Freezeout

A freezeout in poker refers to a tournament format where players start with a set amount of chips and continue to play until they run out of chips, at which point they are eliminated. This term is used in the context of poker tournaments.

Understanding a Freezeout

In poker, a freezeout is a type of tournament where each player begins with a specified amount of chips. When a player loses all their chips, they are eliminated from the tournament. Unlike in rebuy tournaments, players are not allowed to buy more chips and re-enter the tournament once they're out.

Impact of a Freezeout on Game Strategy

Playing in a freezeout tournament influences a player's strategy significantly. Since players cannot buy back into the tournament, they often adopt a more conservative approach, especially in the early stages. It's crucial to manage one's chip stack effectively and make calculated decisions to avoid early elimination.

Example of "Freezeout"

For example, in a freezeout tournament with a $100 buy-in, each player might start with 10,000 chips. If a player loses all their chips, they cannot buy back in and must leave the tournament. The player's strategy in this freezeout tournament would involve careful chip management and risk assessment.

• "John played conservatively in the early stages of the freezeout tournament to preserve his chip stack."
• "Mary took a calculated risk in the freezeout tournament, understanding that she couldn't buy back in if she lost all her chips."
• "Tom was eliminated early from the freezeout tournament after a few bad hands."