Tourney 20 player max help (2 Viewers)

TonZaga

TonZaga

Straight
Joined
Jun 23, 2019
Messages
786
Reaction score
1,050
Location
Louisville, KY
I'm going to be looking to host a 20 player tournament twice a year. I'm in need of the normal chip count and player breakdown so I can build a set of chips. Any help would be greatly appreciated as I'm mainly a cash game player.
 
The most popular base on this forum seems to be T25 (my favorite as well). The most popular breakdown of T25/T100/T500/T1000/T5000 per player seems to be 12/12/5/6/X (not my favorite, though :p), where X depends on the starting stack.

Let's say T10k stacks (X=0). Multiply by 20 and you'll have
240 T24
240 T100
100 T500
120 T1000
I prefer introducing T5000 on color ups (even though T1000 can be used for the lower denoms), and 16 T5000 will color up all T25, T100, and T500. Get extra if you round up on color-ups, which IMO you should.

Add more T5000 if you want larger starting stacks and/or if you want to support rebuys and add-ons. If you have large enough starting stacks you might even need T25k chips, and you might need to think about coloring up the T1000 as well. You'll basically have to do the math to see how much you need.

Buy extras of each chip, and get samples first. :)

If you want to save money, use starting stacks of 8/8/4/7/X, or something similar. The cheapest which is bad but not totally horrible is 8/8/2/3/1. I would prefer cheaper chips than cheap stacks, though.

That's all I got!
 
Last edited:
RocAFella1 said:
Are you looking for T5, T25, T100 base?
Click to expand...
Honestly not sure. Last time I played a tournament was like 12 years ago using striped dice chips. Been playing $0.25/.50 cash games the past couple years. Just thought about hosting a tournament couple times a year
 
I have a 1000 chip set for your specs. We use a 8/18/12/2 starting stack with tons of extra 1000s for color ups. Lots of chips in play! Can change the starting stack to accommodate up to 27 players...
 
Klobberer said:
I have a 1000 chip set for your specs. We use a 8/18/12/2 starting stack with tons of extra 1000s for color ups. Lots of chips in play! Can change the starting stack to accommodate up to 27 players...
Click to expand...
What's your set breakdown?
 
This is what I'm thinking so far. Leaves some rebuy potential I guess

307600
 
I have hosted 20 - 24 person tournaments a number of times using various schedules with both base T5 and T100. A set of 1000 will be stretched woefully thin hosting 20 and offering rebuys. An additional 500 would cover you very well. When putting sets together I always stick to the ratio I learned on Home Poker Tourney.... a set of 1000 chips would be broken into 400/300/200/100 or 400/300/200/50/50. 400 always being lowest denomination. If I buy a set of 500 I just halve it to 200/150/100/50. I prefer to play with base T100 and everyone starts w 10 k in tournament chips. Blinds start at 100/200..... makes it really easy for people to do their math! You have numerous starting stack breakdowns to choose from. This doesn't mean that starting with a T25 chip is not a great way to go! I have done that when hosting a one table tourney using a set of 1000 where the lowest denomination is a T5, than T25, T100, T500, T1000. A lot of flexibility. Definitely recommend no more than a 5 color set.
 
TonZaga said:
This is what I'm thinking so far. Leaves some rebuy potential I guess

View attachment 307600
Click to expand...

I am personally not a fan of having lots of T500 when there are T1000 in play, because unless you're out of T1000 you only ever need to use a maximum of one T500 per bet. That is why most breakdowns you'll see here at PCF have few T500. On the other hand, if the next chip value is T2000 (i.e., a when using the denominations T25/T100/T500/T2000/T10000) then it makes sense having more T500 since you will be using up to three per bet.

A benefit of using fewer T500 than T1000 is that you don't have to buy as many chips. That can of course be seen as something negative, though ;)
 
Your 1k and 5k's total up 320,000, so you've got the 20-player tourney covered once the 500's are raced off. 3/4 of the way through the tourney and you won't be using 840 of your 1000 chips.

Might I suggest to downplay the 500's. imho, the 1k is really the workhorse of the tournament. I'd put more of them in play from the start to avoid removing all those 500's later.

12/12/5/6 might be better for you. Even 12/12/3/7. I've found the 500's are just not used that often. When people bet 600-800, they'll usually put in a 1k and make change.

T25 = 300
T100 = 300
T500 = 100
T1000 = 140
T5000 = 60

When it comes to rebuys, I just give them two 5k's and have them make change from the chip leader. Rebuys come in the first two hrs (usually) and those are all low denom chips you're just going to have to race off later anyway.

My .02. Hope it helps.
 
Jon Udell said:
When putting sets together I always stick to the ratio I learned on Home Poker Tourney.... a set of 1000 chips would be broken into 400/300/200/100 or 400/300/200/50/50. 400 always being lowest denomination.
Click to expand...

A loved HPT, that was where I learned the basics of hosting! Well... that and Howard Lederer's "Secrets of No Limit Holdem" :ROFL: :ROFLMAO:

I don't agree with having most of the lowest denom.
  1. They get removed after a few levels.
  2. They are mostly used for blinds.
  3. The workhorse in the beginning is usually the second denom chip, and for each level, higher value chips are used more and more, and the lowest lose significance.
Having many is good for avoiding constant change making, but you don't really need that many. I would rather have more of the second denom than the first. For example, with my old chips set the T20k starting stacks where 12/17/4/11/1.

There are of course exceptions: With a T100 base I would only have a few of the second denom (T500) because of the T1000.
 
I realize I am in the minority, but I much prefer a T5 base. You can avoid the awkward T500/T1000 transition because the multiples between 5-25-100-500 are all very similar. You can use a T1000 as a big chip.
 
Mr Winberg said:
The most popular breakdown of T25/T100/T500/T1000/T5000 per player seems to be 12/12/5/6/X
Click to expand...

Don't overthink it, do what @Mr Winberg is suggesting, the above x20.

For T10k starting stack, that's a requirement of...

240/240/100/120 for stating stacks (700)

Either...
30*T1000 or 6*T5000 for color ups.

And...
40*T5000 for 100% rebuys rate.

That has you comfortably under 800 chips. Add T5k if you are a planning a T20k starting stack.

Really don't load up on T25 or T100, those chips always come out of play in any tournament of this length.
 
JustinInMN said:
Don't overthink it, do what @Mr Winberg is suggesting, the above x20.

For T10k starting stack, that's a requirement of...

240/240/100/120 for stating stacks (700)

Either...
30*T1000 or 6*T5000 for color ups.

And...
40*T5000 for 100% rebuys rate.

That has you comfortably under 800 chips. Add T5k if you are a planning a T20k starting stack.

Really don't load up on T25 or T100, those chips always come out of play in any tournament of this length.
Click to expand...

What he said :p
 
TonZaga said:
Alright so 240/240/100/120/50 and I'll be set for T20k starting and rebuys?
Click to expand...

Sorry I should have seen T20K was the goal.

So figure

12/12/5/6/2 per stack.

Starting stacks require
240/240/100/120/40

Color ups
Still 6*T5k or 30*T1k

100% rebuy
80*T5k

Gives you
240/240/100/150/120 For 850 chips
Or
240/240/100/120/150 For 800 chips
 
@TonZaga do you ever see the need to host more than 20 players? I try to future proof all my sets if possible.

I ask because you’ve gotten some great breakdown recommendations from others but you’re then not very far from the original 1000 chips you wanted. With a few extra chips, you can have a 1000 chip set that could also be playable for up to 30 players if the need arises.

There are also other breakdowns that work with 600 and 800 chips if you are still interested in other options.
 
RichMahogany said:
@TonZaga do you ever see the need to host more than 20 players? I try to future proof all my sets if possible.

I ask because you’ve gotten some great breakdown recommendations from others but you’re then not very far from the original 1000 chips you wanted. With a few extra chips, you can have a 1000 chip set that could also be playable for up to 30 players if the need arises.

There are also other breakdowns that work with 600 and 800 chips if you are still interested in other options.
Click to expand...

I don't think I'll ever get more than 20 but it wouldn't hurt. 1000 chip set is the max I would want to go so they can all fit in a birdcage
 
TonZaga said:
I don't think I'll ever get more than 20 but it wouldn't hurt. 1000 chip set is the max I would want to go so they can all fit in a birdcage
Click to expand...

Okay here’s a few other options;

600 chip set
160/160/80/160/40. Starting stacks of 8/8/4/7 for T10,000 total. I know that you mentioned wanting 20k starting stacks, but I wanted to give you this option just in case you might want to use the minimal amount of chips while having each stack not feel too small. 20 T1000 chips perfectLy color up the T25/T100 and you have 2 5k chips per player for one rebuy.

800 chip set.
200/200/100/200/100

Same starting stack for 20 players as above but you have plenty of chips for T20,000 and rebuys. It is also playable for up to 24 players at 8/8/4/7 and is a nice, neat even amount of full racks. Edit: this breakdown can also accommodate 16 players with 12/12/5/6/2 stacks

1000ish chip set
240/240/120/240/120(140/160)
Now this set can accommodate 20 players with 12/12/5/6/2 starting stack for your desired T20,000 start. Plenty of chips for color up and rebuys. This set can also handle up to 30 players using the 8/8/4/7 starting stacks. There is room for an extra 40 chips which you can use for one rebuy chip per player or bounty chips or nothing at all.

Hope this helps
 
Last edited:
RichMahogany said:
@TonZaga do you ever see the need to host more than 20 players? I try to future proof all my sets if possible.
Click to expand...

The nice thing about planning with 12/12/5/6 stacks is it builds in the option of switching to 8/8/4/x stacks to accommodate extra players in a pinch. Now to keep T20K doing 8/8/4/7/2. That would require 210 T1K instead of 120. So if future proofing is the idea, an extra 90-100 of T1K
Is really all that's required.
 

Create an account or login to comment

You must be a member in order to leave a comment

Create account

Create an account and join our community. It's easy!

Register

Log in

Already have an account? Log in here.

Similar threads

D
Tourney Adding Player mid-game, similar to Re-buys.
Replies
19
Views
310
allforcharity
allforcharity
C
Tourney Help me design a 10-Player Tournament Structure
Replies
8
Views
321
CallingStation614
C
DeeVee8
Tourney Two Buy-Ins?
Replies
22
Views
451
BGinGA
BGinGA
S
Cash Game 500pc Chip Breakdown for 25c/50c through $1/$2
Replies
13
Views
818
jshul
J
karsus
Tourney Rules Question -- Player with 3 hole cards at showdown (Hold'em)
Replies
20
Views
502
karsus
karsus
Back
Top Bottom