Rebuy and Add-on

Optional extra buy-ins that let tournament players purchase more chips during a defined early period or at a set break.

Definition

Rebuys and add-ons are structures that let players spend additional money for more chips in a tournament. A rebuy allows a player who busts (or falls below a threshold) to buy back in for more chips during an early 'rebuy period.' An add-on is a single optional chip purchase available to all remaining players, usually at the first break after the rebuy period ends. These structures grow the prize pool but also mean the true cost of entering can be several times the advertised buy-in, so a player's real risk is the total they are willing to spend, not the initial fee. Because each purchase also feeds the operator's fee, rebuy events can quietly become expensive.

Worked example

A player busts in the first hour of a rebuy tournament, pays another buy-in to get a fresh stack, and later takes the add-on at the break for extra chips, spending three buy-ins in total.

Why it matters

Learners must budget for the full possible cost of a rebuy event, not just the sticker price, to avoid overspending. Professionals weigh whether the chips gained from a rebuy or add-on are worth their price given stack depth, field strength, and the fees involved.

Related

Note: Rules for rebuy periods, re-entry limits, and add-on timing vary by tournament and operator.