Tourney blind structure

When I started playing tourneys online I used to like the slow advancing blind structure found at many sites. As I've progressed with my game I've come to realize that I like playing in events that have a more agressive blind structure. A passive blind structure allows people to sit back until they get the aces of kings they're waiting for and this eliminates some of the skill element from the game. I have been playing the ultra turbo SNGs at Pokershare as of late and the blinds go up every 2 minutes. The added pressure of rapidly increasing blinds forces you to play a more agressive style and just seems to suit my game well. Just wondering how other folks feel about the blind structures?

I kind of like the slow blind structure, I guess because thats what im used of, and i also like the tourneys with starting chips of $ 1500. Ive played some tourneys that start with only $ 1000 chips and dont care for them, i think the extra $ 500 chips gives you a better chance at building up your stack. As for the blinds, the difference of 2 or 4 minutes when the blinds are going up make a difference too. >>>>>>>>>>> buckster436

Party Poker only gives you 800 chips! I suppose the players that make the best adjustments do best.

With only 800 chips i would have to alter my game play quite a bit. I forgot but ive played on party poker a few years ago and the best i did was coming in about 350 out of 5800 players. Not to good but not to bad ether, it was in their freerolls when i first starting playing no-limit,>>>>>>>>>> buck

Best blind structure is the one most often used in good live tournaments (with many variations).

25/50
50/100
75/150
100/200
150/300
200/400
300/600
400/800
500/1000
800/1500
1000/2000
1500/3000
2000/4000
3000/6000
4000/8000
5000/10000
8000/15000
10000/20000

For a decent game levels should be 20 minutes (30 would be better but is usually impossible due to time constraints) with each player starting with 4000 chips (5000 is preferable but unviable for medium buy-in events) and the final level tends to be 3000/6000 if 50 players start.

These are the blinds I deal with every week at the tournaments I play and it changes every 12-15 minutes:

10/20

20/40

50/100

100/200

200/400

400/800

500/1000

1000/2000

2000/4000

5000/10000

10000/20000

20000/40000

My point is that I'm beggining to like a more aggressive and faster blind structure. In some of the slow moving blind tourneys, there is a lot of wasted time and in fact encourages folks to sit-out. The fast raising blind structure forces folks to pick their spots and play the hands...

Quicker structured tourneys are far too prone to turning into crapshoots for my liking. I prefer it when one suckout or mistake early on doesn't tend to cost you any decent chance of doing well.

Dave try the $5 turbo tourney on pokerstars tonight, great fun but the blinds do go up very quickly, the whole thing usually lasts about 2 hours.

What time?

the SnG blind structure at paradise (your favourite site dave) isn't time based, the levels increase every 10 hands

this has the effect of accelerating the levels as the tourney progresses, at the beginning it seems quite sedate, but as players are elimated the time between levels reduces

i quite like the format, it certainly keeps things moving, they usually last about 50 minutes, my only complaint would be that it often leaves little room for any heads up play at the end, the blinds can quickly become so large relative to the chips on the table its either all-in or nothing

anno

Actually, I like the sound of that. If Paradise wasn't so slow I might actually give it a shot. It's probably my personality, but I like a system which keeps the pressure on and doesn't lull you to sleep. The rising blinds can be an effective partner if you've read your table right and are willing to take a few risks...

i just edited my last post to say, they usually last about 50 mins for a 10 player SnG

when you say paradise is 'slow' do you mean generally or as it was the other week in our CC tourney

paradise is running fine at the moment, but i know it is not as quick as some sites

anno

15.49 ET Dave, I should be there , whats your pokerstars id so i can keep an eye out for you ??

Damn, I won't get home until 16:30. I'm DGFitz00 on Stars...

there is a second one at 22.39ET, but thats a bit late for me.

On Stars, I play the $6.50 9-person SNGs (turbo 5-min blind levels). They also have 45 person $6.50 turbos (7 places pay). The single tabled games usually last 35-45 minutes, so if you don't want to be playing forever, these are the games for you.

lately i've been playing the turbo SNGs where the blinds go up every 2 or 3 min. I personlly like them as well as it does keep the game moving faster than others. Plus i have been winning alot of them lately so that always helps.

And Dave about Paradise, i've been playing the .50/$1 tables for the last 2-3 days and so far there's hasn't been any problems. *knock on wood*
Hmm think i'll go try out that SNG @ paradise and see what it's like.

ROBWHUFC is currently CHIP LEADER in that pokerstars tourney, its at the bubble at the moment

No, don't type that! - you'll jinx me!

29th - cards went ice cold towards end at just wrong time. $23, but what a crapshoot. NEVER seen so many river wins (and river river wins!). Was on right end of 2 of them though, so can't complain. Never again though!

That tourney goes through a stage of pure madness, i seen 6 all-ins on one table alone, you really need to hit a huge hand in the middle of all that to stand a chance.

I got rivered early early on and was shortstacked from the out, stole a few blinds and got caught attempting it again.

Played a couple of winning sit and go's after that (3 in a row) so all in all a good night.

You forgot the antes! They make it real

Gospadine
www.worldpokershowdown.com