What is add-on in poker?
An add-on in poker happens when a player supplements their chip stack during a specific time in a tournament. When a poker player talks about add-ons or adding-on, those are usually terms for tournaments, not cash games. That being said, you can add on and rebuy in cash games too.
It’s important to note that an add-on has a different meaning to rebuy. A rebuy means you have lost all of your chips, whereas an add-on supplements your chip stack while you are in the tournament.
During the add-on period, players are offered a certain number of chips for a certain amount of money. The add-on is available to all players who had chips at the beginning of the period.
If you enter a poker tournament with add-ons, then you should be prepared to pay for it. We’ll talk about why you should and completely explain how to approach add-ons in poker.
Add-On Factors for Poker Players to Consider
David Sklansky, the author of one of the best poker books of all time, thinks you should add on whenever your stack is below average. This works in a theoretical vacuum, but there are some circumstances where even David might make an exception.
Most add-ons provide you with 2x the size of your starting stack, but this can vary depending on the poker site.
Here’s one basic rule for add-ons: Don’t enter an add-on tournament if you are unwilling to add on.
Consider other factors before pressing the Add-On button.
The Size of Your Stack Matters
If your stack is far below the average stack size in the tournament, you should consider an add-on. Keep in mind that many of your opponents will add-on to their stacks, creating a larger gap between your stack size and theirs.
If your stack size is healthy and way above average for the tournament, you might want to hold off on the add-on. Let’s say you have 100,000 chips, but the add-on will only give you an additional 10,000. Some add-ons are the same size as the buy-in for the tournament, so it might be unwise to add on for an additional 10%.
If your stack size is extremely small and the add-on will not give you a competitive edge, it’s not smart to add on.
Consider the Average Stack Size in the Tournament
If you are short-stacked, meaning you have fewer chips than most players, an add-on can give you a shot at regaining chips.
Check the stack sizes of the player pool by looking in the tournament lobby.
Adding on to an above-average stack might not benefit you much though. If you find yourself with such a large chip stack that the add-on would only add a small amount, you might not need one.
Some players make the mistake of adding on when they are not in the best situation. Whether you’re not playing optimal poker or you feel that opponents are more skilled, sometimes it’s best to forgo the add-on.
Mental clarity is vital to a successful tournament performance. If you’re not feeling confident or need to work on your strategy, that will not change after you add-on. In fact, you stand to lose more money while at a disadvantage. For poker players, that’s a bad situation to be in.
Freeroll tournaments can be a good way to practice poker, but you won’t see any add-on options. Some freerolls offer rebuys, but usually for a small price.
888poker is a great site for freerolls, simply because of the size and quantity. New players get access to daily freerolls, but after spending more time on the site, access is granted to larger events. There are huge $10,000 freerolls ever month for players who spend enough time on 888poker.
Check out our full list of freeroll tournaments on sites we recommend.
Why You Should Add On in a Poker Tournament
The short answer is, you should almost always take the add-on in this style of tournament. Before entering the event, the add-on should already be part of your plan.
If your bankroll allows you to rebuy, you should almost always go for it.
Here’s another reason for you. It’s typical for most players to add on when they have the chance. If you don’t do the same, you may return after the add-on break to find your opponents have a considerable stack size advantage.
Of course, if you are among the top stacks in the tournament, you might not need the additional big blinds. Then again, the prize you stand to receive far surpasses the price of the add-on. For this reason, most players choose to add on, despite the minimal chip advantage it may provide larger stacks.
Remember that the add-on should give you a competitive advantage, and if it doesn’t, keep that money in your bankroll.
Which Poker Sites Have Add-On Tournaments?
Some poker sites don’t offer add-on events, instead choosing to offer later registration periods and more rebuy tournaments as a substitute.
BetOnline holds regular add-on tournaments, which you’ll see listed as R/A (rebuy/add-on). This means that players can rebuy if they lose all of their chips within a certain time period, but also add on once the tournament reaches the right stage. There’s a decent amount of weekday events here, with prize pools ranging from $500 up to $6000 GTD for just $33. The add-on events get even larger though. On Sundays, that same $33 buy-in can get you into a $15,000 R/A tournament, plus there are several smaller $5000 R/A events too.
888poker offers add-on tournaments, which you can find in the lobby by using the filters. Select the poker format, and buy-in size, and then go over to the right side of the filters. Select the Rebuy/Add-On option.
Most of the tournaments offer an add-on that is twice the size of the starting chip stack. Usually, it’s also the same price as the entry fee for the tournament.
The other thing that draws lots of players to 888poker is the legendary No-Deposit Bonus. New players can snag up to $88 in cash and tournament tickets, given out in increments. It’s a perfect way to test out the site, play real money games, and not use your own funds.
Read our full review of 888poker and find out about their tournaments, bonuses, and more.
