EmpirePoker
Games Tournaments How to Play Disconnection and All-in Policy
Multi-Table
Tournament Rules

The following procedures, format and rules apply to all multi-table tournaments.

  • Players must register in advance to play.
  • You must pay your buy-in and entry fee when you register.
  • Tournaments at EmpirePoker.com begin on time; players will be blinded/anted off if they are not present.
  • All seats are randomly assigned.
  • You may be allowed to 'unregister' from a tournament, 15 minutes prior to the start of the tournament.
  • All real money tournaments use 15-min levels. Exceptions will be noted.
  • There will be a five-minute break every hour.
  • Tables will be broken (condensed) from the highest number to the lowest number.
  • Tables will be balanced (max. occupancy – min. occupancy) according to the following criteria:
    ** 3 players if the number of running tables is greater than 10
    ** 2 players if the number of running tables is greater than 2 but less than 10
    ** 1 player if the number of running tables is 2
  • In transferring players from one table to another to keep tables balanced, we try to be 'as fair as possible' to players to maintain the same distance from the blind after the transfer.
  • The difference in distance from the blind for a player before and after the transfer is not required to be zero.
  • Players inherit any obligations (taking the blinds) or receive any benefits (getting the button) when transferred as a result of their table breaking down.
  • Players are dealt in the next hand after a transfer (unless they are moved into the small blind position). Players are informed when they are transferred (and when others are transferred to their table).
  • Late registration is allowed in our regular tournaments. Registration is considered closed when any of the following occurs:
    • The first level of the tournament is completed
    • One player is eliminated from the tournament
    • All seats are filled up in the tournament
    • Maximum tournament capacity is reached
  • In case of tournaments with late registration, players can unregister from a tournament 15 minutes before the start of the tournament.
  • You can see the prize pool and payout structure for each tournament in the Tournament Lobby. The prize pool is displayed after the tables are loaded; the payoff structure is displayed as soon as registration is complete.
  • Some special tournaments and the EmpirePoker.com Million V will not have a late registration option.
  • Hand-for-hand is a feature used in all multi-table poker tournaments that allows tables to play the same exact number of hands at critical times. The following is the chart used to determine when hand-for-hand will start and stop. Noted exceptions are in tournaments where a set number of prizes are being given out (for example, the EmpirePoker.com Million Semi-Finals).


Hand-for-Hand Chart
(Hold'em and Omaha)		 Hand-for-Hand Chart
(7 Card Stud)
Tables Paid
(10 per table)		 Start Stop Start Stop Tables Paid
(8 per table)		 Start Stop Start Stop
1 20 10 / / 1 18 8 / /
2 30 20 12 10 2 26 16 10 8
3 40 30 12 10 3 34 24 10 8
4 50 40 22 10 4 42 32 18 8
5 60 50 32 10 5 50 40 26 8
6 70 60 32 10 6 58 48 26 8
7 80 70 32 10 7 66 56 26 8
8 90 80 32 10 8 74 64 26 8
9 100 90 32 10 9 82 72 26 8
10 110 100 42 10 10 90 80 34 8
11 120 110 42 10 11 98 88 34 8
12 130 120 42 10 12 106 96 34 8
13 140 130 42 10 13 114 104 34 8
14 150 140 42 10 14 122 112 34 8
15 160 150 42 10 15 130 120 34 8

The prize pool and payout structure for each tournament is displayed in the Tournament Lobby as soon as registration is complete.

In addition to any rules posted at a particular tournament or promotion, our Standard Poker Tournament Rules apply to all tournaments.


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