For BRM purposes, can I include satellite tournaments of the appropriate buy-in...?

...or are there special considerations to be made?

For example if I I'm playing with 200 buy-ins, and have $1000 BR, does that mean I can include $5 satellites in my schedule? or the fact that we only see a ROI if we cash in the target tournament has to be considered?

You know what? This is a great question and one I'd love to hear others opinions!


One big question - are you playing a site that allows you to unregister from tourneys you sat. into and gain T$'s or something (AKA - pokerstars)? If so, I HIGHLY encourage you incorporate these into your schedule to profit in T$s to use in your regular MTTs. I did this a ton pre-Black Friday and it helped my BR immensely.

I've always treated them as the equivalent to the BI I'm trying to satellite into and used them as a way to decrease variance. For example, if my BR says I can play $5.50 MTTs, I'll add in satellites to $5.50's as a way to get into them at a discount.

However, on the flip side I have considered (I haven't done it yet), but looked at them as a way to shot-take. Say I have a bankroll for $5.50's, I may look for $2.20's or $3.30's to satty into $11s or $15s or something for a shot-taking opp. Really like to hear what others think about this strategy because it's one I've been debating internally for a while!

I agree with the above sentiments, if you can play and unregister then the T$ are very valuable and the tournaments tend to be softer as well.

I also think they are a great way to take a shot at higher stakes, but be sensible. Don't play too many, but if you're winning in the other games mix in a few more. Shot taking is key to getting ahead in my opinion.

The less likely you are to win a game, the bigger bankroll you need.


For example, SNGs that pay 1/3 of the participants require less bankroll than MTTs. Double or Nothing SNGs where half the field wins require even less bankroll than regular SNGs


1. Satellites require you to win two tournaments in order to get paid, as you say. This is the biggest factor to consider.

2. Often the satellite pays fewer places than a regular tournament does. For example, you might spend $3 and compete in a field of 60 for two $30 tickets, where a normal MTT with 60 entrants might pay twelve places.

3. Then, if you win a ticket, you might be competing in a tournament that has a higher buy-in than your usual stakes. Those higher buy-ins attract tougher players, making it even more difficult to win.


So you definitely to count satellites as more expensive than their buy-in value for bankroll purposes.


I am not a bankroll expert, but if you are following the rule of keeping 100 buy-ins as your bankroll, I suggest multiplying the buy-in amount by three. So if you are rolled for $3 tournaments, you can play satellites with a buy in of $1 or less.


Alternatively, you can use "extra" money for satellites. Let's say you play $3 MTTs and keep a bankroll of $300, but you have $350 in your account. You could chose to use some of that extra $50 for satellites, instead of withdrawing it, or saving it up for a bankroll that would be suitable for larger tournaments. I use this method myself.

Thank you very much for your answer, I think this is a sound approach