Players start with 1500 chips, and the blinds go up every 10 minutes.

PokerStars.com Multi-table Tournament Options

If you prefer multi-table tournaments, Pokerstars offers a $36+3 satellite as well. In this satellite players start with 2000 chips and the blinds go up every 3 minutes. However, this is not an ultra-turbo event like it appears. The blinds & antes go up in tiny increments. For example, after 20 blind levels (60 minutes), the blinds are 160/320 with a 32 chip ante. This blind structure is a little faster than a regular speed tournament, and a little slower than a typical turbo. One player for every $215 in the prize pool wins a seat into the $20,000 HORSE event. Additional money in the prize pool is given back to players in the form of $39 rebates.

 

For those who have more money than time, there is a hyper-turbo, multi-table satellite available for $55+1. Players start with just 500 chips, and the blinds go up every 3 minutes. Not only that, but the very first blind level is 100/200. By the time you get to the first Stud round (only 10 minutes in), the blinds are already 300/600. If you’re an action junkie, this is your game. If you prefer to take your time and have the ability to use some skill, play in the other satellites instead.

To find the $20,000 HORSE Tournament and satellites for it, click on the ‘Tourney’ tab in the Pokerstars lobby. Then click on ‘Regular’, then ‘All’, and use the Tourney Filter button located at the bottom of the lobby to eliminate all games except HORSE. Open the lobby window for this tournament and you can either buy-in directly, or select to play in any of the tournaments listed in the satellite window.

Before you head over to play, write down Pokerstars bonus code Stars600 and 2012 PokerStars Marketing Code PSA3301. Enter the marketing code when asked for during registration. When you make your first deposit, you’ll see a spot to enter the bonus code. These codes will allow you to get the new Pokerstars bonus of 100% up to $600.