Tourney Decreasing blind level times... (2 Viewers)

[Wils]

Hi folks. I have a few friends round every few weeks and we play maybe three or four one hour games. I know, I know, one hour = luckfest, but it's about getting together rather than skillful Poker, and everyone gets a chance to get their money back/make some.

That said, the blinds increase quite severely (I'm using the 2/3/5/7 method to determine blinds). So... I was thinking maybe rather than a constant blind duration, the blinds last longer in the first few rounds but then get shorter in later rounds (so by the time the hour is up they're roughly equal). That way there is more time at lower levels.

I.e. standard blind times: 8 players, 7 minute blinds all the way through. Game finishes at or around level 9.

Non-standard:.
Levels
1-3, 10 minutes each (most if not everyone is still in)
4-6, 8 minutes each (maybe half still in, still more forgiving than 7 minute blinds)
7-9, 6 minutes each (mid/end game, blinds are shorter than "standard" by just one minute, but by now the field has been reduced so more hands are played per level).
10+ 4 minutes (by now, with less than twenty blinds on the table, blind levels are meaningless but the reduced time per level adds to the panic and ensures the game doesn't much overrun an hour).

Now the above would only ever work with freezeouts, where you know almost exactly who is going to be play (figuring out the times per level would be a PITA on the fly), but with tournament software taking care of the finishing blind times, I think it could work - more casual early rounds, more urgent later rounds.

I stress I haven't tried this yet, it's only an idea, but has anyone had any experience of playing tourneys where the blind levels decrease in duration like this? If so, did it help? Was it a pain? If I do this, I'll have the software say "blinds increase in X minutes" every round so people can keep track.

 

[Poker Zombie]

Our event halves the clock for all subsequent levels once the game goes heads-up. Because we don't run a cash game after the tournament, the idea is to encourage anyone that is still around at the final 2 to stay to the end.

Can't say I've ever tried something quite like you are thinking about.

Given the 1 hour time limit though, you're already in a super-ultra-hyper-turbo tournament and players are out in an orbit or two. It would be hard to break or fix anything that short.

 

[Wils]

Yeah the idea is it's still short, but it's longer at the beginning and shorter at the end. If that makes sense.

BTW these are just very casual games hence the duration. Its about having fun, listening to music, having a few beers, having many laughs. We have a regular "serious" game that lasts 3-5 hours, wherein we shine as poker gods (or not).

 

[Poker Zombie]

Well, your proposed timing will lengthen the game. +3 minutes for the first 3 levels (+9 minutes total) then the next 3 levels increase play time by 3 more minutes (+12 minutes total) and the next 3 shorten the game by 3 minutes (back to +9 minutes). Add to that formula, that the longer levels are at lower blinds, and the game is theoretically lengthened even longer.

A misdeal could result in an entire blind level being skipped at levels 10+ when you consider the confusion that occurs when a misdeal happens.

I get the concept, but I don't think it's great (other than the social aspect). I'd prefer even-timed blind levels and greater BB jumps for the endgame so a misdeal doesn't jack-up the game.

 

[Chicken Rob]

why not just take your buy in, divide it by 20, and do flips for that amount all night? Almost the same level of skill, and you could do it for an hour or until someone has all the money.

 

[Wils]

Please see original reference to "luckfest." We're aware of what it is, but it suits our needs at present (currently limited to max ten people at my place, so longer tourneys are out, also some come later, some leave early etc etc etc).

That being said, happy to try other things such as maybe two two hour games instead. It's just this way, everyone gets a piece of the action and nobody has to wait too long between bust-out in one game and buy-in in the next.

 

[Poker Zombie]

Cash games should always be an option in those circumstances. Micro-stakes (nickle-dime), full chat-worthy event, nobody goes broke, even after shoving 3 consecutive hands.

 

[moose]

I would play double or nothing SNGs and not play with the blinds. Play until half the field is gone and the remaining players win double their money. Less people sitting around waiting for the next sng.

 

[Chicken Rob]

Cash games should always be an option in those circumstances. Micro-stakes (nickle-dime), full chat-worthy event, nobody goes broke, even after shoving 3 consecutive hands.

This would be my first choice. The great thing about a .05/.10 game is that it's easier to get people to try new games, as the stakes aren't so scary.

I would play double or nothing SNGs and not play with the blinds. Play until half the field is gone and the remaining players win double their money. Less people sitting around waiting for the next sng.

This would be my second choice. Easily playable in an hour. Double or nothing and move on!

 

[Wils]

I'd like to try a couple of different formats to see how things go. If we try a 50/50 game, unsure how the blinds would need to be adjusted (as the game would end when 4 are left, rather than 1...)

 

[hod]

Please see original reference to "luckfest." We're aware of what it is, but it suits our needs at present (currently limited to max ten people at my place, so longer tourneys are out, also some come later, some leave early etc etc etc).

That being said, happy to try other things such as maybe two two hour games instead. It's just this way, everyone gets a piece of the action and nobody has to wait too long between bust-out in one game and buy-in in the next.

Your needs sound similar to our group - social event, beers, bad chat etc etc. Best solution we found was low stakes cash game as mentioned above, unless you're tied to a tournament.

 

[Wils]

Tourneys are what the folks are used to - and it gives a certain sense of security knowing you only need X much money for the night.

I'd certainly like to try a cash game though, but managing cash-outs and stuff seems like a recipe for disaster where you've got eight "slightly" drunk people. I guess you do it a couple of times and you figure it out.

 

[Poker Zombie]

I'm in the exact same boat. I'm on the verge of introducing a micro-stakes cash game, but I deal with a variance of players ranging from "But they're Soooted" to @Ben . How do you develop a cash game that sasifes both groups?

 

[Chicken Rob]

I'm in the exact same boat. I'm on the verge of introducing a micro-stakes cash game, but I deal with a variance of players ranging from "But they're Soooted" to @Ben . How do you develop a cash game that sasifes both groups?

My weekly microstakes game satisfies a wide range of experienced players. We play all kinds of games, not just Holdem. Introducing new games is easier when you can just work them in for a single orbit per night at microstakes. Over time people get comfortable and start preferring the variety.

 

[Ben]

I'm in the exact same boat. I'm on the verge of introducing a micro-stakes cash game, but I deal with a variance of players ranging from "But they're Soooted" to @Ben . How do you develop a cash game that sasifes both groups?

Chips - cards - tables - beer - the rest will work itself out.

I'm down for some $.50/$1 limit (I might raise every single time it comes to me, but I'm down...)

Oh, and in what universe is "but they're sooted!" NOT referring to me??? :

 

[abby99]

Another possibility is to play a one-hour tournament with normal X-minute blind levels (e.g., 7 min.). When the hour is up, places are awarded according to the chip stacks of the remaining players. Your group may like this structure, or not. Depends on the players. My personal preference would be a micro-stakes cash games with a variety of games.

 

[hod]

I'd certainly like to try a cash game though, but managing cash-outs and stuff seems like a recipe for disaster where you've got eight "slightly" drunk people. I guess you do it a couple of times and you figure it out.

There's a certain amount of rounding up or down of cashouts usually in our game due to booze normally, admittedly...