Poker Tournament Formats and Their Descriptions

 

  1. Freezeout Tournaments
    At the start of the tournament, all players receive an equal number of chips. No rebuys are allowed. Once a player loses all their chips, they are eliminated. The game continues until one winner remains.

  2. Rebuy Tournaments
    Within a specified time period, players have the opportunity to purchase additional chips (rebuy) if they run out. After the rebuy period ends, the tournament continues as a freezeout.

  3. Re-entry Tournaments
    After being eliminated, a player can re-register for the tournament by paying the buy-in again. Unlike a rebuy, the player starts fresh, often at a different table.

  4. Add-on Tournaments
    At a specific point (usually after the rebuy period), players can purchase additional chips (add-on). To make an add-on, the player must have at least one chip. If they have none, they must first rebuy before adding on.

  5. Unlimited Rebuy Formats
    Unlimited Rebuys: Players can rebuy an unlimited number of times up to the starting chip amount, if their stack is equal to or lower than the starting stack. Only allowed during the rebuy period and between hands.
    Unlimited WILD Rebuys: Players can rebuy unlimited chips regardless of their current stack size.

  6. Double Chance Tournaments
    At the beginning, players receive half of their total starting chips. The other half can be requested once, for free, at any point during the first three levels—only between hands.

  7. Sit & Go Tournaments
    The tournament begins as soon as a specific number of players register (e.g., 6, 9, or 18). There is no scheduled start time. These tournaments are smaller and faster.

  8. Multi-Table Tournaments (MTT)
    Large tournaments with many players split across multiple tables. As players are eliminated, tables are consolidated until one final table and one winner remain.

  9. Satellite Tournaments
    Winners receive entry tickets to another, higher buy-in tournament. This is a great way to qualify for prestigious events at a lower cost.

  10. Bounty Tournaments
    Players receive a cash reward for eliminating other players. Part of the buy-in goes toward the bounty pool.

  11. Progressive Knockout (PKO)
    A special bounty format. When a player eliminates another, they receive 50% of the opponent’s bounty as a reward, and the other 50% is added to their own bounty. The more players they knock out, the higher their own bounty becomes.

  12. Mystery Bounty
    For each eliminated player, a random (mystery) prize is awarded. The value is revealed only after the elimination, adding excitement and unpredictability to the game.

  13. Double or Nothing Tournaments
    Half the players double their buy-in, and the other half win nothing. The tournament ends when the required number of players are eliminated.

  14. Turbo and Hyper-Turbo Tournaments
    Turbo: Blind levels increase faster than in standard tournaments.
    Hyper-Turbo: Blind levels increase even faster, making the pace of play much more aggressive.

  15. Deep Stack Tournaments
    Players start with a larger-than-usual amount of chips compared to the blinds. This allows for deeper strategy and longer gameplay.

  16. Terminator Tournaments (Life Chip)
    A freezeout variant where each player also receives a Life Chip with a cash value. If a player goes all-in and loses, their Life Chip is awarded to the opponent. Every time a player goes all-in, they must include their Life Chip if they still have it.

  17. Big Blind Ante (BBA)
    In BBA tournaments, only the player in the big blind pays the ante, which speeds up gameplay and reduces dealer error.
    Priority: If a player doesn't have enough chips for both the big blind and the ante, the big blind is paid first, and the ante only if chips remain.

  18. Ante Only No Limit Texas Hold’em
    In this format, players only pay antes in each hand—there is no small or big blind.

These formats offer diverse gameplay dynamics, strategic challenges, and prize distribution models—making poker tournaments engaging and suitable for players of all styles and experience levels.