When it comes to re-buys, poker tournament strategy for online poker sites can be divided into a few manageable categories. These are: freerolls with re-buys, buy-ins with unlimited re-buys in the first hour, and buy-ins with limited re-buys in the first hour.
At any online poker site, a re-buy will generally allow you to add-on poker chips during the first hour if your chip count falls below your starting chips. The poker tournament strategy here is to play the first hand that is not raised before you make your play and add-on right after that hand. This will give you the lead in chip count at your table or will put you near the top of the leader board right away. Also, anytime you fall below the starting chips, do an add-on. You will need these poker chips to help build your chip count.
Most players in a freeroll re-buy tournament will not re-buy. You should always re-buy in these tournaments. You can also play pretty loose during the re-buy tournament and you can always buy back in if you get knocked out. Is it worth re-buying 10 or 12 times in a £1 freeroll tournament that has a total prize of £1,000 with £200 for second place? From the point of view of making it to the final table these buy-ins are worth their price. Consider the £12 to be an investment in experience on playing in high stakes poker.
In terms of buy-ins with unlimited re-buys, these games will include much more players that re-buy than those in freerolls. Again, being first in chip count is important, even with a re-buy tournament. In addition to your normal poker tournament strategy, think about playing mid- to small-pairs strongly along with suited hands that have a 10 or better in them. Try to drive limpers out and remember: you can always re-buy.
When it comes to buy-ins with limited re-buys there are generally three re-buys allowed and one add-on at the end of the first hour. The strategy here should be playing the first hand for the big blind and folding so that you can add-on right away and be the leader in chip count at the table. Only adjust your regular poker tournament strategy when you are down to one re-buy.
After the end of the re-buy period there will be an add-on period. Take advantage of this unless you have so many poker chips that you don’t need to add-on. As a general rule, if the add-on will give you less than 10% of your chips or if no one can pass you as the big stack, then do not add-on. If you can become the chip leader or if adding on will increase your chip count more than 10% then go ahead and add-on.
