Chris Moneymaker did it. Greg Raymer did it. Even better, both won their seat into the championship by winning a low buy-in satellite.

In fact at $39, it cost Moneymaker more money in cab fare getting from his hotel to the tournament than he paid for his $10k seat.

And if they can do it, there's no reason you can't do the same.

With the start of the 40th edition of the World Series of Poker now just three weeks away, we're in prime time WSOP satellite season - and chances to win an all-expenses paid shot at the biggest prize in poker are everywhere you turn.

These are a few tips to help you get yours.

"Winner Takes All" Satellites

The majority of satellites for the WSOP Main Event on most poker sites are set up as multi-table tournaments, and they require a slightly different approach than for your standard cash MTT.

Typically WSOP satellites are structured either as "Winner Takes All" events or as events with packages awarded to a set number of the top finishers.

Your preferred strategy in these tournaments will obviously vary greatly depending on which structure you're playing.

Classic Moneymaker all-in stance

When it comes to the "Winner Takes All" version, the Ricky Bobby maxim rings true: "If you're not first, you're last."

You're playing to win.

In most cash MTTs, you can have a really decent day financially simply by making the final table. Even getting close can be enough to make your effort somewhat worthwhile.

In a Winner Takes All satellite, making the final table is only the first hurdle. After that, you still need to beat every player at the table for the win.

At this point in a tournament, the style of play typically becomes push or fold. And if you didn't come in with a big chip stack, you're going to need some serious help from lady luck to take it down.

Your only goal in this kind of tournament is to collect as many chips as you can before that.

Aside from catching some cards, very aggressive play is your best bet. You want to be willing to take coin-flips much earlier than you would in a standard cash MTT.

If you're willing to take a flip before any of your opponents, your aggression will win you pots when they fold. And by winning a flip early, you'll have enough chips to lean on the other players at the table and take the next flip against a shorter stack without risking your tournament life.

This style of play is not optimal for cash MTTs, as there are less-aggressive styles that still give you a decent shot at winning and a very good chance at making the money.

The goal with "Winner Takes All" is obviously to set up the best chance for you to win outright, as anything short of first is useless.

A simple example of the difference between playing a standard MTT and a Winner Takes All MTT is playing against other big stacks.

Say you're second in chips with a large field left. It's almost never correct to get into a large pot against the chip leader here.

Why put your tournament life on the line when you stand a decent chance at going deep by playing against the smaller stacks?

In an all-or-nothing satellite, this is the exact scenario you're looking for.

Letting a player amass a huge chip stack is a big threat to you. If you make it to heads up, you're ultimately going to have to overcome that chip advantage.

Taking them on in the earlier stages will ideally make you "that guy" with the huge stack, and give yourself a legitimate advantage at the final table.

Greg Raymer: the fossil man.

Playing for Multiple Packages

In a multiple-package tournament, winning is irrelevant. You're playing to get past the bubble.

It makes no difference to you if you have one chip or one million chips when the bubble bursts. As long as you're still in it, you win a package.

So you're simply looking to collect enough chips to make the bubble.  In fact, when the bubble draws near, it's common for the chip leaders to refuse to play any hand - including aces.

If your spot in the money is an almost guarantee at thist stage, it makes no sense to jeopardize your chances by getting your aces cracked.

On the other hand, when the bubble draws near, almost all players play the tightest poker they have ever played. If your stack is not large enough to coast through the bubble, you need to take this opportunity to pick up as many chips as you can.

If players are unwilling to contest any pots, you should be willing to steal every pot. You should play these tournaments in a similar fashion as you would a standard cash MTT.

Because you don't need to win, you're guaranteed a package if you can keep your stack at or above average at all times.

Being the chip leader is nice but unnecessary in these tournaments. Your goal is to keep an eye on the bubble and make estimates as to what size of stack is needed to make it through.

If you're above your legitimate estimate, it doesn't make sense to take large gambles for chips.

Final Suggestions

Small-ball poker is much more common in multiple-package tournaments than in Winner Takes All ones.

Are you next?

Although it's possible to win a package without ever being involved in a huge pot, chances are you're going to need to come out on top of multiple coin flips just to keep yourself in enough chips to make it.

Choose your spots wisely. Ideally your opponents will always fold to you rather than force you to flip.

Being the aggressor will at least give you that chance, but in the end you're most likely going to have to win a flip or two: good luck.

Another suggestion: check out the PokerListings exclusive WSOP freerolls offered on the WSOP How to Qualify page. Fields are typically small and per-player value is high.

Packages typically run around $12,500 and include flights, hotel accommodation, the $10k Main Event buy-in and some spending money.

Outside of that, almost all sites offer a full range of WSOP satellites, which you can also check out at the page above by buy-in level (under $5, under $20, under $100 etc).

More WSOP satellite strategy articles:

• How to Super-Satellite Yourself into the WSOP
• How to Step Your Way to the Main Event
• WSOP First-Timer: Playing the Main Event