For those having competition in their blood, there is nothing like a poker tournament. Everyone starts with equal chances to win and all players continue to play until one of them has amassed all the chips. There are two kinds of tournaments: multi tables tournaments(MTT) and single table tournaments (STT) also called sit'n go (SNG).

The Buy-in

The Buy-in is the amount that every player must pay for entering a tournament. All buy-ins go to the prize pool of the tournament. It is divided to the first classed. The number of the winners and the percent in the prize pool vary according to the number of players participating in the tournament. Each player starts with an equal amount of chips and the tournament comes to an end when there is only one player left in the game- the one amassing all the chips

Limits

Unlike the games on money, where tables have a fix stake, in a tournament, the stakes gradually increase to ensure an accurate and a fair game as well as the finality of the tournament. The tournament begins with a certain level of the blinds, for instance 10/20. After a predetermined period of time on pass to the next level, in this case 20/40. Players can cope with this system because they also have the chips of the eliminated players.

The prize pool

All buy-ins paid by the participants when entering the tournament go to the prize pool. This money is divided between the winners. The number of the winners and the percent in the prize pool vary according to the number of players participating in the tournament. The first places are determined as some of the players are eliminated. The player on the 23rd position is the one eliminated when there were only 23rd left. The tournament ends when all players except one are eliminated. This last player, having all the chips, is the tournament winner, the receiver of the greatest percentage from the prize pool.

Buy-in fee

The Buy-in fee is kept by the casino for organizing the tournament. It is mandatory for all players and it usually has a max value of 10%.

Multi table tournaments are programmed in advance and have a fixed starting time that you can learn about by seeing the tournament details. To participate in a tournament you must register before the closing time. There are various types of tournaments: freezout, rebuys and shootout.

Freezout

At first, players are randomly directed to the tables. According to the type of tournament there may be 6 players at a table (shorthanded) or 10 players. Each player starts with an equal amount of chips. When loosing all the chips the player is eliminated. As they are eliminated, a balancing of the tables is kept. So, if there are 10 players at a table and 8 players at another table, one player will be moved from the first table to the second. When possible all the empty seats are taken by players from other tables, reducing in this way the number of tables. Finally there will be only one table left called the final table.

Rebuys

In this type of tournament, players are allowed to reenter the game by a new buy-in (rebuy) after loosing all the chips. Usually the number of rebuys is not limited. After the first 60 minutes rebuys are not allowed. After the first hour of playing, during the break, players have the option to add-on. It’s similar to a rebuy, only it is made during the break by any player, irrespective of the number of chips he has. The other aspects of the tournament are the same as those of a freezout. All the amount resulted from rebuys and add-ons is added to the prize pool. There is no fee levied by Dracula Holdem for rebuys and add-ons.

Shootout

A shootout is more like a series of mini- sng tournaments. After distributing the players to their tables, the game goes on until a predefined number of players remains at each table. Than a new round begins while the players left in the game are rearranged at a smaller number of tables. In the last round, players left at each table come together to the final table. The other aspects of the tournament are the same as those of a freezout. For example, considering a tournament with 5 rounds, 2 players at each table and having a maximum of 32 players. There will be 2 players at each of the 16th tables, when there is only one player left at each table, the next round comes and there will be again 2 players at each of the 8 tables newly formed. The game will continue in the same manner till the last round where 2 players will compete at the final table.

Knockout

A knockout tournament has the same rules and structure as a regular tournament (freezout or rebuys) the only difference is that every player has a bounty on his head. The buy-in is split in two parts, the first goes to the tourney’s prize pool and the second represents the bounty for each player.

When a player is eliminated, his knockout bounty is awarded to the player who knocked him out. In case more than one player win the pot, the bounty is split among them. In the case of a rebuys tournament, the bounty is paid only when the players has run out of chips. The cost of the add-on does not include the knockout bounty. The winner of the tournament gets his knockout bounty back.

The sng-s are mini-tournaments with a predetermined number of players, usually at a single table. The sng-s don’t start a precise hour, but when enough players signed in. It is not necessary to pay the buy-in, and at the end the gains are distributed just like in the tournaments. The game is the same, only changing the level of mandatory bets at a predetermined period of time. Usually balancing of the tables is not necessary as the sng is most of the times organized for only one table. The buy-in fee is similar to the buy-in in tournaments.