Tournament Structure

Might be a stupid quistion but what are the starting stacks and how long is each level?

The starting stacks for this structure can range from 2,000-10,000. This structure is based on about 70 players. The levels will last 20 min each.
I think this structure comromises with the player and the house needs.

Could be just me, but the ante seems to kick in a bit early. But like I said, I could be wrong.

I aggre i rather see them in round 6, But maby im wrong to.

Well, there really is a HUGE difference depending on if you start player with 2k chips or 10k chips.

Using Arnold Snyder's calculator you can see that 2k is a crap shoot with a skill level of 'one', while 10k is decent (for a low buy in anyway) with a skill level of 'four':

2000.JPG

10k.JPG

comparable (almost) to a multi-table tournament on FullTilt:

FT multi.JPG

I also think that the antes kick in far too early. Like AG stated, the starting stack size is rather important.

As posted, with a starting stack size of 2k and the level increase you have listed would be too fast.

As a compromise I'd suggest taking the antes out completely, and making the starting stacks 5k.

The antes would actually be fine with me - as others have mentioned, the two biggest issues for me would be the level duration and the starting stack. Ideally I'd want starting stacks of 6000 and 30 minute levels as a minimum to play in something like this.

Otherwise, only thing I could suggest is maybe 600-1200 blinds between levels 8 and 9. Ditto for 6000-12000 blinds between levels 15 and 16.

Oh - the other important thing players want to consider is the rake. How much rake would you be charging on the entrance fee?

Well, I think with a small starting stack of 2k i oculd take out the antes. With bigger stacks i think the antes could stay. The buy-ins range from 15+5 to 65+10. The smaller the buy in the smaller the chip stack. The smallest chip stack is 2k. All of our entry fee's do not go to the house but to other things like Free rolls and such.

As for adding blinds between 8 and 9 and 15 and 16 i think that might be a good idea.

With a starting stack as small as 2000, taking the antes out or not starting them until much later is probably a good idea, yeah.

If these are live tourneys you are talking about then the $15 - $65 buy in is pretty low. That being said, most people who would be playing this tourney would want to get in have some fun for 2 or so hours and get out. With the 20 min blinds you want that means a break every hour. I personally think that is too much. I know that when I am playing a live tourney the last thing I want to be doing is getting up for 10 - 15 mins every hour.

Plug any structure you design into the calculator accessible in my link above: anything under skill level four is poor, and I know I personally wouldn't waste my money on it.

I've had a look on that link but can't actually find the calculator?

Last link under "New Articles" column along the left side:

pcalc.JPG

Cheers. Just put my structure into it. This is what I use for our freezeouts, 8 players usually. Skill level of 5 apparantly, not bad for a quick tourney

starting chips: 10,000

minutes: small/big-ante

30: 50/100
30: 100/200
30: 150/300
break
20: 200/400
20: 300/600-50
20: 400/800-50
20: 500/1000-100
break
20: 600/1200-100
20: 800/1600-150
20: 1000/2000-200
15: 1500/3000-300
etc, all at 15.

AG, what's a good patience factor? I play with mostly family and friends, neither of which are "into" poker like we might be. They like to play, just not like we all do :-)

So is this a decent patience factor? I'm guessing 3 is a decent skill level for weekend'ers if you will.

Also, to the OP, I wouldn't worry about breaks. When we play, people take breaks after the button and can usually be back before the next deal, or at least before the SB.

Attached Images

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I wouldn't worry about breaks either. At our local card club the only break is when the final table is formed and that is only 5 min long.

Ya I would definitely want a larger starting stack then 2000 for that structure. I would say the 10 000 starting stack would work well but I usually prefer deep stacked tourneys so that is probably why I would pick that one. I also think the ante comes in a little bit too soon as some other posters have mentioned.

From here:

Patience Factor Comments
1.49 or less A crapshoot
1.50 to 2.99 Still very fast, pray for good cards
3.00 to 4.49 Very fast but good for learning speed play
4.50 to 5.99 Fast, excellent for good speed players
6.00 to 7.49 Medium fast, requires more poker skill
7.50 to 9.99 Medium slow, requires much more poker skill
10.00 and up Slow, highly skilled players only

How many people in those tournaments though?

I think every couple of hours for breaks is a good amount. When it comes time to race off chips the game will come to a halt for five minutes or so anyway.

ranges from 30-60 players. TD walks around doing the color up when needed so no play stoppage there. Play will stop for about 2-3 min as tables break.

The chip stack has been increased to $3000. There is only a 5 mn break every hour. I have also added that every Thursday is a $10,000 Starting chip stack. This structure will be put into effect May 1st. I will let you guys know what people say.

I am not sure that that benefits very very patient players at all. That is as aggressive as any turbo structure, no matter if it is 3,000 chips or not. If rounds are 20 minutes, it wont make up for the aggressive nature of the structure. I think that you could slow down the structure and move it back down to 1,500 chips, if you are worried about time.

More time? Smaller increase in blinds? What would you prefer. And the tournament calculator is very misleading. I just want to make a point of that.

Well there is another thread that discusses the differences between the different blind structure at different sites. Some obviously favour a more skilled player and also they prefer a more patient player. This can lead to very long tourneys, but that is what I myself would like in any tourney. I like to outplay the opponent, not simply play push, fold, fold, push... Know what I mean? I guess that 3,000 chips with the 20 minute rounds would be great for a deepstack tourney, so my only beef would be to tone down the blinds/antes a bit. I take it that by the way the tourney is figured, it is supposed to be around a 3 hour total? What about the breaks too? Is that a 5 min break every 20 min?? That seems like an overkill. Also if you want some turbo types, that structure is good, but drop it to 1500 chips and 15 min rounds. I just have a hard time seeing that structure as a normal tourney, because it will force major action after a couple of hours at most.

Edit: I guess I am slow, because when I looked at it again, I figured out that the breaks are every hour and that the tourneys will last around 5 hours? That seems alot better, this actually reminds me more of a deepstack tourney, which I like. In fact I think that is very similar to the deepstack PS tourneys, so I think that the structure is fine. Perhaps think about making some more aggressive for the turbo lovers though, because not everyone likes to play that long. (I know that my opinion went in a complete 360 degree turn, I guess I couldnt figure out where the rounds were, until the last time I looked at it)

No 5 min breaks ever hour.

I like this structure. My only suggestion would be to push the antes back until after the second break, but if it's a time issue, I understand where you're going with that.

One other concern is the length of the break. Online, a 5 minute break is fine, because you're in your own home, and have no trouble accessing the bathroom, etc. However, in a casino setting, I think 10-15 minute breaks would be more realistic, to give players a chance to get to the bathroom, have a smoke, etc. Five minutes is only enough to try to make a mad dash to the bathroom and back.