Tourney How to rebuys in home tournaments work? (2 Viewers)

[mummel]

I'm not sure how these work. What are the normal rules?

If I run a home tourney with 10 buddies and someone busts out early, I would be nice to offer them a rebuy so they can still participate in the game.

My gut says there should be a time limit on the rebuy (i.e. the first hour of a 4 hour tournament or whatever).

There should probably also be a limit on the number of rebuys once you bust (say 2).

And as for the amount, it should probably be the same as the original buy-in no? (i.e. T10,000 starting stack, even if that player is at a disadvantaged because the blinds are higher)?

How do you guys do it?

Thanks.

 

[QuiQuog]

Your gut is right. We usually do unlimited rebuys until the first break, about 2 hours into a 6 hour tourney. Some people cap the number of rebuys. But yeah, the later you bust out, the less effective your rebuy is. Our buy-in is only $20 so the first hour is sometimes a frenzy of all-ins and rebuyus as guys try to double up early while the blinds are still low.

 

[detroitdad]

We have several different re buy structures.

1. Unlimited rebuys until the break.
2. Unlimited rebuys for the entire duration of the event (usually a lower buy in, potluck gambly type event)
3. one rebuy before the break when your completely out of chips
4. Freeze out/no rebuys.

I personally prefer #4 or #2.

 

[links_slayer]

2. Unlimited rebuys for the entire duration of the event (usually a lower buy in, potluck gambly type event)

so in theory this could go on forever - or until someone decides to stop re-buying?

 

[detroitdad]

so in theory this could go on forever - or until someone decides to stop re-buying?

In theory yes, but just in theory.

 

[links_slayer]

In theory yes, but just in theory.

gross

 

[MikesDad]

I cap the rebuys at 1 per person.... I think this keeps the game a little more friendly since very aggressive players can't rebuy forever. It also limits everyone's potential loss
Rebuys are permitted until the first break which is also the first chip-up -- about 5 levels in the typical T10K
Rebuys are for the full amount and get the original starting stack

 

[Pokerdweebz]

I'm running a bounty tournament with rebuys this Saturday. 40+20 buyin. T25k starting stacks. Unlimited rebuys for the first 6 levels (two hours) for full price for a full stack with bounty.

 

[detroitdad]

gross

Its designed as more of a "fun", low stakes game. $20.00 buy in, 20.00 rebuys. My oldest daughter plays in it. Maybe her boyfriend, friend. A few co-workers who rarely play. I've done it three times. I only heard compliments about how fun it was to play. Usually I make a main dish. I have everyone bring a snack/side dish and we treat it like a party.

We still start with 100 x's the big bling. T100k. If you're not interested in the rebuy method you can still play your game. You just have to hope your cards hold up for us gambling players that treat the first three levels like a cash game

 

[NicholasAK]

Ive seen the "rebuy chip" idea too...every player gets a starting stack + rebuy chip. You can turn in the rebuy chip for a 2nd stack whenever you like...it provides interesting strategy about when to use it.

 

[mummel]

Perfect. I like the idea of limiting 1 rebuy per person, within a set period of time (within 2 hours or a 4 hour tourney), and at a defined amount = the starting stack (T10,000).

Sweet, thanks.

 

[mummel]

Also when you do the rebuy, is it at the highest denom, or a combo of the highest denom and the second highest denom? (i.e. T10,000, do you issue 1 X $5000 chip + 5 X $1000 chip ?).

 

[Pokerdweebz]

Also when you do the rebuy, is it at the highest denom, or a combo of the highest denom and the second highest denom? (i.e. T10,000, do you issue 1 X $5000 chip + 5 X $1000 chip ?).

Personal preference. It's typically better to do what you are suggesting with high denoms, but my set is set up for 40 starting stacks so I'm using 40 starting stacks for the original buy-ins plus rebuys.

 

[NicholasAK]

Also when you do the rebuy, is it at the highest denom, or a combo of the highest denom and the second highest denom? (i.e. T10,000, do you issue 1 X $5000 chip + 5 X $1000 chip ?).

Whatever the hell you feel like...whatever you have.

 

[Poker Zombie]

We used to allow unlimited rebuys for the first 2 hours, but had to change it to 1 rebuy per person. This became known as the "Robbie Rule", as Robbie was a player who was very fond of jamming all-in with marginal hands. This began to drive off our more social players.

We also have a couple of slightly unusual rebuy rules:

1. You do not have to be felted to rebuy, but when you do rebuy, you forfeit any chips you have remaining in play.
2. Rebuys are for 110% of the starting stack.

Rule 1 is a great rule (used at some WSOP rebuy events), because in most rebuy tourneys, short stacks that are willing to rebuy will jam on the last hand of the level that the rebuys will end in an effort to double up - either for free or for $20. This jam-fest makes 1 or 2 hands far too lucky compared to the rest of the tournament. But if you forfeit your chips in play to rebuy, short stacks can reload without needing to get lucky, or without dumping off a stack to a lucky player - who is usually taking 2 or 3 short stacks, because there are usually a few short stacks at each table near the end of the rebuy period.

Rule 2 explanation: At the end of the rebuy period, a starting stack will net you 16 big blinds with our current structure. By giving them "a little more", they get 17.6 big blinds - not a lot more, but it gives a little more wiggle room. Also, most of the players rebuying aren't the best players, so giving them a bump gives them a few more chips that they need to do well. Finally, when anyone busts, the average chip-stack in play is slightly larger than the starting stack. The 110% rebuy is just putting the rebuying player closer to "average stack size" at the time of their re-entry.

 

[detroitdad]

You do not have to be felted to rebuy, but when you do rebuy, you forfeit any chips you have remaining in play.

I like that rule a lot. I'm going to suggest it to our league.

 

[Blaster]

We usually do rebuy up until the 1st break, (usually 5th or 6th level), then an add-on at the break ..
We have done in past tourns:
A) - 1 rebuy or Add-on , not both.
B) - Unlimited rebuys , no add-on if rebought.
C) - A rebuyer can add-on, but for half the add-on chips only.
** I've recently settled on the rebuys, also with a "forfeit your stack" & rebuy option, for the reasons @Poker Zombie mentioned above , & settled on a "pot builder" cheap add-on.
Say a $60, 20K tourn, $60, full stack, bustout/forfeit rebuys until 1st break, then a $10 add-on, for an additional 10K chips ( or 7K if you re-bought) , at break. Good structure of tourn usually means 0-3 rebuys / 10 plyrs, but everyone adds-on ...

 

[mummel]

We used to allow unlimited rebuys for the first 2 hours, but had to change it to 1 rebuy per person. This became known as the "Robbie Rule", as Robbie was a player who was very fond of jamming all-in with marginal hands. This began to drive off our more social players.

We also have a couple of slightly unusual rebuy rules:

1. You do not have to be felted to rebuy, but when you do rebuy, you forfeit any chips you have remaining in play.
2. Rebuys are for 110% of the starting stack.

Rule 1 is a great rule (used at some WSOP rebuy events), because in most rebuy tourneys, short stacks that are willing to rebuy will jam on the last hand of the level that the rebuys will end in an effort to double up - either for free or for $20. This jam-fest makes 1 or 2 hands far too lucky compared to the rest of the tournament. But if you forfeit your chips in play to rebuy, short stacks can reload without needing to get lucky, or without dumping off a stack to a lucky player - who is usually taking 2 or 3 short stacks, because there are usually a few short stacks at each table near the end of the rebuy period.

Rule 2 explanation: At the end of the rebuy period, a starting stack will net you 16 big blinds with our current structure. By giving them "a little more", they get 17.6 big blinds - not a lot more, but it gives a little more wiggle room. Also, most of the players rebuying aren't the best players, so giving them a bump gives them a few more chips that they need to do well. Finally, when anyone busts, the average chip-stack in play is slightly larger than the starting stack. The 110% rebuy is just putting the rebuying player closer to "average stack size" at the time of their re-entry.

But why would anyone forfeit their chips? I'd rather keep going all-in and take a chance with my existing chips before a rebuy no?

 

[Marius L]

But why would anyone forfeit their chips? I'd rather keep going all-in and take a chance with my existing chips before a rebuy no?

I think I agree with this. A chip and a chair. Seems +EV to just freeroll gamble for a few hands, no?

Maybe there are special instances that it would be smarter to rebuy even though you still have some chips left. Lets say rebuys are soon to end and you want to gamble. 10 min left of the rebuy period and you want to get at least double starting stack before the rebuy period ends. If start stack is 20k and you have 3k after loosing some big pots, instead of wasting time trying to double up to 6k or 10k or whatever, you just do a full rebuy up to 20k, and start trying to reach the goal of 40k+.

That would be my initial thoughts of a reason to do this at least.

 

[Blaster]

.. Yes primary reasons are it prevents someone with 5 or 7 BB's turning the level into an every hand shovefest trying to double up a few times, & gives those that end up nursing a similar sick stack at the end of the rebuy pd a chance to forfiet & rebuy ...
Tournament is then locked & gets more "serious" after the 1st break ...

 

[Poker Zombie]

I think I agree with this. A chip and a chair. Seems +EV to just freeroll gamble for a few hands, no?

Maybe there are special instances that it would be smarter to rebuy even though you still have some chips left. Lets say rebuys are soon to end and you want to gamble. 10 min left of the rebuy period and you want to get at least double starting stack before the rebuy period ends. If start stack is 20k and you have 3k after loosing some big pots, instead of wasting time trying to double up to 6k or 10k or whatever, you just do a full rebuy up to 20k, and start trying to reach the goal of 40k+.

That would be my initial thoughts of a reason to do this at least.

Freeroll gamble is always an option, but if you lose and intend to rebuy, you have made the barrier to victory a little higher by giving extra chips to an opponent on a hail-mary gambol. The rule has completely eliminated the last minute shove-fest, and all players can continue to make their best poker decisions, whatever their strategy may be.

The really interesting thing to see is during the last-chance-to-rebuy break, players that are low, but not quite short pondering their decisions "Do I rebuy and throw away X blinds, or do I stay and try to run it up without a safety net". X is different for every player. For me, it even varies depending on the skill levels of my table opponents.