Mystery bounty tournaments are a new format at PokerStars, but you would never know based on the size of the Carnival Series Main Events that run over the weekend. Three No-Limit Hold’em and one Pot-Limit Omaha Mystery Bounty Main Events shuffle up and deal on February 4; they come with combined guaranteed prize pools worth $2,350,000!
The three No-Limit Hold’em Mystery Bounty Main Events come in buy-ins of $11, $109, and $1,050, which have guarantees worth $250,000, $1,250,000, and $750,000, respectively. Those three events commence at 5:30 p.m. GMT on February 4.
Thirty-five minutes later, PLO specialists have their own $215 buy-in, $100,000 guaranteed Mystery Bounty Main Event.
How Do Mystery Bounty Tournaments Work at PokerStars?
PokerStars Mystery Bounty tournaments play like a regular tournament until the money places are reached. At this point, any money in the bounty prize pool is divvied up into mystery bounties. You get to open a mystery bounty envelope once you bust an in-the-money player. Eliminating an opponent before the regular prize pool bubble bursts does in receiving a mystery bounty.
The mystery bounty prize pool increases with every new entrant or re-entry, meaning the mystery bounty prizes are not revealed until late registration closes.
PokerStars’ system differs from that of 888poker. At 888poker, the mystery bounty prize pool remains static, and the largest bounties are displayed in the lobby. Furthermore, the mystery bounties come into play at 888poker after a predetermined blind level, not when the players are in the money. Be aware of these differences if you are used to playing mystery bounty tournaments at 888poker and have decided to give PokerStars a spin.
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Breaking Down the PokerStars Carnival Series Mystery Bounty Main Events
The three No-Limit Hold’em tournaments shuffle up and deal at 5:30 p.m. GMT on February 4, and span across two days. The $11 and $109 buy-in editions pause after seven hours and 55 minutes of play before resuming at 5:30 p.m. GMT on February 5.
Day 1 of the $1,050 No-Limit Hold’em event continues until the money places are reached, with surviving players returning to the virtual felt at 5:30 p.m. GMT on February 5.
The PLO Mystery Bounty Main Event is a one-day tournament. A $109 buy-in, $30,000 guaranteed PLO Mystery Bounty event ran during the recent New Year Series Afterparty; it attracted 395 entrants and took approximately eight hours to conclude, which gives you some indication of what to expect from this $215 version.
| Event | Starting Stack | Blind Levels | Late Registration | Re-Entries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $11 NLHE | 50,000 | 15 mins | 4 hours | Up to three |
| $109 NLHE | 100,000 | 20 mins | 5 hours | Up to three |
| $1,050 NLHE | 100,000 | 20 mins | 4 hours 35 mins | Up to three |
| $215 PLO | 100,000 | 12 mins | 3 hours 45 mins | Up to three |
Satellites From Only $1.45
Players wanting to flex in the $11 No-Limit Hold’em Carnival Series Mystery Bounty Main Event can win their way into the tournament for only $1.45. Those $1.45 buy-in satellites are 16-player sit & go shootouts.
Those players wishing to play traditional multi-table tournament satellites can still win their way into these Main Events for a fraction of the advertised buy-in because they have a range of buy-ins starting at a mere $2.20.
Sorry, PLO players, but there are currently no Pot-Limit Omaha satellites feeding into the four-card Main Event, so you’ll have to stump up $215 if you want to play.
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PokerStars players with Power Path passes can redeem them for online tournament tickets that are eligible to be used in Carnival Series events.
Redeem your Bronze Pass for a $109 ticket for the $1,250,000 guaranteed NLHE Mystery Bounty Main Event.
Silver Passes can be exchanged for a ticket bundle worth $2,500, while those lucky enough to have a Gold Pass in their possession can redeem it for a $10,300 ticket package.
Silver Pass Ticket Package
- 4x $215 tickets
- 6x $109 tickets
- 8x $55 tickets
- 15x $22 tickets
- 18x $11 tickets
- $18 worth of tournament dollars
Gold Pass Ticket Package
- 3x $1,050 tickets
- 6x $530 tickets
- 22x $109 tickets
- 20x $55 tickets
- 20x $22 tickets
- $32 worth of tournament dollars
There’s More to the Carnival Series Than the Main Events
Although the Carnival Series Main Events have the biggest guarantees of the remaining tournaments, there are still over 60 events taking place between February 2-5. They come with buy-ins from $2.20 to $1,050, and boast guarantees from $4,000 to $200,000, giving you ample opportunities to pad your bankroll during the first week of February.