If your goal is purely profit, then spending hours to win $1 probably isn’t worth it. But if you see it as practice, entertainment, or a way to improve your tournament strategy without much risk, then the time can still be valuable. It depends on whether you’re playing for growth or for profit.
Honestly, it really depends on what you’re looking for at the table. If your only goal is pure hourly rate, grinding an MTT for a couple of hours just to win $1 definitely doesn’t sound great. But if you’re using these small-stakes tournaments to practice decision-making, experiment with ranges, or just enjoy the game without stress, that little payout can still be worth the time.
I also think low-buy-in MTTs are one of the best ways to build endurance and discipline. You get to play deep-stacked spots, bubbles, short-stack situations, final tables… all for almost no financial pressure. So even if the prize isn’t impressive, the experience can still pay off in the long run.
I also think low-buy-in MTTs are one of the best ways to build endurance and discipline. You get to play deep-stacked spots, bubbles, short-stack situations, final tables… all for almost no financial pressure. So even if the prize isn’t impressive, the experience can still pay off in the long run.
The $1 doesn't worth it by itself, but are you playing as an entertainment? If so, it worth it if you enjoyed the time.roberto51 said:
If you are trying to be a winning player, then you'll face even negative sessions, but it's the long term what you need to focus on.
If you're trying to build a bankroll, then yes. When I started to play again, I remember once I won $0.17, then $1, then $5, and after that, I started to have better and better results.
Honestly, for just $1 after a few hours, it’s not worth it from a pure money perspective.
MTTs are high variance and time-consuming, so returns can be very slow at micro stakes.
But it can still be worth it for learning, experience, and building a bankroll.
If your goal is profit, you need to move up stakes over time.
Otherwise, treat it as practice + enjoyment, not hourly income.
MTTs are high variance and time-consuming, so returns can be very slow at micro stakes.
But it can still be worth it for learning, experience, and building a bankroll.
If your goal is profit, you need to move up stakes over time.
Otherwise, treat it as practice + enjoyment, not hourly income.
I honestly understand that spending several hours on a tournament just to win $1 isn’t about making money. If I look at it financially, the return is too small for the time invested, and as a source of income it’s simply not efficient.
But I see it a bit differently. For me, these tournaments are mainly about experience. I’m learning to play long sessions, make decisions in late stages, understand bubble play, and control my emotions. Especially when I’m moving up to a new level, this really helps me improve.
I also realize that if it’s a freeroll, I’m not risking anything at all—just my time. And if the field is weak, I can slowly build a bankroll even from these small winnings.
At the same time, I try to stay honest with myself: if I don’t have much time or I’m already playing tournaments with decent buy-ins, then spending hours for just one dollar isn’t worth it. In that case, I’d rather choose a more profitable format.
In the end, I’ve decided this for myself: if my goal is growth and experience, I play these tournaments. If my goal is money right now, I skip them.
But I see it a bit differently. For me, these tournaments are mainly about experience. I’m learning to play long sessions, make decisions in late stages, understand bubble play, and control my emotions. Especially when I’m moving up to a new level, this really helps me improve.
I also realize that if it’s a freeroll, I’m not risking anything at all—just my time. And if the field is weak, I can slowly build a bankroll even from these small winnings.
At the same time, I try to stay honest with myself: if I don’t have much time or I’m already playing tournaments with decent buy-ins, then spending hours for just one dollar isn’t worth it. In that case, I’d rather choose a more profitable format.
In the end, I’ve decided this for myself: if my goal is growth and experience, I play these tournaments. If my goal is money right now, I skip them.
My dad, may he rest in peace, also played poker, and he always told me, "Daughter, everything adds up." But I told him, "Yes, that's true, but for me, it's not worth it if you have to invest so many hours." (He later understood what I meant and became more selective about who he played.) That's something I learned many years ago, and I always say I learned it the hard way. Once, I played a $0.50 tournament for over eight hours. I made it in the money, but the result wasn't satisfactory for me. Those kinds of tournaments are very draining. I analyze the registration time, the length of the blinds, the prizes, everything. If you play for fun and don't care much about the time you invest and what you'll win, you can keep playing. But if you do care, analyze those kinds of tournaments, the time you'll invest, and the prizes. If you want to play them despite that, then you must prepare properly for many hours of play.
roberto51 said:
This type of situation should be considered as learning and experience gained in studies being put into practice, nothing more. After that, the limits can be raised, but be careful not to go too fast, focusing only on financial return.
I don't understand your question. If you win $1 in a few hours and these are micro limits, that's fine for these limits. If that's not enough for you, play at higher limits. If the higher limits are too high for you, what's the point of asking such a question? You either want to play tournament poker for your bankroll or you don't. It's simple.