Rebuy tournaments can be fun and rewarding depending on the overall structure. I like playing in rebuy tournaments because the prize-pool is usually very big in the end, making the overall large buy in [if you rebuy] worth it. Here are some of the things to look for
-Main buy in. How much will it cost to enter the tounament?
-Starting chips in relation to the main buy in. If the buy in is $30 and you start off with 500 in chips, I might reconsider the tournament depending on:
-Price of rebuy + rebuy chips. Usually the rebuy is less than the initial buy in, but the chip count is the same. So say the rebuy is $10 for 500, then that to me thats a discount at 1000 in chips.
-Blind structure. Where do they start and how often they increase.
-When the rebuys end and if they have an add on option
-The cost of the add on. The number of add on chips vs blinds
-number of people playing.
-The overall prize pool.
Another thing to take into consideration is if its an un*limited rebuy option or if its a limit rebuy tournament.
usually in rebuy tounaments, starting chips are usually very small. Maybe 10x the starting big blind. This is because they want to people to rebuy as early as possible and increase the prize pool. Casinos will usually put up the money to meet the guarenteed prize pool, but they want players to put as much of it as possible. They also increase blinds very quickly because it forces people too play. Depending on if its unlimited or limited rebuy, my early tourny strategy differs. Lets say its rebuy(s) for the first 2 rounds, which an add on option at the end of the 2nd round. Blinds start at 25/50 and double up every 15 minutes.
In limit: i play very tight the first round and keep as much in chips as possible. I dont even see the need to get involved in a hand. In the second round, with the blind increase vs my very short stack. This is where I try and pick a hand and double up. If I double up, I pick another hand and try and double again. If I can get double my starting chips good, Ill sit back, wait for the round to end and take the add on option. If I dont double up, I take the rebuy option, sit tight and take the add on option. Another thing to consider is that casinos like these tournaments, but they're very time consuming and they usually take time from ring games, where they make the most money.
If its an unlimited rebuys for the first 2 rounds, then Im in for all my chips with a lot big hands, drawing hands, whatever. Here my main goal is to collect as many chips as possible, so Im not afraid to push on drawing hands and such. Say I start off with 500 in chips, after the blinds pass me, I get dealt JQ. With 425 left, Im gonna push all my chips in and hope to double up off of someone. Even If I do double, Im only sitting with 950 which isnt a big lead, so when the next big hand comes along, Im pushing it all again. If I can manage to collect 4x starting chips (2000) then I can slow my play down and wait for the rebuy rounds to end. Even though I'll be sitting on a big stack, theres really no bullying other players because of the rebuy option...unless you have the absolute nuts, I'd avoid confrontations with my big stack. Then afterwards, I'll take the add on option and be sitting at a relatively healthy stack.
After the rebuy and add on stages, its pretty much similar to final table play, even though its far from it. If your a big stack, bully the smaller stacks and pick up blinds and pots as frequently as you can. Soon the smaller stacks will be gone and the rest is just like a normal tournament.
A quick look at the add on option: If you're sitting a fairly large stack when the add on option comes around, take the option because it'll benefit you more than if you are short stacked. Say you're sitting on 2000 in chips and add on is another 2000, thats 4000 in chips. Now say you didnt have a good run and you're only sitting on 300 in chips and the add on is another 2000, you might be thinking 2300 is decent stack to play with...but take into consideration of the raised blinds. By the 3rd round the blinds are at 100/200 leaving you at 10x the BB, which is still shortstacked. In this situation, I dont think the add on is worth the price, unless Im planning to play very aggressively and try and take as many pots and blinds as I can.
The overall prize pool is usually set in stone at casinos. Like I said, they want players to put as much of it into the prize pool as possible, but they'll meet the guarenteed winnings. So, if the prize pool is relatively large, I'll play. Example of a rebuy tournament structure at the casino I play at.
-$30 buy in, $20 rebuy in first 2 rounds, $20 add after 2nd round.
-Estimated number of players = 150+
-First place = $900+
Even though the number of players x [buy in + rebuy + add on] = large cash pool, take into consideration that not everyone will rebuy or take the add on option.
Now say the prize pool depends on how much money is put in by the players, then a percentage is paid to the top 3, thats a bit different. You could be playing for a large prize pool if majority of the players rebought and added on or a very little prize pool if only a small percentage of the players took those options....
Pros of rebuy tournies:
-very rewarding
-fun
cons of rebuy tournies:
-time consuming
-could get very expensive
-could get frustrating for normal, tight tournament players because of constant action.
Last edited by PHiLTHY; 06-07-2006 at 08:07 PM.
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