In Poker what is a buy in?

Question

If you buy in for $500 what does that mean?

Answer 1

a buy  in is an option -  its when you run out of chips and want to continue playing you can buy more chips to keep playing.

Answer 2

While both of the above answers are correct, let’s address the actual question being asked.

In poker, the buy-in is the term used to describe the cost of playing that game, at that time, in that location. It is the amount you are “risking” to play.

This is further isolated by the types of games being played. You must decide if it is a “cash” game, in which you can take your winnings at any time and leave, or a tournament, where you have to play until only one player has all of the chips.

1. Cash – The buy-in is referred to as the amount YOU put in play. The casino/house will often have rules as to what the minimum and maximum amounts are, but it is the amount that you sit at the table with – to START (hopefully you end with more). For example, a $2-$5 no-limit Hold’em table has a minimum buy-in of $300, and a maximum buy-in of $600. These are the table’s buy-in limits. YOUR buy in of $500 is the amount you are willing to bring to the table to play with. In this cash game your personal buy in could be anywhere between $300 and $600.

2. Tournament – The buy-in is much less complicated. It is the amount needed to play the game. No minimum, no max, just the same amount for everyone. This is the cost of playing in the tournament. Here a $500 buy in  means it costs you $500 to play in the tournament, no refunds, no leaving the tournament with money (unless you win it).

I hope this addressed your issue.

Answer 3

The buy in refers to the cost to play.  If it is a tournament the $500 is the amount to enter the tournament, once your chips are out so is the player, unless it is a rebuy tournamnet.  In a cash game it refers to the min. a person has to bring to the table to play, if you run out of chips you can buy in again for another $500.