When registering for a Texas Holdem tournament, you’re often presented with two common formats: rebuy and freezeout. While the basic rules of poker remain the same, these two tournament structures require very different strategies.

Understanding how to approach each can give you a competitive edge and help you avoid costly mistakes — especially during the early stages of play when many decisions are influenced by the tournament format.

What’s the Difference Between Rebuy and Freezeout Events?

Freezeout Tournaments

In a freezeout tournament, you get one life. Once your chips are gone, you’re out. There are no second chances and no way to re-enter the tournament.

• Encourages conservative early play

• Every chip is valuable

• Survival is as important as chip accumulation

Rebuy Tournaments

In rebuy tournaments, players can buy more chips after busting — typically for a limited time (known as the rebuy period). After this period, the event often turns into a freezeout with no further rebuys.

• Allows aggressive early play

• Players take more risks, especially before the rebuy period ends

• Bigger prize pools due to multiple buy-ins

Strategy for Freezeout Events

Value Your Stack

Since you can’t reload, preserving your stack is crucial. Focus on:

• Playing tight-aggressive poker early

• Avoiding coin flips unless necessary

• Extracting value with strong hands and minimizing bluffing

Don’t Chase Marginal Spots

Freezeouts reward patience. Avoid speculative hands out of position or chasing draws without proper odds — especially when you’re at risk of elimination.

Pay Attention to Blinds and Pressure Points

As blinds increase, adjust your range and aggression, but always weigh the risk of elimination carefully. Near the bubble and final table, ICM (Independent Chip Model) becomes even more important.

Strategy for Rebuy Events

Be Aggressive Early

During the rebuy period, you should:

• Play looser and more aggressively

• Look to build a big stack rather than protect a small one

• Take high-risk, high-reward spots when +EV (expected value)

If you bust, you can rebuy — so take calculated shots to get ahead while others are playing cautious.

Know When the Rebuy Period Ends

As the tournament transitions into a freezeout:

• Shift your strategy toward stack preservation

• Tighten your range

• Start valuing your chips more like a freezeout player would

Many players forget to adjust and keep bluffing recklessly after the rebuy period ends. Don’t fall into that trap.