Best 2011 WSOP Qualifier Poker Sites

The World Series of Poker, commonly referred to as the WSOP, is the most prestigious tournament, live or online. The tournament draws in record numbers each year, not only for the number of participants, but for the prize pool as well. The 2010 Main Event alone attracted just over 7000 players, which attributed to the 8.9 million dollar prize pool. Obviously, the Main Event comes with a hefty price tag, sitting at $10,000 USD. Let's face it, not everyone has the bankroll to pony up $10K to play, which is why most players will attempt to win their seat through 2011 WSOP qualifiers and satellites. What's your best shot at winning a seat to the 2011 WSOP? Look below. This page lists the best WSOP qualifier poker sites. The five poker rooms you see below offer more seats than any other poker room online. In fact, Pokerstars sent over 650 players to the 2010 WSOP in Vegas last year with more seats expected for the 2011 series.

How to Qualify for the 2011 WSOP (World Series of Poker)
Qualifying for the 2011 World Series of Poker is easier said than done for most players. Your best shot at winning your seat into the Main Event is by choosing to play at one of the five WSOP qualifier poker rooms we have listed above. Not only do they offer more WSOP qualifiers than any other poker room online, but they also give you multiple options on how to win your seat. Furthermore, the WSOP poker sites featured on this page run additional promotions that allow players to receive cash for any subsequent seat they win through one of their qualifiers. What this means is that once you've earned your first WSOP package, all subsequent packages you win will be paid out in cash, which is no less than $10,000 USD for the Main Event. If your not sure how to win a seat to the 2011 WSOP, or you want more information on the types of qualifiers available keep reading.

Types of WSOP Qualifier Tournaments
Step Tournaments - Step tournaments are one of the better options for any player that wants to win their way to the World Series of Poker. These types of tournaments have multiple levels with a variety of buy-ins. To offer a better example of how a WSOP step tournament works we will use Pokerstars as an example. This poker site's step tournaments have six different levels with buy-ins starting as low as $2. The tournaments are supported in full and short-handed games and you can find these events by clicking on the Sit N Go tab, followed by selecting Satellite and Steps. The payout structure is the same as any Sit N Go tournament, except the winner in each event will receive a seat into the next "Step" in lieu of cash. If you manage to win the sixth step tournament, you will receive your WSOP package (or you have the option to take cash).  Players do have the option to buy into any level, including the 6th step. The benefit of playing WSOP step tournaments is that you're only competing with 6 to 9 players at a time instead of the 500 - 2000 in most MTT.

WSOP Satellites
A satellite tournament gives players the ability to win an entry into a larger event, which ultimately means you're able to enter into a main tournament at a fraction of the price. There are multiple ways to enter into a satellite tournament, including single and multi-table events. These types of tournaments normally pay out seats into main events. For example, suppose you entered into a $50 satellite, which awarded a seat into a tournament with a buy-in of $500. The tournament would award one seat for every 10 players registered. Any additional prizes will be distributed in cash based on the poker room's payout schedule.

WSOP Direct Buy-in Qualifiers
A direct buy-in is your one stop shop in regards to WSOP qualifiers. These are the main events, where seats are awarded to the winning players based on the poker room's payout schedule. A direct buy-in is definitely more expensive than the other options available to players, but is also the quickest way since you only have to play in one event (should you win).

VIP Rewards Programs - Earning Your Seat With Points
Often, many sites will allow players to enter into satellites using the points they've accumulated through the poker room VIP rewards. Depending on which WSOP qualifier poker room you choose, you can also use your points to purchase your package to Vegas, (see the Pokerstars VIP Program for details. Your WSOP seat could be free depending on your VIP status. It's always best to see what types of promotions the VIP rewards programs offer in respect to the WSOP.