Playing in TournamentsExplanation

Reading the prize pool

Who gets paid, how much, and what "ITM" means.

The prize pool is displayed on your HUD. It's the buy-ins collected, less any bounty money set aside and any percentage rake the house takes. Flat fees like the membership fee and per-entry rake are charged on top of the buy-in, so they never come out of the pool.

Key terms

•ITM (in the money): you finished in a paid position.
•Min-cash: the smallest paying finish, usually ~10–15% of the field.
•Bubble: the finish just before cashing — the position that pays zero.
•Final table: the last N players (usually 8–9).

At the final table, payout jumps are usually bigger than chip EV would suggest. That's ICM at work — and why deals happen.

Keep learning

RSVPing to a tournament

Going / maybe / can't go — what each means for your seat.

Checking into a tournament

What the check-in screen does and how to know your seat.

Re-entering after you bust

When you can come back, what it costs, and how it affects your stack.

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