In a multi-table tournament, players start with a fixed number of chips. Players at tables compete for one another's chips as the blinds increase incrementally. As players are eliminated, tables are "broken", meaning players are reassigned to keep tables full. Eventually, the last few surviving players with chips are assigned to the final table, where the eventual winner is the individual who wins all the chips from his or her opponents. Cash prizes are awarded to top finishers on the basis of number of tournament entries.

SATELLITES AND SUPER SATELLITES
Big River Poker refers to single-table satellites as "satellites" and multi-table satellites as "super satellites." Players use satellites as a means of entering a more expensive multi-table tournament inexpensively. While a multi-table tournament may carry a $200 buy-in, one can buy in to a satellite for $20 and win a $200 seat in the multi-table tournament.

A satellite is a single-table tournament played in same way as the shootouts described above. Satellites require buy-ins, but instead of winning a cash prize as in a shootout, the prize is an entry into a larger tournament. Satellites are inexpensive to enter compared with multi-table tournaments. While a multi-table tournament may carry a $200 buy-in, one can buy in to a satellite for $20 and win a $200 seat in the multi-table tournament. To win entry fees into bigger tournaments, there also are multi-table satellites (called super satellites) that are scheduled as regular tournaments. Play in super satellites is very similar to regular multi-table tournaments with the exception that the blinds and betting limits may move up faster in super satellites, thus requiring a slight modification to regular tournament strategy.

Here's an example of how a satellite would work: The buy in for the larger tournament is $200+$20. The buy in for the satellite is $20+$2. Assuming 10 entrants (into the satellite), first place will get a $200 entry to the larger tournament. If this was a super satellite, and there are 20 entrants then 1st and 2nd place will receive entry to the larger tournament. If there are 23 entrants, 1st and 2nd place will get entries to the larger tournament and 3rd place will get a $60 prize. Some super satellites have limited amount of seats which are assigned on a first come, first served basis, while others have unlimited amount of seats.

Normally, there is a cost to enter tournaments, shootouts, and satellites. It is denoted by stating the buy-in amount and the entry fee. A cost of "$30+$3" indicates that the buy-in is $30, and the entry fee is $3. The $30 goes to the prize pool which the players compete for, while the $3 entry fee is taken as compensation for hosting the tournament.

LOYALTY POINT FREEROLLS
There is another type of tournament, a "freeroll tournament", in which entry can be earned using Loyalty Points. LP's can be earned by playing in live games on Big River Poker. Although players are not putting up any cash entry fees for these LP Freerolls, they can still win generous cash prizes.