This article is about play in games in general, for the most common use of the term, see NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Opening Round game

A play in game is a game at the beginning of a tournament that forces the lowest
qualifiers for tournament to play each other before the main portion of the tournament begins.
This gives added advantage to the higher qualifiers allowing them to rest, while the lower teams hurt each other by playing.
Further, teams that participate in the play in usually must play the next game against the highest qualifier in the tournament
and play on the road.Having a play in game allows for a tournament to not have a number that is a power
of two and allows for an extra thing for teams to play for as they try to win to avoid having to play in the extra game.