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PRIZE STRUCTURE · INTERMEDIATE

What Is a Progressive Knockout (PKO) Tournament?

A progressive knockout is a bounty event where eliminating another player increases the bounty on your own head.

Understand the format ↓
THE CORE RULE

How does Progressive Knockout (PKO) work?

The operator specifies the split of a captured bounty between immediate award and an increase to the winner's bounty. A common split is half and half, but it is not universal.

Prizes and payouts

Place prizes and collected bounties are separate cash awards. The amount displayed on a player's head can change throughout play.

This is a tournament structure, not a poker game. The event can use Hold'em, Omaha, or another published game. Always read that event's rules and prize schedule.

AT THE TABLE

A practical example.

With a 50/50 rule, capturing a $20 bounty pays $10 immediately and adds $10 to your own bounty. The actual event may use a different split.

BEFORE YOU REGISTER

What should you verify?

Verify the bounty split, initial bounty, prize pool allocation, and final player's bounty treatment.

Operator and venue rules control the exact entry, blind, bounty, payout, and cancellation terms. Poker TDA's tournament procedures cover a different layer of tournament play.

QUICK RULES CHECK

Check your understanding.

What makes a knockout event progressive?

Frequently asked questions

What does Progressive Knockout (PKO) mean?

A progressive knockout is a bounty event where eliminating another player increases the bounty on your own head.

What can you win?

Place prizes and collected bounties are separate cash awards. The amount displayed on a player's head can change throughout play.

What should you check in the lobby?

Verify the bounty split, initial bounty, prize pool allocation, and final player's bounty treatment.

Related poker terms

Progressive KnockoutProgressive KnockoutA bounty tournament where eliminating a player pays part of their bounty and adds the rest to your own bounty.Open full definition ↗BountyBountyA prize awarded for eliminating a designated player.Open full definition ↗Knockout TournamentKnockout TournamentA tournament where eliminating opponents can award bounty prizes.Open full definition ↗

Compare related formats

Knockout / Fixed BountyEliminating a player awards a stated bounty in addition to any place prize.Open guide ↗Mystery BountyAfter a specified activation point, eliminations reveal variable bounty prizes.Open guide ↗Re-entry TournamentAfter elimination, a player may register a new entry while re-entry is open.Open guide ↗

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RULES REFERENCES

Source documents

Reviewed 2026-10-15. These are original educational explanations. The named sources publish the underlying rules; Flawless Poker does not issue official rulings.