Tourney Beginner Tournament Ideas (2 Viewers)

[emunster18]

I'm hosting a $10 beginner tournament, for some of my non-poker player friends, some of my regular's spouses, and a few of my regulars. Here are some of the ideas that I have to make it a light and friendly game, while introducing the game to some non-gamblers.

Estimated players - 15
Buy-in - $10
Rebuys - 1 available per player, within the first hour.
Length - Targeting 3 hours, so blinds will be relatively quick. This is done to give playing time, but not drag on. These are mostly not poker players and may get tired of the game.

Payouts - Top 4 places
Bounties - $3 Scratcher-off ticket
Loser's Prize - $1 Scratch-off ticket when you get knocked out.
*Scratch tickets are paid for by the house, not from buy-ins.

The winner will get a little trophy that my son 3d printed, along with the $ payout and scratch-off bounties.

Food, drinks, music, etc.

Any thoughts on the existing ideas, or additional ones?

Other thought I had was to single out a couple of my regulars and put an additional bounty on their head, like $5 or $10. Or beat the dealer... the tables are dealt by me and Mrs. Emunster. Knock one of us out and get a bonus...

 

[NotRealNameNoSir]

Smart, love it. Good job keeping it moving quickly. I definitely support putting a higher bounty on you, half the fun for beginners is gunning for the hosts or the confident players.

 

[emunster18]

I talked to one of my regulars that hosted a similar game a couple weeks ago. He won that tournament, so we're going to put a bonus bounty on him and a bonus bounty on me as the host.

We'll be at separate tables, to allow everyone the opportunity of an extra bounty.

 

[ThrowBack]

Larger prize pool. Down to 5th place getting $5 is fine lol. 1/3 get to feel a win

Trophies 1-3rd, spray paint them.

 

[Jake14mw]

Let's see the trophy!

 

[emunster18]

Let's see the trophy!

Trophy still to be printed, but here's the idea.

https://share.google/Mr2EkdQnRQAqXinjl

Also, on a side note. We have a trophy between us and another Bridge playing couple. We play husbands vs wives, as this leads to the least amount of contention... winner of the month gets the trophy. It has been in Mrs. Emunster's possession for far too long! Maybe half of 2025 and January 2026. Perhaps I need to study my game more... or look for a new partner (Bridge partner, not life partner).

 

[emunster18]

Couldn't attach a picture, so had to place it here.

 

[Poker Zombie]

As someone who has hosted dozens of games for non-poker players (including local celebrity tournaments), I can give some advice that has worked well for me over the years.

• Lots of small denomination chips. New/non-poker players limp a shit-ton. = call. = call. Everyone has a good time until their physical stack of chips are depleted. Not the value, the physical stack. If I had a dollar for every "I'm doing terrible" said to to someone with 30x T5 chips when they are sitting there with a 4x T1000 chips, I'd be a rich man. Lots of chips makes newbies happy.
• Keep the denominations as little as possible. My learner's set starts at T5 chips. This is because a lot of new players think that a chip = money. T5 is $5. T100 is $100. I've had one player never play again because he was too uncomfortable betting a mortgage payment (T1000) in a $20 tournament.
• Take a break every hour. Smokers smoke, drinkers pee and refill their beverages and never miss a hand. This extends their perceived tournament play. "I lasted 3 hours!", but did you if you account for those 3, 12 minute breaks? Of course you did. Those 36 minutes were a part of the fun of the evening, even though they couldn't be knocked out during break.
• I like bounties less for new players, because the aforementioned limping. Bounties are won by aggression - which is typically more experienced players that understand ICM and the value of bounties. I prefer bonuses that favor players that finish out of the money. Bad Beat is a favorite, where the best hand that lost the pot wins the prize. I put it up for all to see and it becomes a source of pride. Plus, it encourages a player that holds the bad beat to stick around until the end, because they still have something to win even if they are out. More people when the game goes heads-up is more fun for all.
• Snacks. Make it a party. Hot dog roller if you got it, but a veggie tray, crab dip, or a charcuterie board gives a substantial feeling to the evening and keeps energy up. I avoid potato chips. They're oily, salty and it all gets back to the table. Same reason I don't make wings for poker nights (though other player have brought them). You gotta protect your stuff.
• I use a blind structure that starts at 500 BB and dwindles to 100 BB after an hour. This makes the first hour inconsequential for seasoned players, but it gives new players an opportunity to learn the game with virtually no chance to lose.
• TEACH the rules. String betting and pot splashing is going to happen. Explain to them why it's not allowed, and give them a bye on their first offences. Nobody likes to be corrected, but that's your job. TDA rule #1 is "The best interest of the game and fairness are top priorities in decision-making. Unusual circumstances occasionally dictate that common-sense decisions in the interest of fairness take priority over technical rules." It should be obvious to tell if a string bet is an angle or an honest mistake from years of Hollywood getting it wrong, especially if they are call then min raising, when the raise is 1:200th of the effective stacks.
• Pay 1/3 the field. This isn't a for profit venture. Flat payout tables with a lot of players in the money, and a couple of "oh, so close" players makes many feel they did well and weren't just fish in the tank.

New player poker isn't the same as a game with seasoned veterans. You have the opportunity to make or destroy poker for these people.

 

[emunster18]

Thank you so much for the lengthy response! I definitely am going the way of making it a party. Snack, drinks, music, etc. But have not gone the way of the hot dog roller yet.

I like the thoughts on blind structure, starting with a huge stack and making the way to 100BB at the first break. I was going to use my normal T100 & 40k tournament setup, but will adjust to implement your suggestion of more small demoms on the table and 500BB stacks.

Sticking with the bounties for scratchers, just to give another prize out. There's no real value, just perceived value with them. I'm covering the cost of them, so it's not going to come out of the prize pool.

And likely will extend the payout structure to top 5 (of 15 players), per your suggestion.

 

[theedegen]

I'm hosting a $10 beginner tournament, for some of my non-poker player friends, some of my regular's spouses, and a few of my regulars. Here are some of the ideas that I have to make it a light and friendly game, while introducing the game to some non-gamblers.

Estimated players - 15
Buy-in - $10
Rebuys - 1 available per player, within the first hour.
Length - Targeting 3 hours, so blinds will be relatively quick. This is done to give playing time, but not drag on. These are mostly not poker players and may get tired of the game.

Payouts - Top 4 places
Bounties - $3 Scratcher-off ticket
Loser's Prize - $1 Scratch-off ticket when you get knocked out.
*Scratch tickets are paid for by the house, not from buy-ins.

The winner will get a little trophy that my son 3d printed, along with the $ payout and scratch-off bounties.

Food, drinks, music, etc.

Any thoughts on the existing ideas, or additional ones?

Other thought I had was to single out a couple of my regulars and put an additional bounty on their head, like $5 or $10. Or beat the dealer... the tables are dealt by me and Mrs. Emunster. Knock one of us out and get a bonus...

I like all of the ideas you have and just have a few notes I'd like to add.

1. Make sure music volume is relatively low so everyone can hear the action and table talk is more encouraged. If its a very social game people new ppl will have a much better time.

2. TV on near the games but not where people at the tables will be distracted and watch. If you have another little seating area w/ some sort of Sports game or even Poker on TV so people have something to do if they bust. Then they can pop in and out on the action.

3. Hand rankings on the wall or some sort of cheat sheet on the basics for the non poker players?? If doable could be helpful.

 

[emunster18]

Way ahead of you on the cheat sheets. I have a stack of them from the poker store.

 

[Poker Zombie]

I also give 1st time players a "Help" card. It's a one-time use to allow a player in a tough spot to seek advice from a seasoned player. That player (not in the hand obviously) takes the player aside and uses their process to explain to the newbie not only what their action should be, but why.

I stole the idea from Celebrity Poker Showdown in the early 2000s.

 

[emunster18]

I gave a little intro at the beginning of the night, about it being a very friendly game. If you need help, feel free to ask anyone who is not in the hand. Didn't happen often, but people asked for help a few times.

We ended up with 17 players. The tournament lasted about 4 hours, but only because I let the breaks go long. There was lots of socializing, drinks being poured, and food being eaten. The actual gameplay was closer to 3:00ish.

The winner ended up being one of my regulars, and Mrs. Emunster took 2nd. She doesn't play often, and told me today that it was the most fun she has ever had playing poker.

It's not that my normal game is all that serious, but this was very much a social gathering with poker being the vehicle to bring the group together. And now I have been tasked with hosting this type of game more often...

 

[jasonxrowland]

My wife and I have been hosting poker parties with beginners for years. Some don't considered it real poker, but we don't play with money at these parties. Our main goal is to simply enjoy a fun poker tournament with friends who wouldn't otherwise play.

Lately, we've been experimenting with ways to allow people to keep playing even if they bust out early. I got an idea from short deck texas holdem. We give everyone extra "bullets" that are not bettable until after the first color-up. The bullets can be redeemed early for an equivalent stack of chips when you bust out. This prevents someone from busting out in one hand and being done for the night while still having a predictable end time.

 

[Poker Zombie]

My wife and I have been hosting poker parties with beginners for years. Some don't considered it real poker, but we don't play with money at these parties. Our main goal is to simply enjoy a fun poker tournament with friends who wouldn't otherwise play.

Lately, we've been experimenting with ways to allow people to keep playing even if they bust out early. I got an idea from short deck texas holdem. We give everyone extra "bullets" that are not bettable until after the first color-up. The bullets can be redeemed early for an equivalent stack of chips when you bust out. This prevents someone from busting out in one hand and being done for the night while still having a predictable end time.

You're right - it sounds like some fun, but it's not poker.

I find free poker emboldens bluffs, and takes the "sweat" off of otherwise tough calls. Even $5 creates a real desire to win. As a gamer, I have played free poker for the thrill of the win, but it's just not the same - or really even close.

 

[thePokerClub]

I also give 1st time players a "Help" card. It's a one-time use to allow a player in a tough spot to seek advice from a seasoned player. That player (not in the hand obviously) takes the player aside and uses their process to explain to the newbie not only what their action should be, but why.

I stole the idea from Celebrity Poker Showdown in the early 2000s.

View attachment 1630248

I am going to do some R&D (rob and design) on this idea.