It’s almost time for the second annual PokerStars’ Spring Championship of Online Poker, which means that us small stakes players can once again take part in a major event with the chance to win a boatload of money for a modest buy-in.  Sure, other sites offer tournaments series of their own, and some with low level buy-ins, but Stars seems to have best grasped how to do things properly in both structure and in making SCOOP a big deal by scheduling it only once a year.

Like last year, SCOOP will feature 22 events running through two weeks, each with three levels of buy-ins.  For each event there are high, medium, and low tournaments.  For example, the first day features a NLHE 6-max event with a $2,100 tournament, a $215 tournament, and a $22 tournament.  Each tournament provides players with starting stacks of 10,000 chips, with blinds starting at 25/50.  The only difference between the high, medium and low tournaments are the blind levels, with most high limit tournaments having 30 minute levels, mediums having 20 minute levels and low having 15 minute levels.  While it would be nice to have equal levels across the board, it makes sense to have shorter levels for the low-priced events due to the huge number of players they are going to draw.  Things kick off on May 2 and conclude on the 16^th with a Main Event where even the low-limit tournament has a $1 million guarantee.  The full schedule as well as satellite info can be found here.

The beauty of SCOOP is that even the low-limit tournaments give players the chance to play with deep stacks, long levels, and huge guaranteed prize pools.  I don’t think I’m speaking for myself when I say that I value good tournament structure.  The thing is, people who play mostly $10 buy-ins don’t often get to play deep events.  I’d like to say that I satellite into the Sunday Million every week, but that’s not the case.

Then again, that might change.  I’ve taken some time to set out goals I want to accomplish in both the short and long-term.  My short-term goals should take me through to the end of SCOOP and into the World Series of Poker (where I’ll be reporting, not playing).  My long-term goals are things I want to accomplish by the end of the calendar year, and beyond.  Of course I’ve left winning the World Series Main Event off my list until at least 2011.

I’ll publish my goals in next week’s column. In the meantime, why don’t you hit our Forums and share your goals.  Playing SCOOP?  Let me know which events you’re playing.  You’ll be able to find me at the tables for the following events:

May 2 – 13:00 – NLHE 6-max - $22

May 2 – 17:00 – NLHE 2-day Event - $22

May 3 – 14:00 – NLHE 6 Max Rebuy - $5.50

May 4 – 17:00 – NLHE Heads-up - $16.50

May 4 – 20:00 – NLHE - $11

May 5 – 14:00 – Mixed HE - $22

May 5 – 17:00 – 7-Card Stud High - $33

May 6 – 17:00 – NLHE Knockout - $27

May 7 – 20:00 – NLHE 2x Chance Turbo - $16.50

May 8 – 14:00 – NLHE Quadruple Shootout  - $22

May 8 – 20:00 – FLHE  Turbo - $22

May 9 – 17:00 - NLHE 2 Day Event - $22

May 11 – 20:00 – NLHE - $11

May 12 – 17:00 – NLHE Rebuys - $11

May 14 – 17:00 – FLHE 6 Max - $55

May 16 – 13:00 NLHE - $22

May 16 – 17:00 - NLHE Main Event - $109