Spin & Gos are an exciting fast-format game that combines elements of lottery and tournament poker, giving you the opportunity to win potentially huge prizes in a matter of minutes. Although it’s often seen as a recreational format, Spin & Gos can be played strategically to grind out a low ROI at high volumes.

This page takes you through the basics of Spin & Go gameplay, diving into different aspects of the format and the reasons why people choose them.

What is a Spin & Go?

Spin & Gos are an unusual format with a lot of gameplay elements to consider. Let’s break each part down in detail:

• Single table, three-player SNG format – Spin & Gos start as soon as three players are registered, so you’ll always be playing short-handed against two opponents, then heads-up.
• Randomized prize pool – Rather than having a set prize pool, Spin & Gos have a random multiplier that is shown as a spinning wheel. Prizes typically range from 2x to 10,000x the buy-in.
• Fast format – Players start with just 500 chips and 3-minute long hyper turbo blind levels. This means the pace of play is fast and games tend to be finished in 8-12 minutes.
• Usually winner takes all – At the lower multipliers, Spin & Gos have a winner takes all format in which only first place is paid.
• All buy-in levels – Spin & Gos run at buy-ins ranging from 25c to $1,000, making them accessible for both complete beginners and seasoned high rollers.

Randomized Multipliers Explained

The variable prize pool is a big part of the game; it is the “Spin” aspect that makes Spin & Gos unique and appealing. At the start, a wheel spins to randomize the prize pool. The majority of Spin & Gos land on low multipliers such as 2x, 3x, 4x or 5x.

Higher multipliers are extremely rare, but it’s possible to win up to 10,000x the buy-in. This is the lottery element and is part of what makes Spin & Gos high variance. Some of your expected value is locked up in these bigger wins. When they do happen, though, you’ll be playing for huge prize pools. Imagine playing for $150,000 from a $15 buy-in!

If you do spin a huge multiplier, the structure will be more generous during that Spin & Go. At 10x, second place is paid. At 25x or higher, all three players take a share of the prize pool, although first place still takes the vast majority. Blinds also run slower at high multipliers, so they aren’t such a crapshoot.

You can find the full breakdown for the odds and structures of each multiplier at PokerStars.com.

Why Spin & Gos?

The next question the video addresses is: Why you would want to choose Spin & Gos? Spin & Gos are a million miles from the slow and steady grind of MTTs. Yet, for many, this is what makes them appealing. Here are some of the qualities that make Spin & Gos worth playing:

• Win big prizes fast – With a little luck from multipliers, you could land a huge payout in a matter of minutes. For a lot of recreational players, this is a huge part of what makes Spin & Gos special.
• Soft player pool – Because Spin & Gos tend to attract a recreational player pool who may not have much experience in three-handed poker strategy, serious players and pros have a reason to play.
• Fast action – The Spin & Go structure encourages fast paced action. Ranges are wide in three-handed, short stack play, so you’ll be involved in a lot of pots. This is beneficial for anyone who gets bored playing full ring games or large field MTTs.
• High volume – Spin & Gos are known for having a lower ROI than other poker formats. However, this is offset by the speed. You can play a single game from start to finish in a matter of minutes, which allows you to play a high volume of games.
• Chip EV – There’s rarely any ICM in Spin & Gos, so you can stick to a pure chip EV strategy of playing to win. This removes some complex tournament spots so that you can focus on other ways to gain an edge.
• Learning ranges – Spin & Gos can help you to learn ranges for tough positions like the button, small blind and big blind, as well as to become more familiar with heads-up strategy. This knowledge can be applied to other poker formats and becomes particularly useful if you make the final table of an MTT.

Drawbacks and Risks

The fast format lottery style of Spin & Gos is not for everyone. Those who prefer a slower pace and time to grow their stack won’t enjoy it and even those looking for the big payoffs won’t always be satisfied. Here are the possible drawbacks to playing Spin & Gos:

• High variance – Results can be swingy, especially given the multiplier element.
• Rare multipliers – Jackpot multipliers are rare and you can’t rely on them to hit.
• ROI – Because of the structure, ROI is lower on average than other formats.
• Mental fatigue – The hyper turbo short-handed format can be too fast and draining for some, causing mental fatigue.

Spin & Go Strategy Basics

The fast paced Spin & Go format requires you to make certain adjustments to your strategy when you play poker – which we’ll be covering in detail throughout the series, such as:

• Limping and raising ranges – When to open-raise or limp the button and small blind.
• Defending the big blind – When to defend against different raise sizes.
• Push-fold strategy – When to fold or shove with short stacks, as well as calling shoves.
• Postflop play – Playing postflop with relatively short stacks, such as knowing when to c-bet and when to bet the turn.

Watch the first video of the series to see a demo of Spin & Go strategy and how it applies at the table. Next time, we’ll be covering some concepts that you need to know before you start, such as expectations, bankroll management, and GTO versus exploitative play.