Poker Colibri

Texas hold'em - poker tournament structure generator

Game

Chips

Extra chips given to some players, on top of the starting stack.

None

Unlimited rebuys for
h min

A rebuy gives back the starting stack. The period ends at the end of the current level.

None

Add-on after
h min

Breaks

0 to turn off regular breaks.

None

Advanced settings

These estimates are used to calculate the total chips in play, and therefore the size of the blinds at the end of the game.

Summary

Structure

Lvl Time Small Big Ante Stack
in BB
Info

Recommended chips

ValueStarting stackAdd-onNeeded

Quantities needed: estimate based on the rebuys and add-on set in the advanced settings.

How to build a poker tournament structure

An automatic calculation from your constraints

Poker Colibri works out the blind structure of a Texas hold'em tournament from your constraints: number of players, wanted end time, level length, starting stack and smallest chip. The generator spreads the levels over the available time, places the breaks and raises the blinds so that the game ends on schedule.

Rebuys, add-on and bonus chips

Turn on unlimited rebuys for as long as you like: each rebuy gives back the starting stack and the period ends at the end of the current level. The add-on, with its own number of chips, takes place at the time you set and can come with a break. The chip bonus favours some players, for example the first to arrive, on top of the starting stack. All these chips are taken into account to size the blinds at the end of the game.

Breaks, antes and chips to prepare

Set the break length, a regular break every N levels or only at the add-on, and add an ante if needed (percentage of the big blind, fixed amount or big blind ante). The "Recommended chips" table shows how many chips of each value to prepare. The structure can be shared by link, exported as CSV or printed.

Prize distribution

Once the structure is set, the Payouts page works out the prize distribution from the prize pool, the number of paid places and the rounding you want.

Frequently asked questions

How many chips should each player start with in a home game?

A stack of 50 to 100 big blinds makes for a pleasant game. For a 3 to 4 hour tournament, 100 BB at the start is a good setting: the "Starting stack in BB" option in the advanced settings lets you adjust it.

How long should a blind level last?

Allow 15 to 20 minutes for a night with friends, 20 to 30 minutes for a longer tournament and 10 to 12 minutes for a fast format. The longer the levels, the fewer there are and the slower the blinds go up.

What is an add-on and when should it be offered?

An add-on is a one-time purchase of extra chips, offered to all players at a set point in the tournament, usually at the end of the rebuy period and often during a break. In Poker Colibri it cannot be placed before the end of the unlimited rebuys.

How do I know how many chips to prepare?

The "Recommended chips" table estimates the quantities to prepare for each value from the starting stack, the add-on and the average number of rebuys per player, which you can set in the advanced settings.

How do I split the prize pool of a poker tournament?

Enter the prize pool, the number of paid places and the rounding on the Payouts page. First place absorbs the rounding difference so that the total payout equals the prize pool.

Is the tool free and does it work on a smartphone?

Yes, Poker Colibri is free, needs no sign-up and works on both computers and smartphones. Your settings are remembered in your browser and the site can be added to your home screen.