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ACR Poker Venom Series 2026: The Complete Player Guide
- ACR Poker Venom 2026: $10M guaranteed Dual Mystery Bounty Venoms series.
- Qualify for $2,650 entry through various pathways, starting from $0.
- Six Day 1 flights; reach Day 2 for guaranteed in-the-money position.
ACR Poker Venom 2026: $10M Dual Mystery Bounty tournament lobby with six Day 1 flights running April 12–26.
(credit: ACR Poker)
So, you are looking to play in the ACR Poker Venom Series in 2026? You came to the right place! In this complete player guide you find all the information you need to plan your path and qualify to Venom tournaments even for free.
What Is ACR Venom?
The ACR Poker Venom is Americas Cardroom's flagship tournament, running on the Winning Poker Network (WPN) since 2019. It is currently structured as a Dual Mystery Bounty Venoms series that runs simultaneous NLH and PLO events with a combined $10M guarantee and a fixed $2,650 buy-in. The satellite ecosystem makes entry possible from $0.
April 2026 Dual Venom
| Event | GTD | Top Bounty | Min.Bounty |
|---|---|---|---|
| NLH Mystery Bounty | $8,000,000 | $500,000 | $5,000 |
| PLO Mystery Bounty | $2,000,000 | $200,000 | $5,000 |
ACR Venom Full Schedule: 6 Day 1 Flights (Updated)
| Flight | Date | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1A | Sunday, April 12 | 12:05 PM |
| Day 1B | Thursday, April 16 | 12:05 PM |
| Day 1C | Sunday, April 19 | 12:05 PM |
| Day 1D | Thursday, April 23 | 12:05 PM |
| Bonus Flight | Saturday, April 25 | 12:05 PM |
| Day 1E | Sunday, April 26 | 12:05 PM |
| Day 2 | Monday, April 27 | 1:05 PM |
| Final Table | Tuesday, April 28 | 4:05 PM |
Update: ACR added a Bonus Flight on Saturday, April 25. Now six Day 1 flights total, not five as previously reported.
The Venom Warmup ($500,000 GTD, $66 buy-in) runs parallel daily flights from April 14–27 as a lower-stakes companion event.
Venom Tournament Structure
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Starting stack | 300,000 chips (187.5 big blinds) |
| Blind levels (early) | 12–15 minutes |
| Blind levels (22–36) | 15 minutes |
| Blind levels (37+) | 20 minutes |
| Late registration | Open for 21 levels (~5+ hours) |
| Day 1 ends | When 12% of field remains |
| Mystery bounties activate | Day 2 only |
| Money bubble | Pops before Day 2 begins |
ACR Mystery Bounty Format Explained
Half of every buy-in funds the bounty pool; the other half goes to the standard prize pool.
Phase 1 (Day 1 flights):
- No bounties awarded (chip accumulation only)
- Multiple flights allowed; surviving stacks combine into Day 2
- Treat this like a standard deepstack freezeout
Phase 2 (Day 2 onward):
- Every surviving player is already in the money before a hand is dealt
- Every knockout draws a random bounty envelope (values are unknown until revealed)
- Min bounty: $5,000 | Top bounty: $500,000 (NLH) / $200,000 (PLO)
- Any player at the table could be sitting on the $500K envelope
The January 2026 proof of concept: Runner-up 'BALDOUS' drew the $500,000 and $150,000 top bounties and earned $1,240,310 total which was more than the official champion ($728,281).
How to Qualify: Every Path from $0
The Venom Fever satellites run April 7–26 and guarantees 687 seats at $2,650 each.
ACR Venom Freeroll Pipelines (Zero Cost)
| Chain | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $0 Freeroll | $5.50 Super Sat | $55 Mega Sat | $2,650 seat |
| Standard | $0 Freeroll | $11 Super Sat | $109 Mega Sat | $2,650 seat |
| Mid | $0 Freeroll | $33 Super Sat | $290 Mega Sat | $2,650 seat |
| High | $0 Freeroll | $66 Super Sat | $630 Mega Sat | $2,650 seat |
You only ever spend money if you choose to skip a step and buy in directly. Follow the chain from the free freeroll and every dollar spent comes from winnings, not your pocket. All pipelines lead to the same $2,650 Day 1 entry regardless of which chain you follow.
All Satellite Paths
| Path | Entry Cost | Seats GTD |
|---|---|---|
| Freeroll Pipeline to Mega Sat | $0 | 210 NLH + 30 PLO |
| Direct Satellites | $33+ | 310 NLH + 42 PLO |
| Beast Tournaments (Sundays) | $95 | 95 NLH |
| Venom Madness Multi-flight | $16.50 | 20 NLH |
| Poison Path (Survivor Flips) | $0.80 | Unlimited |
Seat guarantees apply to the full Venom Fever window (April 7–26). The Freeroll Pipeline and Poison Path have no minimum spend. All costs beyond Step 1 come from ticket winnings. Direct Satellites offer the highest guaranteed seat count at 352 combined NLH + PLO seats.
The Poison Path
A Survival Flip step ladder table. 8-player sit-and-gos, one winner advances:
| Step | Format | Buy-In | Winners Advance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Survivor Flip | $0.80 | 1 of 8 |
| 2 | Survivor Flip | $6 | 1 of 8 |
| 3 | Survivor Flip | $46 | 1 of 8 |
| 4 | Survivor Flip | $350 | 1 of 8 |
| Day 1 | Venom Seat | $2,650 value | — |
The Venom Vault - Turn Keys Into Tickets
The Venom Vault (April 6–26) guarantees a prize with every key.
Vault prize odds (from prior editions):
- Survivor Flips Step 1 ticket (90%)
- Survivor Flips Step 2 ticket (9.5%)
- Survivor Flips Step 3 ticket (0.4%)
- Survivor Flips Step 4 ticket (0.055%)
- $2,650 Golden Ticket (direct Venom seat) (0.045%)
How to Get Keys (Free Methods)
| Mission | Keys |
|---|---|
| Play 25 raked cash game hands in a day | $3 |
| Play 25 raked Blitz Poker hands in a day | 3 |
| Play real money 15 consecutive days | $6 |
| Refer a friend | $10.00 |
| Hit Royal Flush using both hole cards | $10.00 |
| Play real money 10 consecutive days | 3 |
| Play real money 5 consecutive days | 2 |
| Play 5 real-money tournaments in a day | 1 |
| Play 3 Survivor Flips in a day | 1 |
| Play Blitz + cash + tournament in one day | 1 |
| Win with 7-2 offsuit at showdown (NLHE) | 1 |
| Win with 4-2 offsuit at showdown (NLHE) | 1 |
- Paid options: $2.99 per key or 300 Combat Points per key.
- Find it: My Account / My Cashier Account / Venom Vault banner in the client.
Keys expire Monday, April 27. Open immediately after earning.
New Depositor Bonus (USE PROMO CODE NEWBONUS)
First-time depositors funding $25+ receive 7 free Vault keys over 3 days (3 + 2 + 2) plus the standard 100% Welcome Bonus up to $2,000.
ACR Venom History
| Edition | GTD | Prize Pool | Winner | 1st Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 2019 | $5M | $6.38M | THEBIGKID | $1,049,283 |
| Aug 2020 | $7M | $9.68M | TRT-VITOR | $1,542,024 |
| Aug 2022 | $10M | $10.04M | MANUMA29 | $1,169,951 |
| Apr 2024 | $12.5M | $12.61M | Dominik Nitsche | $1,818,044 |
| Jan 2025 | $10M | $10.89M | S1NISTRO | $748,547 |
| Aug 2025 | $10M | $10.55M | IamYorFather | $710,163+ |
| Jan 2026 | $10M | $11.27M | MatasSembolas | $728,281 |
Plan Your Path to Venom 2026 - By Player Type
Pro / Serious Grinder
- Fire multiple Day 1 bullets across the six flights and combine stacks into Day 2
- Watch for overlay signals: when entry count falls short of the guarantee target, EV spikes
- Day 1 = chip EV only; Day 2 = widen ranges to account for bounty EV on every knockout
- Final table deal-making is permitted: important with top bounties potentially still in play
Recreational Player
- Satellite in: the freeroll chains are real and reliably funded
- Stack Vault missions (25 raked hands = 3 free keys) around your normal play
- The Venom Warmup ($66, $500K GTD) is a significantly softer parallel target
- Multi-entry lets you fire again cheaply after a Day 1 bust
First-Timer
- Deposit $25+ now to claim 7 free Vault keys + 100% Welcome Bonus up to $2,000
- Start at the $0.80 Poison Path or a free freeroll pipeline
- Primary goal: reach Day 2, which guarantees a cash before you play a hand
- The High Five Series (April 19–23, $2.20–$6,300 buy-ins, 50 events, $4M GTD) runs alongside for lower-stakes reps
- ACR accepts 60+ cryptocurrencies = fastest deposit method for most players
Start Now and Aim for Day 2 Payday
The April 2026 Venom is live now and Day 1 flights run through April 26. Whether you are buying in direct, grinding through the freeroll chains, or opening Vault keys on your lunch break, the entry paths are genuinely accessible at every level. Day 2 starts April 27 where every survivor is already on the money.
Latest News
ACR Poker Venom Series 2026 FAQ
Can I qualify for the ACR Poker Venom for free?
Yes. ACR Poker offers two zero-cost qualification paths for the Venom. The Freeroll Pipeline starts with a free daily freeroll and progresses through Super Satellites and Mega Satellites to a full $2,650 Venom seat. The Venom Vault gives every player one free key on April 6, with additional keys earned through free daily missions. Prizes include a Golden Ticket worth a direct $2,650 Venom entry. No deposit is required to start either path.
What happens if I bust out of a Venom Day 1 flight?
Players who bust a Day 1 flight can re-enter on any remaining flight. The April 2026 Venom has six Day 1 flights running from April 12 to April 26, including a Bonus Flight on April 25. Late registration stays open for approximately five hours per flight. Players can satellite back in via the Venom Fever lobby or use a Venom Vault key between flights.
When do Venom players win money?
There is no traditional money bubble in the ACR Poker Venom. Every player who survives Day 1 and advances to Day 2 is guaranteed a cash payout before a single hand is dealt. Day 2 begins Monday, April 27 at 1:05 PM ET. The minimum cash in the NLH Venom is approximately $2,384.
How does the Mystery Bounty format work in the Venom?
Mystery Bounties are inactive during all Day 1 flights (chip accumulation only). From Day 2 onward, eliminating any player awards the winner a randomly drawn bounty envelope from the prize pool. In the NLH Venom, bounty values range from $5,000 minimum to $500,000 maximum.
Can Venom players enter multiple Day 1 flights and combine stacks?
Yes. Multi-entry is permitted across all six Venom Day 1 flights. Stacks surviving multiple flights are automatically combined into a single stack before Day 2 begins. This is a key strategic tool. Players who qualify cheaply via satellites and survive multiple flights can arrive at Day 2 with a significantly larger combined stack than a single-entry survivor.
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