Once I was new to PokerStars about fifteen years in the past, I might see the SCOOP banners on the shopper and assume, Wow, this collection should be one thing particular. I used to dream of taking part in in these occasions and profitable a kind of iconic SCOOP watches, however many of the buy-ins have been merely out of my attain.
At this time, the Spring Championship of On-line Poker (SCOOP) stays simply as prestigious, however PokerStars has made it way more accessible. The entry factors are far more reasonably priced now. Again then, $5.50 buy-in occasions have been uncommon; now, they’re a daily a part of the schedule. And the prizes are simply as thrilling, gamers can nonetheless chase glory and even take dwelling a trophy.
Take this yr’s SCOOP, for instance: there are round 72 occasions priced at $5.50 or $11, 31 of them at $5.50 and 41 at $11. Impressively, 26 of the $11 buy-in tournaments provide ensures of $50,000 or extra.
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Right here’s a information to assist new gamers navigate this yr’s SCOOP schedule.
Timing Tip
If you’re new to SCOOP, the perfect time to play is through the first few days of the week: Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. In response to PokerStars, lately usually function smaller fields and fewer opponents, making them excellent for much less skilled gamers.
One other useful tip is to enter tournaments scheduled across the similar time because the extra in style occasions, as these typically entice softer fields and might provide nice worth.
Listed here are a number of good examples from this yr’s schedule:
#47-L: $22 NLHE [8-Max, Deep Stacks], $75K Gtd, Monday, Could 19 at 11:05 ET
#54-L: $5.50 NLHE [8-Max, Deep Stacks], $30K Gtd, Tuesday, Could 20 at 10:05 ET
#55-L: $22 PLO [6-Max, PKO], $35K Gtd, Tuesday, Could 20 at 11:30 ET
#60-L: $5.50 NLHE [8-Max, Deep Stacks], $15K Gtd, Wednesday, Could 21 at 10:05 ET
Additionally price noting: Occasion 01 is working a number of Part 1 flights every day. It carries a $55 buy-in and a $1 million assure and is without doubt one of the most accessible methods to take a shot at an enormous rating. Part 2 takes place on June 2.
Deep Stack Benefit
One other precious tip for brand spanking new gamers on PokerStars is to contemplate taking part in Deep Stack occasions. Whereas common and turbo-structured tournaments are enticing as a result of they wrap up faster, Deep Stack occasions provide a slower, extra forgiving tempo. With deeper beginning stacks and longer ranges, gamers have extra room to play arms, make choices, and settle into the sport, excellent for these nonetheless constructing expertise.
This yr’s SCOOP schedule contains 45 Deep Stack tournaments, with buy-ins starting from $5.50 to $530. Listed here are a number of beginner-friendly choices to contemplate:
#34-L: $5.50 NLHE [8-Max, Deep Stacks], $20K Gtd, Saturday, Could 17 at 10:05 ET
#54-L: $5.50 NLHE [8-Max, Deep Stacks], $30K Gtd, Tuesday, Could 20 at 10:05 ET
#74-L: $22 NLHE [8-Max, Deep Stacks], $85K Gtd, Saturday, Could 24 at 10:05 ET
#100-L: $11 NLHE [7-Max Deep Stacks], $40K Gtd, Wednesday, Could 28 at 10:05 ET
Bounty Motion
If you’re the kind of participant who enjoys motion from the very first hand and the possibility to win again your buy-in earlier than late registration even closes, Progressive Knockouts (PKOs) are the format to discover. Regardless of debuting over a decade in the past, PKOs stay extremely in style at present, particularly as new variations of bounty tournaments proceed to evolve.
Out of the 380 complete occasions on the SCOOP schedule, 138 are PKOs, providing loads of alternatives to dive into this high-energy format. It’s a nice match for brand spanking new gamers who take pleasure in fast-paced play with speedy rewards for eliminating opponents. Listed here are a number of advisable PKO occasions to take a look at:
#36-L: $55 NLHE [8-Max, PKO, Mini Bounty Builder HR], $250K Gtd, Saturday, Could 17 at 12:30 ET
#38-L: $5.50 NLHE [4-Max, PKO], $35K Gtd, Saturday, Could 17 at 15:05 ET
#41-L: $11 NLHE [8-Max, PKO, Sunday Warm-Up, 2-Day Event] , $85K Gtd, Sunday, Could 18 at 10:05 ET
Thriller Bounty Play
For these trying to strive one thing recent and slightly unpredictable, one thing even seasoned regulars are nonetheless studying to grasp, Thriller Bounty tournaments are the proper selection. Initially launched in dwell poker rooms, this format shortly gained recognition, prompting each main on-line poker website to leap on board. Now, they’re a staple on most websites, together with PokerStars.
Thriller bounties play out very similar to PKOs, however with a twist: the bounties solely start after the bubble bursts or late registration ends, relying on the precise event. And as an alternative of mounted payouts for knockouts, gamers obtain a random thriller prize, which might be a modest quantity or an enormous payday.
This yr’s SCOOP schedule options 55 Thriller Bounty occasions, providing loads of possibilities to hitch the motion. A couple of standout choices embody:
#39-L: $22 NLHE [8-Max, Mystery Bounty, Daily Cooldown], $75K Gtd, Saturday, Could 17 at 16:30 ET
#45-L: $5.50 NLHE [8-Max, Mystery Bounty, Sunday Cooldown], $30K Gtd, Sunday, Could 18 at 16:30 ET
#61-L: $5.50 PLO [6-Max, Mystery Bounty], $40K Gtd, Wednesday, Could 21 at 11:30 ET
Concentrating on underplayed codecs
And for these trying to discover past the traditional Maintain’em and Omaha codecs, blended video games are a implausible possibility, particularly throughout SCOOP. PokerStars is well-known for providing one of the numerous blended sport lineups within the on-line poker world.
In reality, one of many primary causes I took the time to be taught blended video games was as a result of so few gamers know the right way to play them effectively. These occasions usually entice smaller fields in comparison with No Restrict Maintain’em, which suggests should you put within the effort to grasp even a number of of those codecs, your possibilities of profitable a SCOOP title and a trophy enhance dramatically.
Listed here are a number of nice blended sport occasions to contemplate:
#57-L: $55 FL 2-7 Triple Draw [6-Max], $15K Gtd, Tuesday, Could 20 at 13:30 ET
#63-L: $11 Razz [6-Max], $8K Gtd, Wednesday, Could 21 at 13:30 ET
#95-L: $5.50 NL 2-7 Single Draw [6-Max, PKO], $4K Gtd, Tuesday, Could 27 at 11:30 ET
And at last, don’t overlook the final week of SCOOP, it’s the most important stretch of your complete collection. The Fundamental Occasions take heart stage with thousands and thousands in ensures, although they arrive with increased buy-ins. However in case you are a brand new participant, there’s nonetheless a method in: satellites. These lower-cost qualifiers provide a shot on the huge leagues with out breaking the financial institution.
Closing Week Highlights
Should you’d moderately skip the Fundamental Occasion and nonetheless benefit from the motion, there are many thrilling options within the closing days:
#118-L: $11 NLHE [7-Max, Turbo, Mystery Bounty, Daily Cooldown], $40K Gtd, Saturday, Could 31 at 16:30 ET
#128 (A, B, C): $215 [8-Max, Pick Your Poison], $100K Gtd, Monday, June 2, at 14:05, the place you possibly can play choose both from the PKO or Thriller Bounty or non-bounty event.
Additional Perks
Past that, there isn’t any scarcity of low-stakes choices within the closing week. Fan-favorite codecs like Fenomeno, Cooldown, and Supersonic return, alongside a variety of facet occasions excellent for apply and worth.
Don’t neglect about Energy Path, PokerStars’ accessible qualifying route beginning at simply $0.50, or the SCOOP Fortunate Dip promo, which is handing out $500,000 price of SCOOP tickets all through the collection.
SCOOP 2025 wraps up on June 2—be sure to end sturdy!
Please play responsibly. Should you or somebody has a playing drawback and desires assist, name 1-800 GAMBLER.
