Poker term
Prize pool
The total money paid out to the finishers of a tournament: the sum of all buy-ins minus the fee, or the guarantee if that is larger.
Frequently asked questions
How is a poker prize pool calculated?
Entries minus the organiser's fee, plus any added money or overlay. A €100 + €20 buy-in means €100 goes to the prize pool and €20 to the house.
What else can be taken out of a prize pool?
Some tours deduct further amounts before paying. The Irish Poker Tour, for example, withholds 3 per cent for staff and 1 per cent for its leaderboard — published on its own event pages, which is rarer than it should be.