Rebuy
A rebuy lets a tournament player buy more chips during a set early period, usually after busting or dropping low. In cash games it means adding chips.
A rebuy is the option to buy more chips after you have lost some or all of your stack. In tournaments, a rebuy tournament allows players to purchase extra starting stacks during an early "rebuy period". In cash games, rebuying simply means adding more money to the table, which you can usually do between hands as long as you stay within the table's limits.
How rebuy tournaments work
- Rebuy period: usually the first few blind levels. During this time, players can buy more chips, often only when their stack is at or below the starting amount.
- Add-on: at the end of the rebuy period, every remaining player is typically offered one optional extra purchase of chips, whatever their stack size.
- After the period ends: the event plays like a freezeout, and a busted player is out for good.
A re-entry is a close relative: instead of adding chips to your current stack, you register again as a new entry after busting.
Worked example
A rebuy tournament costs 10 to enter, and each rebuy and the add-on also cost 10. Fees are ignored here for simplicity.
| Source | Count | Money added |
|---|---|---|
| Initial entries | 40 | 400 |
| Rebuys | 25 | 250 |
| Add-ons | 30 | 300 |
| Total prize pool | 95 purchases | 950 |
The prize pool ends up much larger than 40 × 10 = 400 because of all the extra purchases. That is the attraction for players who enjoy bigger prize pools, but it also means one player might spend 10 while another spends 50 or more.
How rebuys change play
During the rebuy period, many players gamble more, because losing a stack can be fixed by paying again. For example, a player might call an all-in with 7♠ 7♦ against a likely A♥ K♣, a close race, because doubling up early is valuable and busting is not final. Once the period ends, play usually tightens noticeably.
Things to watch
- Know your total cost. Decide in advance how many rebuys you are willing to make, as part of sensible bankroll management, and only play within your means.
- Consider the add-on. Skipping it can leave you with fewer chips than most of the field.
- Fees may repeat. Some events charge the house fee on each rebuy, which raises the total rake paid.
- Adjust to the field. Expect looser, more aggressive opponents early, and more value from strong hands as a result. Once rebuys close, expect the same players to tighten up.
Frequently asked questions
What is a rebuy in a poker tournament?
A rebuy lets you buy more chips during an early period of the tournament, usually after losing your stack or falling below the starting amount.
What is the difference between a rebuy and an add-on?
A rebuy is usually available when you are low on chips during the rebuy period, while an add-on is a one-time optional purchase offered to everyone when the period ends.
What is the difference between a rebuy and a re-entry?
A rebuy adds chips to your existing seat, while a re-entry registers you again as a new entry, often at a new seat.
Related poker terms
- Freezeout — A freezeout is a poker tournament where each player buys in once and is eliminated for good when they lose all their chips, with no rebuys allowed.
- Bankroll Management — Bankroll management means keeping money set aside only for poker and choosing stakes small enough that normal swings cannot wipe you out.
- Rake — Rake is the fee a cardroom takes for running a poker game, usually a small percentage of each cash-game pot or a fee added to a tournament buy-in.
- All-In — Going all-in means betting every chip you have in front of you. You can't be forced out of the hand, but you can only win what your chips cover.
- Satellite — A satellite is a poker tournament whose prizes are entries (seats) into a bigger, more expensive tournament instead of cash.