Rules and Guidelines (MTT)

A Multi-Table Tournament (MTT) is a popular format in poker, involving many players across multiple tables. Here are the essential rules and guidelines for participating in an MTT:

Structure

Number of Players Varies from a few dozen to thousands.

Buy-in Each player pays an entry fee, forming the prize pool.

Starting Chips All players start with an equal number of chips.

Tables Players are spread across multiple tables, balanced as players are eliminated.

Blinds Blinds and antes increase at regular intervals, known as "blind levels."

Rules

Dealing A dealer button rotates clockwise around each table, ensuring each player acts as the dealer.

Blinds Players to the left of the dealer post the small and big blinds.

Antes Antes may be introduced after several levels, requiring all players to post a small amount.

Cards Each player is dealt two private cards, followed by five community cards dealt in stages (flop, turn, and river).

Betting Rounds

Pre-flop Players act based on their two private cards.

Flop Three community cards are dealt.

Turn A fourth community card is dealt.

River A fifth community card is dealt.

Players can bet, check, call, raise, or fold during each betting round.

Showdown If two or more players remain after the final betting round, a showdown occurs. The player with the best five-card hand wins the pot.

Guidelines

Payout Structure The prize pool is distributed to a percentage of top finishers, often around 10-15% of the field. The exact structure is predetermined and published before the tournament starts.

Table Balancing As players are eliminated, tables are balanced by moving players to keep tables evenly populated.

Breaking Tables Entire tables are removed as the tournament progresses, consolidating players to fewer tables.

Final Table The last remaining table is called the "final table," typically consisting of the last 8-10 players.

Etiquette

Act in a Timely Manner Avoid unnecessarily delaying the game.

Respect Other Players Be courteous and professional.

No Collusion Players must not work together to gain an advantage.

No Soft Playing Players should not go easy on friends or acquaintances.

Time Management

Blind Levels Typically increase every 10-20 minutes, depending on the tournament structure.

Breaks Regular breaks are provided, often every hour.

Strategy

Early Stages Play conservatively to preserve your chip stack.

Middle Stages Begin to open up and play more hands as blinds increase.

Bubble Play When nearing the payout positions (the bubble), adjust strategy to account for other players' tendencies to tighten up.

Late Stages Aggressive play can be rewarded as blinds are high and players are more desperate to accumulate chips.

Final Table Adapt to the dynamics and stack sizes of other players, often requiring a more strategic and aggressive approach.

Additional Rules

Re-buys/Add-ons Some MTTs allow re-buys or add-ons within a specific period.

Time Banks Players may have a time bank, giving additional time to make crucial decisions.

Deal Making At the final table, players can agree to an ICM (Independent Chip Model) deal or other forms of prize splitting.

Handling Disputes

Floor Decisions In live settings, a floor person resolves disputes.

Online Support In online MTTs, support staff or an automated system addresses issues.

Common Variations

Turbo MTTs Faster blind levels, increasing the speed of play.

Hyper Turbo MTTs Even faster blind levels.

Knockout/ Bounty Tournaments Players receive a bounty for eliminating other players.

Shootout Tournaments Players must win their table to advance to the next round.

By adhering to these rules and guidelines, players can ensure a fair and enjoyable MTT experience.