Quick Start

There is a lot of information on this website and it may appear a bit daunting to you at first. I've tried to cover all the bases as far as running a home poker tournament is concerned but, when push comes to shoving it all-in, the following is all you really need to know. Here is all the basic information needed to run a no limit Texas Hold'em poker tournament ...

Common Poker Chip Colors

Red = 5
Green = 25
Black = 100
Purple = 500
Yellow = 1000

You need at least three or four colors of poker chips. Try to use the 'standard' poker chip colors mentioned above.

1000 Chip Buyin

Option 1: (20 x 5) + (20 x 25) + (4 x 100) = 1000
Option 2: (20 x 5) + (16 x 25) + (5 x 100) = 1000 (recommended)
Option 3: (15 x 5) + (13 x 25) + (6 x 100) = 1000
Option 4: (10 x 5) + (10 x 25) + (7 x 100) = 1000

Start each player with 1,000 poker chips and use the blinds schedule shown to the right.

Buyin $ Amount

As much money as your guests would feel comfortable losing in a night of poker ... $5, $25, $100 or $1000!

Rebuy $ Amount

The rebuy amount is usually the same number of chips and the same dollar amount as the buyin.

Rebuy Length

Limit rebuys to one, or allow unlimited rebuys during the first 3 or 4 levels, or during the first hour of play.

Payout

  1-10 players: 50/30/20 %
11-20 players: 50/25/15/10 %
21-30 players: 40/25/20/10/5 %

Print the Poker Tournament Rulebook with a Dealer Errors chart included on the back cover

Create-a Blinds Poster to hang on the wall

Quick Tips

• Use standard poker rules, especially if this is the first poker tournament that you are hosting.
• Use one of my suggested blinds schedules, especially if this is the first poker tournament that you are hosting. Do not attempt to create your own blinds schedule.
• Print a poker rule book and keep it near the table while you are playing.
• Post a blinds schedule and a poker chip color chart on the wall near your table.
• Just because you have 7 different poker chip colors, it doesn't mean that you have to use them all. Three, four, or five chip colors are more than enough.

Still have questions?
Check out the Poker Tournament Structures forum
or the Poker Tournament Blinds Schedules forum
or How To Shuffle