What Is a Rebuy & Add-on Tournament?
A rebuy adds chips under a tournament's rebuy rules, often while the original entry remains active. An add-on is an optional purchase of extra chips at a specified point.
Understand the format ↓How does Rebuy & Add-on work?
Rebuys may require a low or empty stack and end at a fixed cutoff. Add-ons often occur near the end of the rebuy period. Limits and chip amounts vary by event.
Prizes and payouts
All rebuys and add-ons are real costs and belong in total event investment. They may also grow the prize pool under the operator's rules.
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.
A practical example.
A player pays $5 to enter, $5 to rebuy after losing chips, and $5 for an add-on. Their total investment is $15, excluding any separately stated fees.
What should you verify?
Read eligibility, rebuy cap, add-on timing, chip quantities, and fee treatment before registering.
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.
Check your understanding.
What distinguishes a rebuy from re-entry?
Frequently asked questions
What does Rebuy & Add-on mean?
A rebuy adds chips under a tournament's rebuy rules, often while the original entry remains active. An add-on is an optional purchase of extra chips at a specified point.
What can you win?
All rebuys and add-ons are real costs and belong in total event investment. They may also grow the prize pool under the operator's rules.
What should you check in the lobby?
Read eligibility, rebuy cap, add-on timing, chip quantities, and fee treatment before registering.
Related poker terms
Compare related formats
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.
- PokerStars Tournament Types ↗Operator-specific format descriptions
- PokerStars Tournament Rules ↗Operator-specific event procedures