What is a sit and go in poker?
Updated November 2026
A sit and go is a small poker tournament with no start time: it begins as soon as the seats fill. A common format is nine players with the top three paid, and it's usually over in about an hour or less.
It's the quickest way to get tournament experience, and it teaches short-stack play better than almost anything.
| Start | When the seats fill |
|---|---|
| Common size | 9 players, 3 paid |
| Common payout | 50%, 30%, 20% |
| Late game | All-in or fold |
$10+$1, nine players
How does the money work?
Everyone pays a buy-in and a fee. In a $10+$1 game with nine players, the $90 goes into the prize pool and the $9 goes to the house. A common split is 50%, 30% and 20%.
The average prize for finishing in the top three is $30, so you need to cash 36.7% of the time just to break even, assuming you finish in each paid place equally often.
$90 prize pool
What do you need to make money?
How do you play each stage?
- Early, blinds lowPlay tight. There's no need to gamble, and you'll have better spots.
- Middle, stacks getting shortStart stealing blinds from late seats.
- Near the bubbleDon't call all-ins without a strong hand. Our page on the bubble shows why you need more than 50%.
- Short-handed, last threeMost hands are all-in or fold. Use a push/fold chart.
Why is it good for beginners?
Because you see every stage of a tournament in an hour. You learn how a stack shrinks, how the bubble feels and what short-handed play is like, and you only ever lose the buy-in.
What you can lose
Are there different types?
- Six or nine seatsThe classic formats.
- Heads-upTwo players, winner takes the prize.
- TurboThe blinds go up faster, so stacks get short sooner.
- SatelliteThe prize is a seat in a bigger tournament.
Are you ready to play one?
Twelve spots in three rounds.
Questions players ask
How long does one take?
A nine-seat game usually takes about an hour. A turbo takes less.
Can you rebuy?
Usually not. You get one stack.
What is the best first buy-in?
Something you won't miss. Our page on bankroll shows how to work it out.
How the numbers on this page were worked out
Simple arithmetic on the prize pool. The calculator assumes you finish in each paid place equally often, which is a fair place to start, and real players do better or worse at the top. The 50%, 30%, 20% split is a common example, so check the structure of your game.
Know someone who wants to try a tournament?
Send them this page.