Poker Rebuy Rules: Rebuys, Re-Entries and Add-Ons
Updated Oct 27, 2026
A rebuy is buying more chips after your first buy-in. In a cash game you can usually rebuy any time you're low or out. In a tournament, rebuys are allowed only during a set rebuy period, and the money goes into the prize pool. Agree the amount, the limit and when rebuys close before the first hand.
Rebuy, top-up, re-entry and add-on
Scroll table horizontally →
| Term | Format | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Rebuy | Cash game | Buy more chips any time (often only between hands) |
| Top-up | Cash game | Add chips up to the maximum buy-in without busting first |
| Rebuy | Tournament | Buy another starting stack during the rebuy period, usually only at or below your starting stack |
| Re-entry | Tournament | Bust, pay a new entry, start over with a fresh stack |
| Add-on | Tournament | A one-time extra stack for everyone still in when rebuys close |
Home game rebuy rules to agree first
- Amount: usually the same as the buy-in.
- Limit: unlimited, or a cap such as 2 rebuys per player.
- When they close: for tournaments, the end of a set level (often level 3 or 4) or the first break.
- Who records them: one person, at the moment the money goes in.
- Chips for rebuys: keep larger chips in the bank so a rebuy is a few chips, not a new stack of whites.
How to record rebuys
Write each rebuy against the player's name when it happens. In a cash game, the player's total in is buy-in + every rebuy, and their result at the end is final chips minus total in. The free poker buy-in tracker or the printable buy-in sheet does it in one tap or one tick. In a tournament, count rebuys and add-ons into the pool and split it with the payout calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What does rebuy mean in poker? A rebuy is buying more chips after your first buy-in. In a cash game you can usually rebuy whenever you're low or out; in a tournament you can rebuy only during the rebuy period, usually when you're at or below your starting stack.
What is the difference between a rebuy and a re-entry? A rebuy adds chips to your existing seat. A re-entry is a tournament term for a busted player paying a new entry and starting again with a fresh stack, often at a new seat.
What is an add-on in poker? An add-on is a one-time option to buy extra tournament chips, usually offered to every player still in at the end of the rebuy period, whatever their stack size.
Do rebuys go into the prize pool? In a tournament, yes. Every rebuy and add-on is added to the prize pool before it's split. In a cash game, a rebuy is just more money in; it counts toward that player's total when you settle up.
HG Poker keeps buy-ins, rebuys and results together for your next home game. Download on the App Store · Get it on Google Play · Use HG Poker on the web