We run a variety of single- and multiple-table tournament formats, ranging from freeze-outs (no re-buys or add-ons) to events with multiple re-buys/add-ons, and pretty much everything in-between. Below is a list of some of the more common re-buy/add-on variations (relative entry costs and stack sizes shown for comparison purposes). Most of the events are designed to run about 4-5 hours total time for two tables:
1. 10K stack buy-in with re-buy chip: full-stack re-buys allowed for first hour if broke, player can redeem unused re-buy chip for a free 2K add-on.
2. 10K stack buy-in ($40): unlimited 1/2-stack re-buys ($20) allowed for first hour if stack drops below 5K (primarily used for Omaha and pot-limit events).
3. 20K buy-in ($40) with re-buy chip: 10K re-buys ($20) for first hour, optional 5K add-on ($10) and free 5K add-on with unused re-buy chip
4. 5K buy-in ($20): unlimited $20 re-buys for first two hours if broke, optional $10 add-on at two-hour mark.
5. 10K stack buy-in with re-buy chip: full-stack re-buys if broke allowed for duration of tournament. Unused re-buy chip can be optionally redeemed at 1.5 hour mark for free 2K add-on, or can be retained for full re-buy usage later. Particularly interesting re-buy/add-on strategy involved for league events towards end of season.
We also typically offer bonus starting chips (~15%) for paid-in-seat and optional dealer tokes, so those 10K starting stacks usually contain 11,500 chips.
This year, our premier tournament series features a 30K chip buy-in, which is divided into three 10K mini-stacks. Players can opt to start with 10K, 20K, or 30K in chips, and are issued a pre-buy chip for every 10K mini-stack they choose to initially leave out of play. Players may redeem a pre-buy chip for another 10K mini-stack anytime between hands, regardless of their current stack size. An optional 15K add-on purchase is available after six levels, at which time all unused pre-buy chips are also redeemed. It has definitely added additional strategy decisions to the game.