Bounty Poker Tournament: Rules for a Home Game
Updated Nov 13, 2026
Short answer: In a bounty tournament, part of every buy-in goes on each player's head. Knock a player out and you collect their bounty on the spot; the rest of the buy-in goes to the prize pool and pays the finishers as usual. In a standard bounty, every bounty stays the same. In a progressive bounty (PKO), you take half and the other half goes on your own head. In a mystery bounty, each knockout draws a hidden prize.
How to split the buy-in
Decide what share of each buy-in is bounty before anyone sits down. A quarter is a gentle start; half is normal for progressive bounties. Two examples:
- $20 buy-in: $15 to the prize pool, $5 bounty.
- $30 buy-in: $15 to the prize pool, $15 bounty (progressive).
Use a bounty chip (a chip in a color you aren't playing with, or a marked chip) in front of each player, so everyone can see who's worth what. Hand it over at each knockout and cash the chips in at the end.
Standard bounty rules (with a worked example)
- Every player has the same bounty for the whole tournament.
- Whoever knocks a player out collects that player's bounty.
- If two players are all in against one and both bust, the winner of the pot collects both bounties. If a pot is split, split the bounty.
- The winner keeps their own bounty.
Worked example: 10 players, $20 buy-in ($15 pool + $5 bounty). The prize pool is 10 × $15 = $150, paid 50 / 30 / 20 percent: $75 / $45 / $30. The bounties are 10 × $5 = $50: 9 knockouts pay $5 each ($45) and the winner keeps their own $5. Everything paid out: $150 + $50 = $200, which is 10 × $20.
Change the payout split with the poker payout calculator (enter the prize pool only, not the bounties).
Progressive bounty (PKO) rules
- Each bounty starts at the same amount.
- When you knock someone out, half their bounty is paid to you now and half is added to your own bounty.
- A player’s bounty grows when they score knockouts, so the displayed bounty—not their chip stack—determines what an elimination pays.
- Heads-up: the winner collects the whole last bounty and keeps their own.
Worked example: 6 players, $30 buy-in ($15 pool + $15 bounty). Prize pool $90, paid $60 / $30.
Scroll table horizontally →
| Knockout | Paid now | Bounty on the winner's head after |
|---|---|---|
| Alex knocks out Ben ($15) | Alex $7.50 | Alex $22.50 |
| Cam knocks out Dana ($15) | Cam $7.50 | Cam $22.50 |
| Alex knocks out Eli ($15) | Alex $7.50 | Alex $30 |
| Cam knocks out Fran ($15) | Cam $7.50 | Cam $30 |
| Alex wins heads-up vs Cam ($30) | Alex $30 + own $30 | – |
Bounties: Alex $75, Cam $15. Prizes: Alex $60, Cam $30. Alex takes home $135 and Cam takes home $45; $135 + $45 = $180, which is 6 × $30.
Mystery bounty rules
- The bounty part of every buy-in goes into one pot.
- Before the game, split that pot into sealed envelopes of different sizes, one per knockout.
- Each time you knock someone out, draw an envelope.
Worked example: 8 players, $25 buy-in ($15 pool + $10 bounty). $120 prize pool for the finishers. The $80 bounty money goes into 7 envelopes (an 8-player game has 7 knockouts): $40, $15, $5, $5, $5, $5 and $5. Have two people fill and seal them so nobody knows which is which.
At home, open an envelope from the first knockout. It's simpler and keeps everyone in it.
Bounties with re-entries and add-ons
A re-entry buys a whole new buy-in, so it puts a new bounty on the table too. An add-on only adds chips and prize money, not bounty. Write which one you allow in the invite. More in rebuy, re-entry and add-on rules.
How to track bounties
On paper, keep a knockout list: who busted who, at what level. At the end, pay bounties from that list and the prize pool from the finishing order. In the HG Poker app, re-entries, add-ons, bounties and finishing places sit in one tournament control room, with a blind clock and Room Display for the TV. HG Poker records the game only; it doesn't hold or move money, so players still pay each other.
Watch
Watch: How to host a home poker tournament.
Frequently asked questions
What is a bounty in poker?
A cash prize on a player's head. Whoever knocks that player out of the tournament collects it, on top of any prize money they win for their finish.
How does a progressive bounty tournament work?
When you knock someone out, you get half their bounty right away and the other half is added to the bounty on your own head. Bounties grow as players win knockouts, and the winner collects the last bounty in full.
How much of the buy-in should go to the bounty?
A quarter of the buy-in for a standard bounty game ($5 of $20) and half for a progressive bounty game ($15 of $30) are easy starting points.
How does a mystery bounty work in a home game?
Put the bounty money into sealed envelopes of different sizes, one per knockout. Each time a player knocks someone out, they draw an envelope.
Does the winner get their own bounty?
Yes. Nobody knocked the winner out, so they keep their own bounty.
Related guides
- How to set up a home poker tournament
- How to calculate poker payouts
- Poker league points system
- Tournament blind structure builder
- Free poker blind timer
Track every knockout, re-entry and payout from one phone.