Win Your Way Into the CSOP Main Event: Two Satellites, Two Shots at Glory

The Chicago Series of Poker (CSOP) is heating up, and this weekend offers not one, but two chances to lock up your seat in the $400 CSOP Main Event. Whether you’re a budget-conscious grinder or a chip-chasing milestone hunter, there’s a satellite for you. ⸻

🎟️ Friday, August 29th – $40 CSOP Main Event Satellite (4:00PM)

Looking for the cheapest way to parlay a small buy-in into the Main Event? This is it.
• Buy-In: $40
• Starting Stack: 5,000 chips
• Add-On: $5 for an extra 5,000 chips (10K Max Stack)
• Level Length: 15 minutes
• Late Registration: Until 5:15PM
• Structure: No antes—fast and straightforward

Here’s the best part:
• For every 10 players, one $400 CSOP Main Event seat is awarded.
• The top 10% of the field gets paid in seats.
• And to sweeten the deal, CCG and the hosting charity will add ONE guaranteed $400 Main Event Seat to the prize pool!

This is the ultimate low-risk, high-reward satellite.

⸻

🏆 Saturday, August 30th – $80 CSOP Milestone Satellite (1:00PM)

For players who like building big stacks and chasing milestones, Saturday brings a unique twist.
• Buy-In: $80
• Starting Stack: 15,000 chips
• Add-On: $10 for 10,000 extra chips (25K Max Stack)
• Level Length: 15 minutes
• Late Registration: Through Level 5
• Structure: Big Blind Ante

So, what makes this a Milestone Satellite?

As soon as you hit 125,000 chips, you’re done. That’s it—you instantly lock up your $400 CSOP Main Event Seat, and your chips are removed from play. No need to grind it out until the end.

Even better: 20% of the field will earn Main Event seats in this format, meaning more winners, faster celebrations, and more players moving on to the big one.

⸻

Which Satellite is Right for You?
• Friday’s $40 Satellite is perfect if you want maximum value at a small buy-in.
• Saturday’s $80 Milestone Satellite gives you more chips, a unique “hit the target” format, and double the percentage of seats awarded.

No matter which path you choose, both tournaments are golden opportunities to secure your spot in the 2025 CSOP Main Event, where the stakes—and the stories—get bigger.

⸻

👉 Mark your calendars, bring your A-game, and take your shot at poker glory. One good run this weekend could be your ticket to the CSOP Main Event.

🃏 How to Play Badugi: A Beginner’s Guide to the Four-Card Lowball Showdown

Badugi is a quirky and exciting poker variant that flips everything you know about traditional poker on its head. It’s a triple draw lowball game where the worst hand wins — and four cards are all you get.

If you love games like 2-7 Lowball and want to dive into something even stranger (and arguably more fun), Badugi is your game.

🔍 Objective of Badugi

The goal in Badugi is to make the lowest four-card hand possible — with all cards being:
• Different suits
• Different ranks

This hand is called a Badugi. If no one has a complete four-card Badugi, the best three-card (or two-card) hand wins.

Best possible hand? 🂱🃁🂱🃁
That’s A♣ 2♦ 3♥ 4♠ — all different suits, all different ranks = a “4-high Badugi.”

⸻

🕹️ How to Play Badugi
1. The Deal
     Each player is dealt 4 hole cards, face down.
2. First Betting Round
     Starts with the player to the left of the big blind.
3. First Draw
     Players may discard 0–4 cards and draw replacements from the deck.
4. Second Betting Round
     Just like the first — you bet, raise, or fold.
5. Second Draw
     Another chance to trade cards.
6. Third Betting Round
    Just like the second — you bet, raise, or fold.
7. Final Draw
     Your last chance to perfect that low hand.
8. Final Betting Round and Showdown
     Show your hand — best Badugi wins!

⸻

💣 Key Badugi Tips
• Pairs, same-suit cards, and high cards are BAD. (This is one of the few times you’ll hear that in poker.)
• A hand with 4♣ 4♠ 8♠ K♦? That’s a one-card hand. Trash.
• Position is power. You’ll need info to guess who’s drawing and how much.

⸻

🤔 Why Play Badugi?

Badugi is all about reading your opponents, knowing when to bluff, and resisting the urge to chase. It’s fast, fun, and full of swings. It’s also a great equalizer in mixed games, since most people think they know what they’re doing.

⸻

💬 Final Thoughts

Badugi might sound confusing at first, but once you play a few hands, you’ll be hooked. It’s one of the wildest games in the mixed-game rotation — and it deserves a spot in your next home game or tournament lineup.

Deuce to Seven (2-7) No-Limit Single Draw is a popular poker variant often played in high-stakes cash games and mixed-game formats. Here’s a guide on how to play:

Objective

The goal in Deuce to Seven is to make the lowest possible hand. The best possible hand is 7-5-4-3-2, not all of the same suit (unsuited).

Hand Rankings

• Aces are always high. Therefore, A-2-3-4-5 is not a straight but rather an Ace-high hand.
• Straights and flushes count against you, so the best possible hand contains no straights or flushes.
• Pairs and higher cards are bad. The worst hand in the game is a high-card hand (e.g., K-Q-J-10-9).

Game Play

1. Blinds

• Like in Texas Hold’em, Deuce to Seven starts with two players posting blinds.
• The player to the left of the dealer posts the small blind, and the next player posts the big blind.

2. Dealing

• Each player is dealt five cards face down.

3. First Betting Round

• Betting starts with the player to the left of the big blind.
• Players can fold, call, or raise.

4. Drawing

• After the first betting round, remaining players have the option to discard any number of cards from their hand and draw new ones from the deck.
• Players can also choose to “stand pat” and keep their current hand without drawing new cards.

5. Second Betting Round

• A second betting round takes place after the draw.
• This is a no-limit game, so players can bet any amount of their remaining chips.

6. Showdown

• If more than one player remains after the second betting round, a showdown occurs.
• Players reveal their hands, and the player with the lowest-ranked hand wins the pot.

Strategy Tips

• Starting Hands: Good starting hands include low cards without pairs, straights, or flushes. Hands like 7-6-5-4-2 or 8-7-6-5-2 are strong.
• Drawing Strategy: Decide how many cards to draw based on your starting hand. If you have a good low hand, consider standing pat. If you need to improve, draw one or more cards.
• Betting: Since it’s a no-limit game, aggressive betting can be used to bluff opponents. Pay attention to the betting patterns of other players to gauge the strength of their hands.

Example Hand

1. Blinds Posted: Player A posts the small blind, and Player B posts the big blind.
2. Deal: Each player is dealt five cards.
3. First Betting Round: Betting starts with the player to the left of the big blind.
4. Drawing: Players discard unwanted cards and draw new ones. Player A discards two cards and draws two new ones. Player B stands pat.
5. Second Betting Round: After the draw, another round of betting occurs.
6. Showdown: If there are still multiple players, they reveal their hands. The player with the best low hand wins.

Remember, practice and experience are key to mastering Deuce to Seven No-Limit Single Draw. Good luck at the tables!