Tourney Help with 2-table Turbo Freeroll structure (1 Viewer)

CoachBudKilmer

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I got roped into running a "poker event" at work, and they wanted something for around 20 people and 2 hours (pretty hard limit). I decided on a 2-table turbo tournament, with myself and a somewhat experienced player dealing (and I'll handle the final table).

I read through some older threads, and I'm adopting a structure from @BGinGA.

RoundTimeSmall BlindBig BlindBB Inc# BBs
1​
0:00​
50​
100​
2800.0​
2​
0:10​
75​
150​
50%​
1866.7​
3​
0:20​
125​
250​
67%​
1120.0​
4​
0:30​
200​
400​
60%​
700.0​
5​
0:40​
300​
600​
50%​
466.7​
6​
0:50​
500​
1000​
67%​
280.0​
7​
1:00​
800​
1600​
60%​
175.0​
8​
1:10​
1200​
2400​
50%​
116.7​
9​
1:20​
2000​
4000​
67%​
70.0​
10​
1:30​
3000​
6000​
50%​
46.7​
11​
1:40​
5000​
10000​
67%​
28.0​
12​
1:50​
7500​
15000​
50%​
18.7​
13​
2:00​
10000​
20000​
33%​
14.0​
14​
2:10​
15000​
30000​
50%​
9.3​
15​
2:20​
20000​
40000​
33%​
7.0​

T25 structure, 14k starting stacks (12-12-7-4-1), 10 minute levels. The idea is to not get into shovefest mode too early, but we definitely need to be done (or heads up) within 2 hours. Players will likely be typical newbies, at least in terms of playing structured tournaments (they should all know the rules). Thoughts on this structure? Thanks in advance!
 
The above should end no later than L12, or 1:50 plus two color-up breaks (T1000 should be used for all color-ups). You will have two color-ups -- after L3 (remove T25) and after L8 (remove T100). You can eliminate one color-up by ditching the quarters and starting with 100/100, 100/200, 100/300 blind levels, and it will play almost exactly the same (just quicker) -- just use 15/7/4/1 stacks. On that note, 15/5/5/1 would be better (or 12/12/5/5/1, if keeping the quarters in play). You don't need very many T500s, but T1000s quickly become the workhorse chip.

However, some will argue that blind levels shorter than 15-minutes is too short; others will say 2 minutes per table-size (so 20 minute blinds with 10-player tables) is the minimum for good play -- otherwise, the blinds will increase before an entire orbit has completed. In some cases, with 10-minute levels, they could increase twice in a single orbit. Some will say it doesn't matter.

As an alternative, consider using the same structure with T5000 stacks (50bb) and 12-minute levels -- it should easily complete by L10 and under two hours. Players will notice those two extra minutes over the shorter starting stack -- time pressure is more stressful imo.
 
This is all really good stuff. I was somewhat limited by T1000 chips (I have a rack with the chips I was intending to use), but 5 each works as long as I color up with T5000. I think playing shallower with longer levels is probably the right answer. I could also do a T5 structure, where I have 3 racks of T5, T25, and T100.
 
So here are those ideas fleshed out. T25, 6000 starting chips (12-12-5-2), 12 minute levels. Color up after Levels 3 and 8.

RoundTimeSmall BlindBig BlindBB Inc# BBs
1​
0:00​
50​
100​
1200.0​
2​
0:12​
75​
150​
50%​
800.0​
3​
0:24​
125​
250​
67%​
480.0​
4​
0:36​
200​
400​
60%​
300.0​
5​
0:48​
300​
600​
50%​
200.0​
6​
1:00​
500​
1000​
67%​
120.0​
7​
1:12​
800​
1600​
60%​
75.0​
8​
1:24​
1200​
2400​
50%​
50.0​
9​
1:36​
2000​
4000​
67%​
30.0​
10​
1:48​
3000​
6000​
50%​
20.0​
11​
2:00​
5000​
10000​
67%​
12.0​
12​
2:12​
7500​
15000​
50%​
8.0​

T5, 800 starting chips (15-13-4 or 15-9-5), 12 minute levels. Color up after Level 4 (don't bother coloring up the T25s). Clearly an awkward jump to L5 and some unbalanced small blinds.

RoundTimeSmall BlindBig BlindBB Inc# BBs
1​
0:00​
5​
10​
1600.0​
2​
0:12​
5​
15​
50%​
1066.7​
3​
0:24​
10​
25​
67%​
640.0​
4​
0:36​
20​
40​
60%​
400.0​
5​
0:48​
25​
75​
88%​
213.3​
6​
1:00​
50​
125​
67%​
128.0​
7​
1:12​
100​
200​
60%​
80.0​
8​
1:24​
150​
300​
50%​
53.3​
9​
1:36​
250​
500​
67%​
32.0​
10​
1:48​
400​
800​
60%​
20.0​
11​
2:00​
600​
1200​
50%​
13.3​
12​
2:12​
1000​
2000​
67%​
8.0​


T100, 15000 starting chips (15-7-5-1), 12 minute levels. Color up after Level 6.

RoundTimeSmall BlindBig BlindBB Inc# BBs
1​
0:00​
100​
200​
1500.0​
2​
0:12​
100​
300​
50%​
1000.0​
3​
0:24​
200​
500​
67%​
600.0​
4​
0:36​
400​
800​
60%​
375.0​
5​
0:48​
700​
1400​
75%​
214.3​
6​
1:00​
1200​
2400​
71%​
125.0​
7​
1:12​
2000​
4000​
67%​
75.0​
8​
1:24​
3000​
6000​
50%​
50.0​
9​
1:36​
5000​
10000​
67%​
30.0​
10​
1:48​
7500​
15000​
50%​
20.0​
11​
2:00​
10000​
20000​
33%​
15.0​
12​
2:12​
15000​
30000​
50%​
10.0​
 
Of those options above, I'd go with the T100-base structure -- 75bb starting stacks with a smoother more-balanced structure.

But this challenge (2 hours for 20 players) got me thinking that perhaps longer blind levels combined with really aggressive increases might be the best overall approach. Give this format some consideration:

T100-base, 15k stacks (75bb), 18-minute levels:

00:00 L1 100/200 (1500bb)
00:18 L2 200/400 (750bb)
00;36 L3 400/800 (375bb
00:54 L4 800/1600 (187.5bb)
01:12 L5 1500/3000 (100bb)
01:30 L6 3000/6000 (50bb)
01:48 L7 6000/12000 (25bb)
02:06 L8 10000/20000 (15bb)
02:24 L9 15000/30000 (10bb)

18-minute levels will seem far less rushed to the players, even though the blinds double (or nearly double) at every increase. And the event will almost never complete L8, finishing in under 2 hours. Only one color-up required, after L4 (which is also the tourney midpoint).

I think this will be a cleaner, more efficient structure that feels less rushed.
 
Last edited:
I'm strongly considering it, or a modified version with 20k stacks and 15 minute levels. I really appreciate the help!
 

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