Eight years later, Brazilian poker returns to the island - this time with an international accent. BSOP Floripa 2026 kicks off Thursday, September 4, at Costao do Santinho in Florianopolis, and the field flying in is not just local: the online qualifiers include players from three countries, among them Argentina's Juan Barattini, a familiar face on the Latin American circuit.
The facts: five days, 26 tournaments and a final satellite sprint
The stop runs September 4-8 and marks the Brazilian Poker Championship's return to Santa Catarina after eight years away. The schedule packs 26 tournaments with buy-ins from R$500 to R$25,000, plus high-roller options spread across the stop - there is a seat for the recreational player chasing the experience and for the reg hunting the trophy.
The final week of online qualifiers was a stampede: dozens of seats awarded day after day, capped by Sunday's Mega satellite with 20 guaranteed packages - Main Event buy-in plus a stay at the all-inclusive resort for the qualifier and a guest, for a $215 entry. That was the last train for full packages: from here on, you either buy in or you are already booked. We covered that satellite race last week.
Why it matters: the package is not free money
Here is the lesson for everyone who qualified - and for you, next time you win a seat. The classic satellite-winner mistake is showing up with a "this cost me nothing" mindset and playing the biggest tournament of your life like a freeroll: loose calls, too many bluffs, no plan. Wrong. That package is your buy-in - you earned it with sharp satellite play - and it deserves the same discipline as a withdrawal from your bankroll.
The other adjustment is pace. Live poker deals far fewer hands per hour than online: long levels, more time between decisions, and a kind of patience the screen grinder does not always bring pre-trained. Turn that slowness into information - watch showdowns, map tendencies, pick your spots - and you reach Day 2 with a real edge. And beware the classic trap of the week: firing "since I'm here" bullets at every event on the board. Set the budget before you travel, pick your tournaments, and let the rest be beach.
Still working on the qualifying stage yourself? Start with our guide to poker satellites - the format has rules of its own. Following the stop, or know someone making the trip? Tell us in the community - we will be watching every final table.