Tournament Rules and Etiquette

For new players to the game of poker, the tournament is the best playing format to gain experience. If you want to learn how to swim, ideally the best way is to just jump right in. The scary thing is that we are afraid to drown and the large crowds and intense atmosphere of a tournament can at times seem like drowning. If you take some time to learn the basic rules and etiquette, poker tournaments are a great way to get a lot of experience for little or no risk.

Whether you play Hold'em, Omaha, Stud or another poker variety, the rules in a tournament are always the same as a regular single table game.

The main difference between a tournament and a ring game is the time or limit structure. A tournament will be played in rounds and each round will last a certain amount of time. Once the round is over, the blinds or forced bets increase to ensure the game moves quicker.
Poker tournaments can last for long periods of time so there is nothing wrong with taking a break in the middle of a round. You are allowed to sit out. Your blinds will automatically be posted, but you will not be penalized. Inexperienced players think that they must play every hand – and this is a common mistake. Taking a break is an important way to keep your emotions in check. Feel free to sit out a few hands, get up and walk around or get a non-alcoholic drink.

Re-buy: Some tournaments will offer you a chance to buy back in if you lose all your chips. There is nothing wrong with re-buying if you don't get carried away.

Add on: An add-on is one last chance to buy more chips usually before the final round of a tournament begins. It is usually smart to purchase an add-on unless you are way ahead or way behind. When playing in a tournament with an add-on, it is always a good idea to factor it into your beginning cost.

Summary

There is no reason to be intimidated by poker tournaments, as many of the players will be in the exact same situation as you. Once you learn the basics, it's just like playing in your weekly house game. Just remember to treat your fellow players with the same respect that you would expect from them. This means winning and losing gracefully and always trying your best to be polite to other players, and the dealer.