Re-buys are online tournaments that allow you to purchase more chips during the initial stages of the tourney. In order to re-buy, your stack has to be equal to or less than the amount of chips that you started with. After the re-buy period is over, add-ons are usually offered. Add-ons give you one last opportunity to grow your stack by buying extra chips.
If you want to win big when you play re-buy online poker tournaments, here are some things to keep in mind.
Play Loose at First
Re-buys feature extremely loose and reckless play in the early stages of the tournament. Players with an ace high will go all-in in the hopes of doubling up their stack quickly. Accumulating chips in the early rounds is very important. Because re-buys give you a safety net to buy back in if you bust out, you can approach the early stages of the tourney like a cash game. Put your bankroll to work in the early rounds. Make bold, crazy moves in an effort to build up your stack. After the re-buy period is done, you can start to tighten up your play.
Make the Table Think You’re Crazy
When you make the table think you’re crazy, you can use this wild table image to your advantage later on. When you hit a monster hand after the re-buy period ends, players may just think you’re bluffing when you toss out a big bet. Use your loose image to trap players when you make solid hands later on in the tourney.
Give Yourself a Re-buy Allowance
It’s important that you know how much you’re going to allow yourself to spend before you enter a Texas Holdem re-buy tournament. Give yourself an allowance. When you’ve spent your allowance, you’re done. It’s that simple.
After the Re-buy Period, Update Your Observations
Keep in mind that after the re-buy period has concluded, your observations about your opponents will need to be revised. Players that were super loose will now start to settle down a bit. Calling stations may no longer be counted on to call your bets. Tight players may start playing looser. Just remember that the game has changed. The information that you absorbed during the first few rounds may no longer be valid. Update your notes when the tournament changes.
Re-buys aren’t for everyone. If you’re unfamiliar with tournament play, practice your skills before you enter re-buys. Always be prepared to take the add-on. If you can’t afford at least one re-buy, play another type of tourney.
Remember that the suggested poker strategy is to play crazy at first, and tighten up after the re-buy period. Give yourself an allowance so that you don’t keep burning through your bankroll.