In the freeze out tournament everyone starts out with the same number of chips. The structure warrants a tighter strategy. Once you lose all your chips, you are out of the tournament The rebuy tournament usually has a certain number of levels (usually three, but sometimes more or less) where one can rebuy chips. There is usually a set amount of chips that one has to be below before one can rebuy. Some tournaments have a rebuy that is less than the original buy in. Others have a limited number of rebuy. At the end of a rebuy period there is usually an additional amount of chips that everyone is allowed to buy. This is called an add on.

The advantage of a rebuy tournament is usually more for the house (casino) then for the player. They are usually used when a guarantee has been made in regards to the total prize money. The players have a looser strategy in this kind of tournament and try to accumulate a large stack before the rebuy period is over. There are different kinds of rebuy tournaments. I suggest you learn about the tournament type before you decide to register.

There are approximately four different tournaments based on the length of the levels. Although the amount of chips one starts with, the number of players in the tourney, and which poker game is involved also dictate the length a tournament lasts; the primary way that tournament directors manage the length of a tournament is by the amount of time for each level. The smaller Casinos tend to have fast structured tournaments that last around four to five hours. Each level of play is less than twenty minutes. The medium length level tourneys usually last around eight hours. Each level last around thirty to forty minutes. The long length tourneys usually take two days to complete. Usually the first day is approximately ten to twelve hours. The final table is played the next day (and occasionally the final two).

Poker Tournaments

The final table will usually have slightly longer levels (although not always) and will last four to eight hours. The championship tournaments usually have two hour levels. These tournaments usually last from three to seven days. The games of poker that can be used in a tournament varies from casino (or online poker site) to casino. The most popular format for poker tournaments is No Limit Holdem.

This is a fairly recent trend over the past year. Prior to 2004, Limit Holdem was the most popular game. Tournaments are available in Seven Card Stud, Omaha (hi-lo split as well as pot limit) and just about any poker game that is available in a card room. Tournaments can be run with a buy in amount with or without an entrance fee (a.k.a. juice) in addition to the buy in. Smaller tournaments online as well as your local Casino/ Poker room will usually run the tournament for free. These tournaments are basically used as a way to promote their room or site.

The larger tournaments will usually have an entrance fee. This fee is the amount that the Casino receives for running the tournament. Certain special tournaments are called SNG or single table satellites. They were originally used at major tournaments to allow a player a chance to win a seat in the larger buy in tournament. There is only one winner in these tournaments. The SNG has evolved in recent years with the advent of the online poker sites.

Now the players play for first, second, or third place and receive cash instead of a seat. There are also multi-table satellites and super satellites. In the super satellite format, players vie for a seat in the championship tournament. This allows players a chance to play in the very high buy in tournaments for a fraction of the entrance fee.