Tourney Etiquette for making suggestions at someone else’s game (1 Viewer)

Freeroll

Freeroll

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I am going to a tournament tonight that is just starting up again after a long layoff from covid.

I have never been to this tournament before covid (because I wasn’t playing much poker at the time).

I saw their chip denominations posted on their facebook group, which are as follows:
White - 5
Blue - 10
Green - 25
Red - 50
Black - 100
Purple - 500
(Non denominated dice chips)

I am wondering if, after I play a few tournaments there, if I could/should recommend a better chip breakdown, with more common colors and eliminating the 10s and 50s, or should I just shut up and play?

This is a fairly big weekly tournament (60 max players), and I have enough chips of denominated slugged tourney chips for 60 players, with almost unlimited rebuys.
I have:
T25- 500
T100- 500
T500- 400
T1000- 500
T5000- 300
T10000- 300
 
If you're offering to provide the chips, I can't see anyone objecting to swapping out dice chips for just about any denominated chip. Probably a good idea to give it a few tournaments before doing so.

Just curious, what are the chips you have in mind?
 
Mandos said:
If you're offering to provide the chips, I can't see anyone objecting to swapping out dice chips for just about any denominated chip. Probably a good idea to give it a few tournaments before doing so.

Just curious, what are the chips you have in mind?
Click to expand...
A82B07AD-148C-467E-8079-F19815C4AE3A.jpeg
 
The only pushback I could conceive would be in switching from T5 to T25 base and having to adjust structure accordingly but besides that I'm not sure why they would object.
 
Freeroll said:
I have never been to this tournament
Click to expand...
Personally, I wouldn’t go somewhere for the first time, and start out be telling them what they’re doing wrong.
If you go back a few times and establish yourself as a decent enough guy, and then you end up in a conversation with the organizer, and it comes up organically, sure, then you could float out some thoughts.
 
We played in a game last Friday I haven't played in almost 20 years... threw chips in the truck expecting to see a horrible breakdown of Dice chips. That's exactly what was on the table, the second table was a 6 ft fold out plastic with no topper or even a mat. They had no idea of proper structuring so @FordPickup92 and I jumped straight in and offered to bring "real clay chips in with denominations" they asked how long it would take to set up for 15 players... I said 2 minutes. Their structure was written on a piece of paper and terrible so they let me redo the whole thing and everyone was thankful.

Not saying this is correct for every situation. BUT 99% of players will be thankful to have the denoms on the chips. Sure play the first game and maybe talk to the host and make the offer. Explain that as far as denom values it doesn't really matter,all that matters is the # of big Blinds and how aggressive you want them to increase. It's not a huge transition from T5 based to T25 based, just numbers.

I have played in many games that had both T10 and T50 denoms... but if you can infiltrate with your set I wouldn't even mention the "unless denoms" just don't have them.in your set. They will quickly see that they are not needed.

I Would argue that the set is perfect for 60 players as I absolutely 100% prefer 12/12 starting stacks to 8/8 which is what your set would support for 60 players. Not saying it won't work... but if we are only talking $.15 or less per chip to get to (720) x T25 and (780) T100 and you want to impress this group I would add the extra chips myself. Would have to run the #s but the T1ks seem a bit light also for a T10k game.

Some hosts are grumpy old men... we are lucky enough to be in an area that if we find a game we don't like... we skip it and find another. But most I think would be very open to the idea of chips with denoms on them.

Hell let him know he can buy my set of MCs for $300 and it is almost turn key ready for 60 of T5 based! Lol
20210401_085541.jpg

Needs less than (10) more $5s and would like to see another rack of $25s for chipping up T5s. 95% have never been used! Lol even have racks of $10s and $50s (not shown) as I built this before I had any clue from PCF
 
Great idea about upselling the advantages of denominated chips, and not mentioning any negative opinions on his current denominations.

If/when I do bring this up to him, I will absolutely keep this in mind!
 
I am playing in an online league that is going to have one live game. This is my first year in the league. The host published a proposed structure based on chips denominated in the 10’s. I suggested a T25 setup, gave him a proposed structure, offered to use a set of my chips, he also needed a table and seating chips which I offered, and he was very thankful for my help. I guess it matters how much help the host thinks he needs and how you propose it, I generally said if he did not want my suggestions it was his game and I’m happy to play no matter what he decided. Game is in July using all my setup and structure with a huge sigh of relief and Thank You from the host.
 
If it’s style differences (denominations, chip type, blind structures)…I wouldn’t give any advice that isn’t directly solicited. And you will not get directly solicited.

But, if you wanna play with your chips because you like playing with your chips and don’t use them as much as you want, say just that…”hey I have a tournament set that I don’t get opportunities to play as much as I want. Do you mind if I bring chips in next time?” Should go fine
 
Ben8257 said:
We played in a game last Friday I haven't played in almost 20 years... threw chips in the truck expecting to see a horrible breakdown of Dice chips. That's exactly what was on the table, the second table was a 6 ft fold out plastic with no topper or even a mat. They had no idea of proper structuring so @FordPickup92 and I jumped straight in and offered to bring "real clay chips in with denominations" they asked how long it would take to set up for 15 players... I said 2 minutes. Their structure was written on a piece of paper and terrible so they let me redo the whole thing and everyone was thankful.

Not saying this is correct for every situation. BUT 99% of players will be thankful to have the denoms on the chips. Sure play the first game and maybe talk to the host and make the offer. Explain that as far as denom values it doesn't really matter,all that matters is the # of big Blinds and how aggressive you want them to increase. It's not a huge transition from T5 based to T25 based, just numbers.

I have played in many games that had both T10 and T50 denoms... but if you can infiltrate with your set I wouldn't even mention the "unless denoms" just don't have them.in your set. They will quickly see that they are not needed.

I Would argue that the set is perfect for 60 players as I absolutely 100% prefer 12/12 starting stacks to 8/8 which is what your set would support for 60 players. Not saying it won't work... but if we are only talking $.15 or less per chip to get to (720) x T25 and (780) T100 and you want to impress this group I would add the extra chips myself. Would have to run the #s but the T1ks seem a bit light also for a T10k game.

Some hosts are grumpy old men... we are lucky enough to be in an area that if we find a game we don't like... we skip it and find another. But most I think would be very open to the idea of chips with denoms on them.

Hell let him know he can buy my set of MCs for $300 and it is almost turn key ready for 60 of T5 based! Lol
View attachment 915950
Needs less than (10) more $5s and would like to see another rack of $25s for chipping up T5s. 95% have never been used! Lol even have racks of $10s and $50s (not shown) as I built this before I had any clue from PCF
Click to expand...
comments like this always make me remember sitting down to play with friends the first time without awful dice chips and one of them going 'so what's a blue worth' and gently pointing out that it was the value ON THE CHIP...
 
I do host. I have 3 tables and host a cash game every second Saturday. I also sneak in a tourney every once in a while. But, since the tourneys are very infrequent and similar stakes as the tourney I’m going to tonight, I was just hoping to stick to cash games for my games from now on, and everyone can get their tourney fix at this one.
 
When trying to change someone's view on something like, making changes to a home game/ bar tournament, a strategy that I've seen work well is rather than saying...

A ) "You should get rid of the $10 and $50 chips, I can bring my chips, they're nicer." (a statement is aggressive and judgy)

try saying...

B ) "It's rare to see $10 and $50 chips at a casino. I guess casino's don't have them because it's more efficient for them to just use $5, $25, $100." (a statement that doesn't point any fingers at anybody. They're less likely to feel judged or that you're trying change their tournament that's already running fine.)

You could follow statement B up with a question to the TD, "did this tournament ever use the 25/50 structure like casinos use?" or maybe ask if they've ever played the Casino NS tournaments when they ran. They may have valid reasons for not running it this way. This allows you to gather more information on why they chose to use this kind of structure. Often, it's just they don't know what a casino would do.

Before making the formal offer to use your chips you need two criteria met. They need to have expressed that there is a benefit to running a tournament with 25/50 kind of structure and that the chips they're using wouldn't support this kind of structure. This is when you ask, "if you had the chips to support it, would running it with a 25/50 style structure be something you'd be interested in?".

If they respond positively, mention that you have a set that is collecting dust that might work.

The thing is, it would be very difficult to convince them to use your chips without having earned their trust. This would be a hard thing to do in a room of 60 players as the TD's attention is on everything else. They may just offer to buy your set.

Hopefully that helps and isn't just me rambling. :)
 
Last edited:
Depends a LOT on the host. For some it’s like you’re sitting shot gun giving pointers on their driving.

I thought my game was the shit with dice chips (after all, as far as I knew, they were official casino weight) and crappy breakdowns when I first started out. Dunno if I would’ve liked any smart ass comments.

Tread carefully.
 
Last edited:
200 Motels said:
When trying to change someone's view on something like, making changes to a home game/ bar tournament, a strategy that I've seen work well is rather than saying...

A ) "You should get rid of the $10 and $50 chips, I can bring my chips, they're nicer." (a statement is aggressive and judgy)

try saying...

B ) "It's rare to see $10 and $50 chips at a casino. I guess casino's don't have them because it's more efficient for them to just use $5, $25, $100." (a statement that doesn't point any fingers at anybody. They're less likely to feel judged or that you're trying change their tournament that's already running fine.)

You could follow statement B up with a question to the TD, "did this tournament ever use the 25/50 structure like casinos use?" or maybe ask if they've ever played the Casino NS tournaments when they ran. They may have valid reasons for not running it this way. This allows you to gather more information on why they chose to use this kind of structure. Often, it's just they don't know what a casino would do.

Before making the formal offer to use your chips you need two criteria met. They need to expressed that there is a benefit to running a tournament with 25/50 kind of structure and that the chips they're using wouldn't support this kind of structure. This is when you ask, "if you had the chips to support it, would running it with a 25/50 style structure be something you'd be interested in?".

If they respond positively, mention that you have a set that is collecting dust that might work.

The thing is, it would be very difficult to convince them to use your chips without having earned their trust. This would be a hard thing to do in a room of 60 players as the TD's attention is on everything else. They may just offer to buy your set.

Hopefully that helps and isn't just me rambling. :)
Click to expand...
Not gonna pick on you too much but B is missing a lot of perspective. For one a lot of members use different chips than you’ll normally see in a casino. $20 cash chip is a great example. And then the whole 25/50 isn’t that common. It used to be common in USA but I haven’t touched a T25 in years, 10 or so different tournament rooms in 3 different states. And then internationally denoms can be quite different

Then there’s the fact that hey, you can’t really convince someone the $10/$50 chip isn’t a thing when it’s sold, and they bought it.
 

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