Full Tilt Matrix Tournaments

Tournament Type:	Sit & Go
When:	When full
Blind Levels:	Turbo – 3 Minutes, Regular – 6 Minutes
Starting Chips:	3,000
Buy-in:	$1 + $0.20 to $2,100 + $90
Interesting Fact:	If you win all four tables of the Matrix Tournament you become the Dominatrix and claim the entire prize pool.

The Matrix at Full Tilt Poker is a sit & go style tournament played on 4 tables. The same opponents are on each table at the same time. You should be comfortable multi-tabling before entering the Matrix, or alternatively – playing a small buy-in matrix tournament can be the perfect way to hone your multi-tabling skills. Matrix tournaments are marked with a turquoise M iconin the Full Tilt tournament lobby.

The Matrix prize pool is divided into 5 equal shares – 20% for each of the 4 tables and 20% for the Matrix Scoring. Players make money by finishing in the money on any individual table or placing near the top of the Matrix scoring table.

Players earn Matrix points in three ways:

1. Knocking out another player – 2 points per knock out
2. Survive longer than other players – 1 point for each person knocked out by another player.
3. Finish first on any table – 2 points

One main benefit of Full Tilt Matrix tournaments is playing against weak opponents on four separate tables. In traditional sit & go tournaments, a player may be unluckily knocked out by a fishy player and never see that player again. In Matrix Tournaments, if a player is bad beat by a weak opponent, he still has 3 other tables and thus 3 more chances to take advantage of this opponent.

Matrix Strategy

Because 20% of the prize pool is paid out via Matrix points, some slight to moderate strategy modifications are needed. There are two competing views.

Aggressive Approach

Play aggressively to earn knock out points and try to win a table or two. This strategy can be beneficial if you are successful in eliminating a few other players, or if you are able to win all 4 tables and become the Dominatrix. However, an early elimination means you may have to be even more aggressive. Additionally, being knocked out early means you will earn very few survival points for that table.

Passive Strategy

Others may opt for a more passive approach, especially if they are at an aggressive table. By laying back and playing premium cards you can benefit from other players knocking each other out, thus adding elimination points to your score. If you are able to slip in to the money by placing at a few tables, this approach can be very profitable. This approach could work well in both regular and turbo blind structures where players are more aggressive, but be careful not to be too cautious and get blinded out.

To sign up for a Matrix tournament log on to Full Tilt Poker and using the search function, click on “Sit & Go.” From there, click on “Matrix” and then all that’s left to do is pick the buy-in level and you’re ready to earn your shot to become the Dominatrix.