Tournaments

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Gutshot Poker is pleased to offer a wide variety of tournament formats and games available to you 24 hours a day! In addition to being a fun and exciting way to gain a greater all-round poker experience, tournaments are also a powerful way to build your bankroll and get a great return on a minimal investment. In a tournament, as opposed to a live ring-game, the most money one can risk is the Buy-in for that tournament. All players start with the same amount of chips and play continues until one player has won all the chips. Tournament chips have no cash value. Tournaments are available in all the poker games we offer; Hold’em, Omaha, Omaha Hi-Lo, Stud and Stud Hi-Lo.

We offer Multi-table, Sit & Go, & Heads-up tournaments in various Freeze-out, Re-buy and Shoot-out formats. We also offer satellite tournaments to gain entry into much bigger events and freerolls that cost nothing to enter. Please see the tournament lobby for the exact details and rules for each tournament.

Tournaments Types and Features

Multi-table
Sit & Go
Heads Up
Re-buy & Add-on Tournament
Freeze-out
Shootout
Satellites
Freeroll
Tournament Rules
Tournament Glossary
Tournament Payout Structure

Multi-table

If more than one table is needed to accommodate the number of registered players in a tournament, it is known as a multi-table tournament. During a Multi-table tournament, as players are eliminated, players will be moved randomly from one table to another in order to keep the number of players at each table as balanced as possible. Although we try to be fair and move players in relation to their position with the dealer button, a player may end up moving from their blinds and move to a blind position again.

Sit & Go

Sit & Go tournaments are events that do not have a scheduled start time. They start when the needed number of registered players is reached. When the prearranged number of competitors is reached each participant is notified that the tournament is about to start. Example: A No Limit Hold’em one table Sit & Go will start as soon as ten players are registered.

Heads-up

When a contest is between 2 players only, it is referred to as Heads-up. Heads-up Shoot-out tournaments are a good way to improve your winning game, as you will end up facing one opponent most of the time to win any tournament. The rules are the same with Heads-up play with the exception that the player with the "dealer button" posts the small blind and will act first pre-flop then last for the remainder of the hand. The player who posts the big blind is dealt first.

Re-buy & Add-on Tournament

A Re-buy & Add-on tournament allows for players to Re-buy and/or Add-on additional chips during the game. These tournaments have a predetermined Re-buy period but generally it is during the first hour of play up until the end of the first break. During the Re-buy period each player is allowed a fixed number or unlimited number of Re-buys depending how the tournament has been set up.

A Re-buy is permitted during the Re-buy period only when a player’s chip count is equal to or less than the amount of chips the player had at the start of the tournament. For example, if players were given 1500 chips at the beginning of the tournament they may purchase a Re-buy ONLY if their chip count is less than or equal to 1500 chips. This means that if a player loses all of their chips in any hand during the Re-buy period they can remain active in the tournament by purchasing a Re-buy of additional chips. The cost of a Re-buy and the number of chips provided is generally the same as the cost of the original buy-in and number of chips provided when the tournament begins. Check the tournament information for details.

A Double Re-buy allows players to purchase two Re-buys in a single transaction. Double Re-buys provide players twice the number of chips as a single Re-buy, at twice the cost of a single Re-buy. For example, if a single Re-buy costs $5 and provides players 1500 chips a Double Re-buy will cost $10 and provide players 3000 chips. The option to purchase a Double Re-buy will only be offered to a player when their chip count is zero.

An Add-on will be available during the first five minute break of a Re-buy & Add-on tournament. All players that are still active in the tournament will have the option to purchase an Add-on of additional chips regardless of how many chips they have at the time. The cost of an Add-on is generally the same as the cost of the original buy-in. The number of chips provided with an Add-on is the same or slightly more than the original buy-in. Check the tournament information for details.

Re-buys and Add-ons can be purchased by clicking on their respective buttons located at the Dealer chip tray or by clicking on the Dealer chip tray itself and then clicking the Add Chips button. There is no additional fee paid by the player when Re-buys and Add-ons are purchased which means that all Re-buys and Add-ons are added to the tournament prize pool. The total prize pool and the payout structure will not be finalized until both the Re-buy and Add-on periods have closed.

For complete Tournament details open the Tournament lobby and click the Tournament Information button.

Freeze-out

In a Freeze-out tournament players make a single Buy-in and upon losing all their chips, will be eliminated from the tournament. As players become eliminated the tables are combined with other tables until there is a final table and ultimately there is one player left with all the chips.

Shoot-out

A Shoot-out tournament consists of a limited number of players competing on different tables. In round 1, players compete until there is one player left at each table with all the chips. In round 2 the winners from round 1 are then combined at other tables and they again play until there is one player left with all the chips. A Shoot-out tournament can have between two (Heads-up) to ten players on each table competing over 1 or more rounds. The number of rounds and players per table varies and can be found in the tournament lobby.

Satellites

Satellite tournaments are events where prizes are entries into other larger tournaments. A satellite could award the winner(s) entries into other satellites. All satellite tournaments end when all players have won or qualified for their prizes.

Freeroll

Gutshot Poker regularly offers tournaments that require no Buy-in or registration fees, no risks or conditions. These true freerolls are our way of giving back to our players.

Tournament Rules

1. All tournaments will be accessed via the tournament lobby.
2. All the features, details and prizes of each tournament will be posted in the tournament lobby.
3. All tournaments will begin promptly at the scheduled time stated in the Tournament Lobby.
4. Tournament seats are available on a first come first serve basis. All players are seated randomly at the beginning of all tournaments. The tournament starts with the "dealer button" positioned at seat 1 (Hold’em & Omaha). Players cannot change seats during a tournament. A player will change seat only when moved from a table to another table during a multi-table tournament.
5. The tournament is played until one player accumulates all the chips in play. Players may not acquire additional chips beyond the original Buy-in unless there are Re-buys and Add-ons. When a player loses all their chips they are declared out of the tournament and finish in the order they were eliminated. If the tournament is a satellite event, the tournament will end when all players have qualified for the target event regardless of the chip count.
6. If more than one player is eliminated in a hand, the player with more chips at the beginning of the hand is placed higher. In an instance where 2 players started the hands with an identical chip count, both players tie for that rank, and any prizes due to those players will be equally distributed between them.
7. If there is a split pot, not equally divisible by the number of player in the hand the extra chip(s) will be awarded to the player closest to the left of the “button”.
8. In Texas Hold’em or Omaha poker tournaments when the small or big blind is eliminated from a tourney, the blinds must be slightly re-positioned to account for the eliminated player. The rules pertaining to this event are referred to as the Dead Button rule. Gutshot Poker uses this format to be fair and to ensure that all players post their appropriate blinds without giving any advantage to one player over another. Due to this randomness, all players will have an equal opportunity to benefit from this scenario. When two players remain or in a Heads-up tournament, the button will post the small blind, and act first on the opening round.
9. Disconnects:
   • The Internet makes playing poker online possible, but it can also cause issues. A player accepts the risk of Internet disconnection (please see disconnect policy for full details), due to the problems with the connection between their computer and the servers. Other issues, including a connection slowdown or some other problem in the player's computer may also arise. Gutshot Poker does not accept any responsibility for a player disconnect except in the case of a Gutshot Poker server interruption.
   • While each user is responsible for his or her own Internet connection, Gutshot Poker makes every effort to protect players who are disconnected during the final stages of a tournament, by allowing Extra Time to reconnect.
   • If a player times out during a hand, whether connected or disconnected, his or her hand will be folded unless the check option is available to them, at which point the player will auto check.
   • If a player is not connected before a hand starts, he or she will be dealt cards, and a blind and/or antes will be posted automatically. Players can choose to sit out on there own, there is no penalty.
10. Poker is a game of integrity and etiquette. Each player should play with the same intensity against all other players. Unethical play, such as soft-play and chip dumping, may result in penalties, including seizure of funds from the offender's account and/or forfeiture of any prizes and/or termination of the account.
11. Each betting round consists of a bet and up to three raises. There is no raise cap in pot-limit and no-limit tournaments.
12. Level Structure: To ensure tournaments are completed within a reasonable amount of time, the blinds/antes increase during a tournament. When such increase takes place it is called a level. The level structure for a tournament can be found in the tournament lobby.
13. There will be a 5 minute break every hour in a standard multi-table tournament. There are no breaks during single-table tournaments.
14. Gutshot Poker will not assist in any deals among players during tournaments. Tournaments will continue until there is one declared winner, unless it is a satellite event, and the payoffs will be exactly according to the prize payout structure.
15. Extra time: Each player is given Extra Time, beside the normal time, to make a decision during a tournament. That Extra Time is limited and displays as a clock when activated. It decreases as it is being used and stops once a player acts. Extra Time will automatically be activated if a player has an active connection to the game, has money in the pot and does not act in time.
16. As players are eliminated from the tournament, the software will balance tables in an attempt to ensure that all tables have an equal number of active players. The balancing of tables is done randomly and, although rare, may result in a player having to post several big blinds in a row. When 10 players remain in a Hold’em or Omaha tournament or eight players remain in a Seven Card Stud tournament, all players are brought together at the "final table".
17. In the event of a server crash, the hands in progress at every table will be restored by rolling back these hands. Each player’s chip count will be reset to the amount at the beginning of the hand. In special circumstances, when a tournament needs to be cancelled because of a crash or some other reason, players will be compensated according to Gutshot Poker's tournament cancellation policy.
18. Gutshot Poker reserves the right to cancel or reschedule tournaments at any time, for any reason, with or without notice.
19. Tournament registration must meet minimum requirements for that event or the tournament will be cancelled. In the event of a tournament cancellation due to an insufficient number of entrants all buy-ins and entry fees will be returned to player’s accounts.
20. The prize pool payouts for all poker tournaments will adhere to the Gutshot Poker payout schedule.
21. Players, whether in the hand or not, may not discuss the hands until the action is complete. Players are obligated to protect the other players in the tournament at all times. Discussing cards discarded or hand possibilities are not allowed. A penalty may be given for discussion of hands during the play.
22. Late Registration: Registration will terminate if all tables allocated at the time of seating are full, or once the first player is eliminated. Late registration is usually available for 10 minutes after the tournament start.
23. Unregistration: In most tournaments a player can unregister until ten minutes prior to the start of the event. Players who have won their seats through a satellite cannot unregister unless otherwise informed.
24. Any player found to be playing multiple accounts during any tournament will have their account closed and will forfeit any winnings that are found to be a result of these actions.
25. In the final stages of a tournament the prize money can jump significantly with each player eliminated. In these instances where there is more than one table remaining the tournament may be played "hand-for-hand". This means that if one table finishes its hand before the other table(s), that table waits for the other table(s) to finish before the next hand is dealt. During this hand-for-hand period, all bustouts during a "synchronized" hand (even at different tables) are treated as having happened on the same hand and chip stacks will be compared as in rule 7 above to determine the finishing order.
26. Gutshot Poker management decision will be final in all cases of disputes.

Tournament Glossary

Add-on

The “Add-on” is the last opportunity a player has to buy additional chips in an attempt to better his/her chances to win a “Re-buy” & “Add-on” tournament. The Add-on is available for a limited period of time to players after the Re-buy period is over. The amount and time restriction can be found in the tournament lobby.

Buy-in

The registration cost for a poker tournament is referred to as a “Buy-in”. The “Buy-in” is the amount each player must invest to enter a tournament. The Buy-in amount for each tournament can be found in the tournament lobby. Total Buy-ins from all registered players creates the total prize pool for that tournament. Players are allowed to unregister for a tournament up to a deadline found in the tournament lobby.

Fee

The fee is the amount paid by the players to participate in the tournament. That is the amount paid to the site.

Hand-For-Hand

In the later stage of a tournament, when each position represents a substantial difference in prizes and there is more than one table remaining, the tournament may be played "hand-for-hand". This means that each table will play each hand at the same time until a player is eliminated. Table(s) may have to wait until all hands from the other table(s) are completed in order to start the next hand. Hand-for-Hand play may happen more than once during the same tournament.

If two or more players are eliminated from a different table during "Hand-for-hand" play, they are considered to be eliminated in the same hand regardless if one of the hands finished earlier than the other. Chips stacks will be compared to determine the finishing order.

Heads-up

When a contest is between 2 players only, it is referred to as "Heads-up". Heads-up Shoot-out tournaments are a good way to improve your winning game, as you will end up facing one opponent most of the time to win any tournament.

The rules are the same with "Heads-up" play with the exception that the player with the "dealer button" posts the small blind and will act first pre-flop then last for the remainder of the hand. The player who posts the big blind is dealt first.

In the Money

When a player has qualified for a prize in a tournament, it is called "In the Money". If a player is "In the Money" that means that he will win at least the minimum prize available for that tournament.

Prizes

The total prize pool and number of players being paid is determined by the number of registered players in a tournament. The more players that enter a tournament, the larger the prize pool will be and ultimately the more players who will receive prizes. The number of players, prize pool and prize distribution can be found in the tournament lobby. All monies paid from all Buy-ins account for the prize pool for each tournament.

Re-buy

When a player qualifies to purchase another “Buy-in” during a tournament, it is called a "Re-buy". A Re-buy allows for a player to continue competing in a tournament. Re-buys are available in a Re-buy & Add-on tournament only. The number of Re-buys, time restriction, amount and conditions for Re-buys can be found in the tournament lobby.

Round

A round is a term referred to in “Shoot-out” tournaments; it is like an individual “Freeze-out” tournament. Rounds have their own Level Structure and the winner(s) from each table per round advance to the next round.