PartyPoker.com Step Tournaments

I was quite surprised when I logged on to PartyPoker.com recently and found two-table, 20-player $1,000 buy-in tournaments. Thinking that perhaps the whole world had gone crazy, I figured nobody would play, and if 20 people ever did pony up $1,000 each, they all would probably be pros.

Wrong. In seven minutes, the tournament was full, and I assure you that the players were not pros. They weren't even very good.

Anyway, it turns out that once again, the ever innovative PartyPoker.com has come up with a winner. Taking a page from the World Series of Poker, it hosts satellites that lead to other satellites that get the winners into high-payout tournaments without having to make big buy-ins.

There are five steps from which a player can start. The big-limit player can just buy in for $1,000, beat 19 players, and win $9,000. At the other extreme, you can work your way up to that tournament for a mere $11 buy-in. There are also $50, $200, and $500 steps for players who want to start in the middle.

You can sign up for PartyPoker at www.PartyPoker.com, and enter "CARD" for a bonus – or, click through directly from CardPlayer.com.