A "turbo" in poker refers to a type of tournament in which the blind levels increase much faster than in a standard tournament. These events have faster rounds and as a result take less time.

What is a Turbo?

In poker, turbo tournaments have shorter blind levels resulting in quicker tournament progression and faster overall gameplay. Turbo tournaments require players to make decisions more quickly and adapt to rapidly changing betting environments.

In online poker events, the decision clock is often shorter as well.

Playing in Turbo Tournaments

Playing in turbo tournaments requires a different strategy to standard tournaments. Due to the faster pace, players need to be more aggressive and willing to take bigger risks more often.

Passive play is generally not as effective in Turbo tournaments, as the blinds increase quickly and can deplete a player's stack if they're not actively winning pots.

Considerations When Playing Turbo Tournaments

When playing turbo tournaments, it's important to track all the usual information — stack size, blind levels, and player tendencies. However, with the blinds increasing rapidly, it becomes important to master short-stack play and focus on aggression.

Example of "Turbo"

In an example online turbo tournament, the blinds might increase every 5 minutes, compared to 15 minutes in a standard tournament. In a live game, due to the slower play, the blinds might increase every 10-15 minutes in a turbo event.

The fast pace means that players will have less time to wait for premium hands and will need to be more aggressive.

• "He decided to enter the Turbo tournament because he only had a couple of hours to play."
• "In the Turbo tournament, her aggressive strategy helped her quickly build a large chip stack."
• "Turbo tournaments can be a fun and fast-paced alternative to standard poker tournaments."

Are turbo tournaments more difficult than standard tournaments?

Turbo tournaments are not necessarily more difficult, but they do require a different strategy due to the faster pace. Players need to be more aggressive and make decisions more quickly in turbo tournaments.

How quickly do the blinds increase in turbo tournaments?

The rate at which blinds increase in turbo tournaments can vary, but it's generally much faster than in standard tournaments. For example, the blinds might increase every three to five minutes in an online turbo tournament, compared to 10-25 minutes or more in a standard tournament.

Can beginners play in turbo tournaments?

Yes, beginners can play in turbo tournaments, but they might find the fast pace challenging. It can be a good way to gain experience and learn to make decisions quickly under pressure. Plus, the fast pace reduces the skill edge of better players.

How can I adjust my strategy for turbo tournaments?

In turbo tournaments, it's important to be more aggressive, make decisions quickly, and be willing to take calculated risks. With the blinds increasing rapidly, constantly building your stack is vital.

Do turbo tournaments last as long as standard tournaments?

No, turbo tournaments usually finish much quicker than standard tournaments due to the faster increase in blind levels.