Qualifies for:

WSOP Main Event Qualifier

Seats to next level:

One for every $650 in the prize pool (one seat guaranteed)

Tricky this one. It’s a turbo which means you have to play aggressively to accumulate chips and avoid getting blinded down. And it’s a double shootout, with just one seat in the $615 Main Event Qualifier up for grabs, unless there’s 90 or more runners.

If you’re not familiar with a shootout structure, it’s effectively two single-table tournaments – win your first and you’ll go through to the final table, where the blinds a chip stacks revert back to the start point. If you’re lucky enough to finish early, don’t put your feet up make a cup of tea. Get onto the other tables and watch your opponents, especially when they’re playing heads-up. One of these people is going to (hopefully) be your opponent heads-up for the golden ticket and you’ll have an advantage over them if you watch how they play.

Play this as you would a standard sit-and-go, with a couple of dfifferences. Remember that it’s a turbo, so you can’t afford to sit back for too long without getting busy. And remember that you’re not aiming for the top three. There’s no prize for second place, so the last thing you want to do is get to the heads-up stage with someone who’s got a 7/1 chip lead on you. When you get down to the last three the play’s likely to tighten up, which is where you can step in and steal pots to get the chip lead.

When you progress to the final table you’ll fine that some players tighten up because of the proximity of the next-tier ticket. So use your superior powers of judgement to prey on the weak, while keeping an eye out for the super-aggressive players who are happy to play like maniacs with a win-or-bust mentality.

Difficulty rating: ♥♥♥