If you’ve always wanted to play live deep-stack tournaments but can’t afford a $5,000 buy-in, then you’ll be pleased to hear we’ve teamed up with the Amateur Poker Association and Tour (APAT) to bring big game poker to your doorstep at a price which won’t break the bank.

APAT, in association with PokerStars.com, is holding seven tournaments across the UK, Europe and the US over the next year, which in addition to the usual cash payouts, will give the winner entry into a European Poker Tour, World Poker Tour or World Series of Poker event. For a mere £75 buy-in you get a chip stack of 10,000, with 40-minute blinds, creating a structure you won’t get anywhere else outside the biggest tournaments in the world.

APAT chairman Tony Kendall said: ‘APAT will become the affordable proving ground for players wanting to realise their potential in high quality live events.’

The first event, the English Amateur Poker Championship, will take place at the Broadway Casino in Birmingham on September 23-24. You have to be an APAT member to take part and we’re offering a halfprice joining fee of £5. Simply enter the ‘Player51’ promotional code when signing up at www.apat.com.

APAT will also be holding a series of events exclusively on PokerStars. com. Watch this space for updates.