PKO tournament strategy: progressive knockout tips
In a progressive knockout (PKO) tournament, part of every buy-in is a bounty on each player. When you knock someone out, you get half of their bounty in cash and the other half is added to your own bounty. That makes calling all-ins more attractive, especially when you cover (have more chips than) your opponent.
How bounties change decisions
Section titled “How bounties change decisions”When you call an all-in against a player you cover, you’re playing for the pot plus their bounty. That extra money means you can call wider than in a normal tournament.
| Situation | Normal tournament | PKO |
|---|---|---|
| Calling a short stack’s all-in when you cover | Need a strong hand | Can call wider |
| Shoving when you’re covered | Normal ranges | Slightly tighter: others want to call you |
| Big bounty on a player | No effect | That player gets called much more |
See bounty tournaments for the basics.
Strategy tips
Section titled “Strategy tips”- Cover your opponents: you can only win a bounty if you have more chips.
- Call wider against short stacks with big bounties.
- Shove a bit tighter when you’re short with a big bounty: people will call you lighter.
- Early on, bounties are worth a lot compared with the prize pool, so aggression pays.
- Late in the event, the main prize pool matters more; normal ICM thinking returns.
Example
Section titled “Example”Blinds 100/200. A player with 2,000 chips and a big bounty shoves. You cover them. With a normal tournament range you’d fold K-9 offsuit; in a PKO, the bounty can make calling correct.
Mystery bounty
Section titled “Mystery bounty”In mystery bounty events, bounties are drawn at random later in the tournament. See mystery bounty.
What is a PKO tournament?
Section titled “What is a PKO tournament?”A progressive knockout: when you eliminate a player you get half their bounty, and half is added to your own bounty.
Should you call more all-ins in PKO tournaments?
Section titled “Should you call more all-ins in PKO tournaments?”Yes, when you cover your opponent, because you’re also playing for their bounty.
What does it mean to cover a player?
Section titled “What does it mean to cover a player?”To have more chips than them, so you can eliminate them and win their bounty.
How does PKO strategy change late in the tournament?
Section titled “How does PKO strategy change late in the tournament?”The main prize pool matters more, so normal ICM thinking becomes important again.