2 tourney structures in LA critique

Looking forward to my first live tourney, and I have someone willing to stake me. Since we are nearly related, I want him to understand what he is getting into.

Here in L.A. we have a lot of casinos to choose from. Possibly because it is closest to his house, he offered this from Hollywood Park Casino;

No-Limit Hold'Em
$4,000 Guarantee!
$8,000 Guarantee on Fridays
Tournament Structure Antes Blinds Time 25-25 60 Minutes 10 Minute Break 25-50 20 Minutes 50-100 20 Minutes 100-200 20 Minutes 25 100-200 20 Minutes 50 200-400 20 Minutes 75 300-600 20 Minutes 100 500-1000 20 Minutes 200 1000-2000 20 Minutes 300 1500-3000 20 Minutes 500 2000-4000 20 Minutes 1000 3000-6000 20 Minutes 1000 5000-10,000 20 Minutes 2000 8000-16000 20 Minutes
Limits will be raised every 20 minutes until the tournament is concluded. *Service charge deducted from every tournament buy-in and rebuy and 100% will be distributed to tournament staff.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE POKER TOURNAMENT STRUCTURES

Redraw for seats at the final two tables. You must be 21 years of age or older to play. HOLLYWOOD PARK CASINO tournament rules prevail where applicable. Management reserves the right to cancel any event at its sole and absolute discretion. Management decisions are final. This is a DOJ-approved tournament GEGA-1620. “Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER”

I discussed the dangers of rebuys, but my experiences are completely online based. I can't believe there is all that much difference amongst quality live players and quality online players when it come to choosing a tourney structure.

I prefer the non rebuy at the Bicycle Club. He may not like this because it is very close to where his mother lives.

The Bicycle Club structure is thus;

Mon No-Limit Holdem $30 $10 None Tue No-Limit Holdem $30 $10 None Wed No-Limit Holdem $30 $10 None Thu No-Limit Holdem $30 $10 None Fri No-Limit Holdem $30 $10 None
Simple, no sharks 'seeding' tables, and much more talent based.

I might need some help convincing him that the extra 13 miles will save him money.

Hollywood parks starts the tourney with $500, for 60 minutes the blinds are 25-25, then the add-on, then 20 minute levels till it ends. Antes kick in after the 2nd break.

At the Bike, $2000 to start, 25-25 with 20 minute levels. Ante start during the 6th level.

Please comment.

The rebuy is clearly the better structure w 60 min levels and (theoretically anyway) deep stacks resulting from the rebuy period. Of course, your backer should understand that the "buy in" will be much higher as you will want to allow for multiple rebuys.

Honestly almost all low buy in tournaments like the one you describle at the Bike are not worth playing (espeically if that $10 is the fee on the $30: that's a massive vig that even the best players probably can't fade). T2000 w 20 min levels is pretty much a joke as far as skill: it's whoever gets dealt the luckiest cards; add in the huge house rake and you are better off putting your money in play in blackjack or dice.

Also, lol @ "He may not like this because it is very close to where his mother lives."

Go get em DJ, you know best what you can do.

lol @ “Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER”

yeah 20min blind levels live is super turbo.

Based on this being my first live event, and that I'm getting staked, I suggested the Bike game. I want to deal with fewer things for a first live tourney, and the rebuy at HPC looks very expensive to me.

Using a 2-1 hands (online-live) ratio the 20 minutes doesn't seem all that fast, but those are the things I need to learn. I never did trust that 2-1 ratio anyway. My common sense suggests something closer to 4-1, in which case your right, it would be a super turbo.

At the HPC, only the first level is 60 minutes, and I'd guess that a lot of those 60 minutes are eaten up with all the activities involved in rebuying. After that it also has 20 min blind levels. Also elsewhere on that HPC page (not copied) those * (asterisks) are defined as ' we take money out for the staff. 100% goes to the persons operating the event. So not all of the chip fees go into the final pot.

I offered my staker UB money. I'd like to get him (retired) involved online. He is so closed mouth (good for a poker face) though that he could be pottripper and I wouldn't know it.

He's also a pretty damn good cook.

Good luck to you dj, do good.

Maybe you could get Mom to go away for the weekend.