A few Questions on our Home Game Tourney

For our home game we play 2 sit and goes a night.

Each one last about 1-1.5 hours.

5k Starting stacks.

Blinds go like this:

25/50
50/100
100/200
200/400
300/600
400/800
500/1000
1000/2000
2000/4000
(WVHILLBILLY helped me out, way back)
Each level lasts 10 minutes.

The question I have is this:

Is this setup almost like a turbo?

This is a game with all close friends ages 16-18, so the chatter is very, very high.

I was wondering how many hands should be played for every blind level, in order to make it not like a turbo.

For example, should everyone have the button at least once per blind level?

I find that sometimes, the blinds go up so fast that only a few hands have been played.

The reason we cannot play for a longer time, which I know would reduce the variance, (Which is a good thing for me, because I play with absolute donks, I am one as well, but not as bad) is because people usually have stuff to do in the morning such as sports and work, so we really can't go too far past midnight.

Anyways, I was just wondering if there are ways to make the tournament have less variance.

Sometimes, if I don't get a hand, and its in the 200/400 level, I will have to shove-pre very soon, because I will be just over 10 BBs, 12.5 to be exact.

Sorry, for the choppiness, and how long this post it, I was just wondering if I could get some feedback.

Thank You

Spend twice as long at each blind level and only play one tourney a night I think would reduce variance.

BlueNowhere said:

Spend twice as long at each blind level and only play one tourney a night I think would reduce variance.

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Thanks BlueNowhere.

This makes sense, however I don't think my friends would go for it because once they get eliminated, they would have nothing to do. When we play 2 tourneys, at least they have another to look forward to.

Thanks again for your input, and I will throw it by my friends this weekend.

Yea the only way without doing that that I can think of would be to weight the blind levels so they are bottom heavy and you get to spend longer at a deeper level where your edge is maximised. If you think your friends won't like this you can suggest it in a more subtle way where you play a certain amount of hands at each depth. You'll play for longer at deeper stacks that way than the current way.

BlueNowhere said:

Yea the only way without doing that that I can think of would be to weight the blind levels so they are bottom heavy and you get to spend longer at a deeper level where your edge is maximised. If you think your friends won't like this you can suggest it in a more subtle way where you play a certain amount of hands at each depth. You'll play for longer at deeper stacks that way than the current way.

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Maybe something like, everyone should be on the button at least once per orbit?

yea that would guarentee a certain amount of hands/level.

JDAWG5 said:

Maybe something like, everyone should be on the button at least once per orbit?

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You can do this but it will have the same effect as longer blind levels (ie longer tournaments) which you say you don't want.

Basically it comes down to do you want 2 quick shovefests or 1 longer tourney where those eliminated early are effectively done for the night???

Still no consideration to just playing cash and then you can start and end exactly when you want???

Also are you using 2 decks to help reduce time between hands??? Current SB shuffles one deck while the other is being dealt.

Or maybe playing with 2 rebuys would be good and just having one longer tourney.

WVHillbilly said:

You can do this but it will have the same effect as longer blind levels (ie longer tournaments) which you say you don't want.

Basically it comes down to do you want 2 quick shovefests or 1 longer tourney where those eliminated early are effectively done for the night???

Still no consideration to just playing cash and then you can start and end exactly when you want???

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To be honest everyone loves the tournaments, and only want to do them now.

However, I have realized that I would probably do better at this point in a cash game because there will be less variance. I can just play tight, and raise pre-flop when I'm strong. (My friends still get pissed when I raise pre LOL). I will mention going back to cash game, and play $.05/$.10.

WVHillbilly said:

Also are you using 2 decks to help reduce time between hands??? Current SB shuffles one deck while the other is being dealt.

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Yes we use 2 decks, that helps a ton!

BlueNowhere said:

Or maybe playing with 2 rebuys would be good and just having one longer tourney.

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A rebuy could work too. Double the time for each blind and allow a rebuy. Still could end up with someone busting both stacks earlier than they probably would if you played 2 tourneys though.

You could create a rebuy that acts as an add on to solve the busting out early problem. If you created a 1 re-buy that can be taken if you fall below 2.5K and then an add on that you can take at the 1 hour period so everyone still gets a decent amount of playing time.

Dont make the structure 'too good'. Then you will just crush them, and they wont invite you to play with them again

only_bridge said:

Dont make the structure 'too good'. Then you will just crush them, and they wont invite you to play with them again

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We have been playing since august...they will keep coming back

If there are only a few of you, ie single table.
You can ignore the clock and just raise the blinds every time a player goes out.

You can ignore the clock and just raise the blinds every time a player goes out.

1kota said:

good to gain entry to the tournament

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1kota said:

and won the ticket

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1kota said:

as for the game cardschat

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LOL... Not gonna work.

Nice try though.

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