> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.hightable.app/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.hightable.app/hightable/user-guide/host-journey.md).

# Host Journey

This guide is for hosts who create and manage poker tables on Hightable. Learn how to set up tables, run games, and handle payouts.

<figure><img src="https://1359795558-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FwF8jcqllo9DiR2DobwTQ%2Fuploads%2Fo1JMIxOGf0afn4F01kZq%2FScreen%20Shot%202025-12-31%20at%201.06.55%20PM.png?alt=media&amp;token=7540ce24-2523-4bb0-a8b5-7075637d58a8" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### Table of Contents

[Host Access](#host-access)

1. [Preparing to Host](#id-1.-preparing-to-host)
   * Confirm Host Access
   * Maintain a Prize Pool
   * Plan Your Structure
2. [Creating Tables](#id-2.-creating-tables)
   * Access the Create Table Form
   * Timed Tournament Settings
   * Sit & Go Settings
   * Satellite Settings
   * Save and Share
3. [Running the Game](#id-3.-running-the-game)
   * Starting the Game
   * Managing the Game
   * Monitoring the Game
4. [Closing Tables and Payouts](#id-4.-closing-tables-and-payouts)
   * Timed Tournament
   * Sit & Go Tournament
   * Satellite Tournament
   * Manual Closing
   * Post-Game Summary
5. [Redeeming Satellite Tickets](#id-5.-redeeming-satellite-tickets)
6. [Admin Dashboard](#id-6.-admin-dashboard)
   * Dashboard — Statistics Overview
   * Players — Balance & KYC Management
   * Tickets — Satellite Ticket Redemption
   * Table History
7. [Host Best Practices](#id-7.-host-best-practices)
   * Communication
   * Game Management
   * Financial Management
   * Verification
8. [Troubleshooting](#id-8.-troubleshooting)
   * Common Issues
   * Getting Help

***

### Host Access

Host access is granted by Hightable admins. If you need hosting rights, request them before planning your event. Once granted, you'll see host-specific features in the interface, including the ability to create tables and manage player balances.

### 1. Preparing to Host

#### Confirm Host Access

**Check Your Status:** You should see host-specific features in the lobby, including a `Create Table` button and access to user management tools.

**Verify Permissions:** If you don't see these features, contact Hightable admins to request host access.

#### Maintain a Prize Pool

**Service Fees:** As the host, you receive service fees from player buy-ins. These fees are automatically added to your balance.

**Emergency Refunds:** If you need to close a table early, all pending buy-ins and rebuys are automatically refunded to players.

**Prize Pool:** The total prize pool is the sum of all player buy-in prices (service fees are separate and go to the host).

#### Plan Your Structure

Choose a game format before creating a table:

| Format               | Start                 | Duration              | Rebuy       | Payout                         |
| -------------------- | --------------------- | --------------------- | ----------- | ------------------------------ |
| **Timed Tournament** | Host manually starts  | Fixed (120 / 150 min) | Allowed     | ICM based on final chip counts |
| **Sit & Go**         | Auto-starts when full | Until 1 player left   | Not allowed | Fixed % by table size          |
| **Satellite**        | Auto-starts when full | Until 1 player left   | Not allowed | Tickets ± cash share           |

**Platform-wide fixed settings (cannot be changed currently):**

* Starting chips: **10,000** per player
* Turn time: **15 seconds** per action
* Blind levels: generated from your chosen **Normal** or **Turbo** preset

### 2. Creating Tables

#### Access the Create Table Form

In the lobby toolbar, click the `Create Table` button (only visible to hosts). Select the game format at the top of the form.

#### Timed Tournament Settings

**Basic Settings**

| Field                   | Description                                                              |
| ----------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Blind Structure**     | `Normal` (15 min/level) or `Turbo` (8 min/level)                         |
| **Table Name**          | Displayed in the lobby                                                   |
| **Duration**            | `120 min`, or `150 min`                                                  |
| **Max Players**         | 2–9 players                                                              |
| **Starting Chips**      | Fixed at 10,000                                                          |
| **Buy-in (Prize Pool)** | Token amount each player pays; also the prize pool contribution per seat |
| **Service Fee**         | Additional fee charged to each player; credited to your balance          |

**Player Timers**

| Field           | Description                                 |
| --------------- | ------------------------------------------- |
| **Action Time** | Fixed at 15 seconds                         |
| **Time Bank**   | Extra time per player in seconds (e.g., 60) |

**Conditions (auto-calculated)**

| Duration | Late Registration closes | Rebuy closes        |
| -------- | ------------------------ | ------------------- |
| 120 min  | 90 min after start       | 90 min after start  |
| 150 min  | 120 min after start      | 120 min after start |

Both deadlines are automatically set — you do not configure them separately.

**Rebuy**

| Field                 | Description                                |
| --------------------- | ------------------------------------------ |
| **Rebuy Price**       | Automatically the same as the buy-in price |
| **Rebuy Service Fee** | Additional fee for each rebuy (can be 0)   |
| **Rebuy Limit**       | Max rebuys per player                      |
| **Rebuy Chips**       | Fixed at 10,000                            |

#### Sit & Go Settings

| Field                   | Description                                                       |
| ----------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Blind Structure**     | `Normal` (8 min/level) or `Turbo` (4 min/level)                   |
| **Table Name**          | Displayed in the lobby                                            |
| **Players**             | `6`, or `9` — game auto-starts when this many players have joined |
| **Starting Chips**      | Fixed at 10,000                                                   |
| **Buy-in (Prize Pool)** | Token amount per player                                           |
| **Service Fee**         | Fee credited to your balance (can be 0)                           |
| **Action Time**         | Fixed at 15 seconds                                               |
| **Time Bank**           | Extra time per player in seconds                                  |

**Payout structure** (automatic, based on table size):

| Table Size | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
| ---------- | --- | --- | --- |
| 6 players  | 65% | 35% | —   |
| 9 players  | 50% | 30% | 20% |

#### Satellite Settings

Satellite uses the same base settings as Sit & Go, with an additional **Prize** section:

**Base Settings (same as Sit & Go)**

Blind Structure, Table Name, Players (6/9), Buy-in, Service Fee, Time Bank.

**Prize Settings**

**Prize Mode:**

| Option                                   | Description                                                                  |
| ---------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Satellite: Tickets only**              | Top finishers receive only tickets; no cash payout                           |
| **Satellite: Ticket + Prize Pool Share** | 1st gets a ticket; other ranks share a percentage of the prize pool in cash. |

**Prize Distribution** (options depend on Prize Mode and table size):

*Tickets only:*

* 1st: 1 ticket
* 1st & 2nd: 1 ticket each (6/9 player tables)
* 1st, 2nd & 3rd: 1 ticket each (6/9 player tables)

*Ticket + Prize Pool Share — 6 players:*

* 1st: ticket, 2nd: 65%, 3rd: 35%
* 1st: ticket, 2nd: 35% *(remainder → host)*

*Ticket + Prize Pool Share — 9 players:*

* 1st: ticket, 2nd: 50%, 3rd: 30%, 4th: 20%
* 1st: ticket, 2nd: 30%, 3rd: 20% *(remainder → host)*

> **Note:** Any prize pool not distributed as cash (e.g., in partial-share options) is automatically credited back to your host account.

**Ticket Details:**

| Field                  | Description                                                                            |
| ---------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Ticket Description** | Name/title of the ticket shown to the player (e.g., "Club Limited - Timed Tournament") |
| **Expires in**         | Number of days before the ticket expires (1–365)                                       |
| **Ticket Value**       | Optional text describing the ticket's value (e.g., "$3400 NTD")                        |

#### Save and Share

Click `Confirm` to create the table. It appears in the lobby immediately.

Share the Hightable link with invited players. They'll enter as spectators and tap `JOIN GAME` to buy in.

### 3. Running the Game

#### Starting the Game

| Format               | How It Starts                                                                                             |
| -------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Timed Tournament** | You press `Start Game` from the host console. Requires at least 2 players seated.                         |
| **Sit & Go**         | Starts **automatically** when the table reaches the configured player count. No action required from you. |
| **Satellite**        | Same as Sit & Go — auto-starts when full.                                                                 |

**What happens automatically on start:**

* Cards are shuffled using a deterministic seed
* Dealer position is randomly assigned
* Blinds are posted automatically
* Turn timers begin

#### Managing the Game

**Player Join Requests:** The system automatically:

* Checks the player's balance for sufficient funds
* Validates table capacity
* For Timed Tournaments, checks whether the join deadline has passed

**Pending Seats:** Players who join or rebuy during an active hand are placed in pending seats and seated at the start of the next hand.

**Player Removal:** Players cannot be manually removed during an active game. Players who bust out (0 chips) are automatically moved to spectator status.

**Timed Tournament — Blind Levels and Breaks:**

* Blind levels increase automatically based on elapsed time
* Breaks (if configured) are triggered automatically and the game resumes when they end
* You cannot manually adjust blinds mid-tournament

**Rebuy Management (Timed Tournament only):** Rebuys are processed automatically — no approval needed. The system checks the rebuy rules, deducts the cost, and adds chips at the start of the next hand.

#### Monitoring the Game

The game table displays in real time:

* Player positions and chip counts
* Current pot size and any side pots
* Community cards and current street
* Turn timer and remaining time
* Showdown results

**Timed Tournament table state panel:**

* Elapsed tournament time
* Current blind level
* Break status
* Time until next level or break

### 4. Closing Tables and Payouts

#### Timed Tournament

**Automatic End:** The tournament ends when:

* The configured duration is reached
* Only one player remains (and no rebuys are possible)

**Automatic ICM Payout:** The system calculates each player's share using the [Independent Chip Model](/hightable/user-guide/game-rules-and-mechanics.md#tournament-payouts) based on final chip counts. Payouts are distributed to players' balances automatically. A results summary is shown to all players with final rankings, chip counts, and payout amounts.

#### Sit & Go Tournament

**Automatic End:** The tournament ends when only one player remains.

**Automatic Fixed Payout:** Prize money is split using the fixed structure for the table size (see [Sit & Go Settings](#sit-and-go-settings)). Payouts are distributed automatically.

#### Satellite Tournament

**Automatic End:** Same as Sit & Go — ends when one player remains.

**Automatic Payout:**

* Players finishing in **cash ranks** receive their percentage of the prize pool credited to their balance immediately
* Players finishing in **ticket ranks** receive a ticket added to their account
* Any unclaimed prize pool is credited to **your host balance**

After the tournament ends, players can view and activate their tickets from the Tickets page. See [Your Tickets Section](https://docs.hightable.app/hightable/user-guide/pages/mLUdaA7YI8YnaNyvpj64#id-5.-your-tickets) for how to redeem them.

#### Manual Closing

You can close a table early from the host console:

* Table must not be started
* All pending buy-ins and rebuys are automatically refunded to players
* Table is removed from the lobby and archived

#### Post-Game Summary

After any tournament ends, the results summary shows:

* Final player rankings
* Chip counts at close
* Payout amounts per player

Access full hand-by-hand history from the table history feature (available to the host and all participating players).

### 5. Redeeming Satellite Tickets

After a Satellite Tournament ends, players who won tickets will have them in their **Tickets** page. As the host, you're responsible for completing the exchange:

**How it works:**

1. The winning player opens their Tickets page and taps **Activate** on the relevant ticket
2. The player shows you the activated ticket (in person or via your group channel)
3. You verify the ticket details (title, value, expiry)
4. Open the **Admin Dashboard → Tickets** page, locate the ticket (it shows as **Requested**), and click **Redeem** to mark the exchange as complete

**Important notes:**

* Tickets can only be redeemed from the Admin Dashboard while in **Requested** (activated) status
* Activation has a time window — if you don't redeem in time, the ticket reverts to Available (pending) and the player must activate again
* Tickets expire on the date you set when creating the table — check expiry before redemption
* Redeemed tickets cannot be redeemed again

### 6. Admin Dashboard

As a host, you have access to a dedicated admin panel. It has four sections:

#### Dashboard — Statistics Overview

The **Dashboard** page provides a summary of all activity within a selected date range. Use the date-range selector at the top to filter all metrics.

**Summary cards:**

| Card               | What it shows                                                           |
| ------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Service Fee        | Total service fees collected from player buy-ins across all tournaments |
| Platform Fee       | Total platform charges billed (calculated per hand played)              |
| Hands Played       | Total hands dealt across all tables                                     |
| Tournaments Hosted | Total number of tournaments created                                     |
| Total Entries      | Total number of player entries and re-entries                           |
| Tickets Issued     | Total satellite tickets issued to players                               |

**Breakdown table** shows per-format details (Timed / SNG / Satellite):

| Column             | Description                        |
| ------------------ | ---------------------------------- |
| Tournaments Hosted | Number of tables for that format   |
| Entries            | Total initial player joins         |
| Re-entries         | Total rebuys (Timed only)          |
| Hands Played       | Hands completed for that format    |
| Buy-in Total       | Total buy-in revenue collected     |
| Fee Total          | Total service fees for that format |

#### Players — Balance & KYC Management

The **Players** page lists all registered users. Use it to verify player details, check balances, and transfer funds.

**Filters and search:**

* Search by **player name** or **player ID**
* Filter by **KYC status**: All / Completed / Pending

**Columns displayed:**

* **Name + ID** — player display name and unique ID
* **Balance** — current USDT balance
* **KYC Status** — Completed or Pending
* **Role** — Host or Player

**Actions:**

* **Transfer** — send USDT directly from your balance to a specific player; useful for manual prize adjustments or credits

#### Tickets — Satellite Ticket Redemption

The **Tickets** page is where you redeem activated satellite tickets. Whenever a player activates their ticket and presents it to you, come here to confirm the redemption.

**Filters and search:**

* Search by **holder name** or **holder ID**
* Filter by **status**: All / Available / Requested / Used / Expired

**Ticket statuses in admin view:**

| Status label | Meaning                                           |
| ------------ | ------------------------------------------------- |
| Available    | Ticket issued but not yet activated by the player |
| Requested    | Player has activated the ticket — ready to redeem |
| Used         | Ticket has been redeemed                          |
| Expired      | Ticket passed its expiry date without being used  |

**Columns displayed:** Ticket title, holder name + ID, finishing rank, ticket value, issue date, expiry date, status, action button.

**To redeem a ticket:**

1. Ask the player to activate their ticket on their Tickets page
2. On the Admin Tickets page, find the ticket (filter by "Requested" or search by holder name)
3. Verify the ticket title, value, and expiry date
4. Click **Redeem** — the status changes to **Redeemed** and the exchange is complete

> Only tickets with **Requested** status show the Redeem button.

#### Table History

The **Table History** page lists all past and ongoing tables across all formats. Use it to:

* Review game results and hand logs for any disputes
* Filter by game format (Timed / SNG / Satellite)
* Drill into individual table details for full hand-by-hand history

### 7. Host Best Practices

#### Communication

**Before the game, inform players of:**

* Game format and any special rules
* Buy-in amount and service fee
* For Timed Tournaments: duration, blind structure, break times, rebuy policy
* For Satellites: what the tickets are worth and how to redeem them
* Approximate start time (especially for Timed Tournaments)

#### Game Management

* For **Timed Tournaments**, coordinate with players before pressing `Start` so everyone is ready
* For **Sit & Go / Satellite**, remind players the game starts automatically once the table fills — late arrivals will miss the game
* After a **Satellite**, remind ticket holders to activate their ticket when they're ready to present it to you

#### Financial Management

* **Service fees** from buy-ins and rebuys are credited to your balance automatically
* **Satellite remainder** (unclaimed prize pool) is also credited to your balance automatically — verify the amount in your balance history after each event
* Closing a table early triggers automatic refunds — verify with players that they received their refunds

#### Verification

After each tournament:

* Check the game result summary to confirm payouts match expectations
* Review your balance history to verify service fees and any remainders were credited
* For Satellites, confirm all ticket redemptions were completed before starting a new event

### 8. Troubleshooting

#### Common Issues

**Can't create table?**&#x20;

Check that you have host permissions (contact admins if needed).

**Can't start game?**

* For Timed Tournaments: ensure at least 2 players have joined
* For Sit & Go / Satellite: the game auto-starts — you cannot start it manually. Wait for the table to fill.

**SNG / Satellite won't start?**&#x20;

The table fills automatically when `max_players` is reached. If the table stays in waiting, check that the player count hasn't stalled due to balance issues on the joining player's side.

**Players can't join?**

* Table hasn't reached maximum capacity ✓
* For Timed Tournaments: join deadline hasn't passed ✓
* For Sit & Go / Satellite: table is still in waiting status (once auto-started, no new players can join) ✓
* Players have sufficient balance ✓

**Unexpected refunds?** This happens automatically when you close a table that has pending transactions, or when a Timed Tournament ends with players in pending seats.

#### Getting Help

**Contact Support:** If you encounter issues not covered here or not covered in [Frequently Asked Questions](/hightable/frequently-asked-questions-faq.md), contact Hightable support.

**Review Logs:** Use the table history feature to review detailed game logs for any disputes.