Tourney Need advise, any will do (1 Viewer)

JayBob

Two Pair
Supporter
Joined
Aug 28, 2021
Messages
343
Reaction score
420
Location
SC
I will be hosting a relatively big tournament for the first time.
Looking like 12-16. Starting at 6 or 8 per table.
A few questions:
1. With a $50 buy-in, is 0.50/1.00 too much to start blinds at? Perhaps control the rate at which blinds progress?
2. If one table dwindles down to 2, and the other table still has 7, is it better to pause and wait to combine or split the tables to 4 and 5?
3. What table mat would y'all recommend?

Thanks!
 
1. No
2. We send someone over as soon as one table has 2 more than the short table and consolidate once one table can handle everyone.
3. Sorry, cannot help there. Check with @rjdev7 he has awesome mats.
 
1. What chips do you plan to use? The good thing about tournaments is that you can decide the denomination of chips and blinds separate from the amount of the buy-in. You can give everyone 1 million in chips for a $50 buy-in. They don't have to match in a tournament.

Your chipset should determine your blind levels. If you have a tournament set starting at $25 (or 25), you can give everyone 7500 in chips with blind levels starting at 25/50. Alternatively, if you are using a "cash" set then you could give everyone $200 in chips with levels starting at $1/$2... etc... Start by determining which chips you will use and then set the starting stack and blind levels based on that.

2. Keep all tables relatively even. Start both tables as close to 50/50 as possible, and when someone busts out, balance the tables so that they are close to 50/50 until you are down to 9 players (or only enough for 1 table). Make someone at the other table yell out "We lost one player" whenever a player gets knocked out so that you can always manage the number of players at each table.

Also, I normally send the player who would be the big-blind next hand to the new table. Makes it easy to determine who should be sent from the table with more players to the table with less.

3. I ordered from @rjdev7. He has stock and the option for custom table toppers.
Edit: Here's a link to some of his offered designs: https://photos.app.goo.gl/vSNn2Z34gjJXfobU6

Good luck!
 
Your first question shows that you don’t really understand about tournaments. The buy in is completely independent from the blind structures (and vice versa).

For example, depending on what chips you have, you can start with 1500 chips (T1500), T5000, T10000, T25k, T100k, or almost any other number. The blind structure is usually based on the lowest denomination available (T1,T5, T25 or T100 are the most common). Blinds increase regularly, (for example every 12, 15, 20, 30 or 60 minutes), with the blind length depending on how long you want the tournament to last. Starting stack, number of players and blind structure all affect the tournament duration.

I encourage you to do some research on this site about blind structures, and then ask some more questions once you’ve got the basics down.
 
Thanks for all the responses.
Yes, I am new to doing tournaments, I'm sure there's a lot of different ways to skin this cat, but wanted to get varying perspectives from more seasoned veterans.
 
All of your questions can be answered by getting "Tournament Director" on a laptop.

1. Tournament Director is able to handle any blind structure you can make. Don't worry about where it starts at. Worry about the chip set for things like that.

2. Tournament Director handles seating. Just do what it says and you will be fine.

3. Mats? I got tables. Sorry can't help you there
 
To help you out a little, here is one possible structure (there are many many variations):

T10k Tournament (everyone gets 10,000 chips to start)
T25 Base (T25 is the lowest denomination, then T100, T500, T1k & T5k for "chipping up" later in the tournament
Starting stacks of 12/12/5/6 (12xT25 = 300, 12xT100 = 1200, 5xT500 = 2500, 6xT1k = 6000. Add it up 300+1200+2500+6000= 10,000)

Blind levels (10 minutes each)
25/50
50/100
75/150
100/200
150/300
Break - remove T25 (chip up)
200/400
300/600
400/800
600/1200
800/1600
Break - remove T100 chip
1k/2k
1500/3k
2k/4k
3k/6k
4k/8k
Break - remove T500 chip
6k/12k
8k/16k
10k/20k
15k/30k
20k/40k
Break - remove 1k chip
30k/60k
40k/80k
60k/120k
80k/160k

You mentioned 12-16 players. Rule of thumb is that tourney will end when BB = 5% of total chips on the table. Assuming a freeze-out (no rebuys), you will have 120k-160k total chips, so tourney will finish around the 3k/6k ot 4k/8k level (2.5-3 hours). For a longer tourney, give out a couple of T5k chips at the start to double the stack size to T20k (12/12/5/6/2) which will add around 30-40 minutes, or allow rebuys until the second break, or increase the blind time to 15 minutes.
 
Last edited:
@JayBob There is a wealth of home tournament "how to" info throughout this archived site https://homepokertourney.org/ [Read the "Hosted in tribute" paragraph at the top of the page to get a feel for how and why the site exists]

Some quick links addressing you pressing questions:
https://homepokertourney.org/quickstart.htm and,
https://homepokertourney.org/docs/rulebook/poker-rule-book-hpt-11-booklet.pdf (this contains an explanation on when and how to balance tables)

Good luck with your tournament!
 
Send us a picture of the chips you will be using. That will help determine how to structure it better.
I got some cheapo Monte Carlo's. T'was my first set. Would love to eventually get some Aurora Stars but need to save $ first.
Looking to upgrade to either BBO's Classic Casino chips or Odium Club by Aurora Poker Gear.
 
I got some cheapo Monte Carlo's. T'was my first set. Would love to eventually get some Aurora Stars but need to save $ first.
Looking to upgrade to either BBO's Classic Casino chips or Odium Club by Aurora Poker Gear.
How many of each denomination?
 
How many of each denomination?
I've made 16 stacks:
6. - 50's
12 - 100's
7. - 500's
5 - 1000's

10K chips. Planning on 50/100 to start.
I have some 5K, 10K chips as well, for chipping up later.
 
I've made 16 stacks:
6. - 50's
12 - 100's
7. - 500's
5 - 1000's

10K chips. Planning on 50/100 to start.
I have some 5K, 10K chips as well, for chipping up later.
Ditch the 50 and 10k chips. Provide total quantities of each of the other denominations.
 
I got some cheapo Monte Carlo's. T'was my first set. Would love to eventually get some Aurora Stars but need to save $ first.
Looking to upgrade to either BBO's Classic Casino chips or Odium Club by Aurora Poker Gear.
Don’t knock the Monte Carlos until you’ve dumped a couple grand into the classifieds.

We’re still rocking them for our twice weekly cash game until my group buy arrives.

Want to solve your tournament problems?

Play cash games.

Thank me later.
 
+1 @PortalMan. Videos on @Chris Manzoni 's YouTube channel are a must for new hosts. I have about 18 years experience as a host and I still like these vids.

Here's one on tournament stacks and structures.


Without knowing the quantities of each denom in your set, we aren't sure how much you can emulate the suggestion here, but it should give you ideas on how to structure.

Good luck.
 
I've made 16 stacks:
6. - 50's
12 - 100's
7. - 500's
5 - 1000's

10K chips. Planning on 50/100 to start.
I have some 5K, 10K chips as well, for chipping up later.
Honestly this is pretty workable, but if you can provide complete quantity info, we could tell you more.

I would suggest this structure.

50-100, 50-150, 100-200, 150-300 (remove T50)
200-400, 300-600, 400-800, 600-1200, 800-1600, 1200-2400, 1600-3200 (remove T100 and T500)
2K-4K, 3K-6K, 4K-8K, 6K-12K, 8K-16K (depending on how many entries, tournament should end during the 4K-8K or 6K-12K level)

I use a base 500 structure, this is mostly the same thing divided by 10.

Hope this helps.
 
TBH, I don't know how many chips I have . I know I made the above denominations and ordered a little bit more to make 16 stacks of the said breakdown.
 
TBH, I don't know how many chips I have . I know I made the above denominations and ordered a little bit more to make 16 stacks of the said breakdown.
If your group is new to tournaments, be prepared to have your players upset about the blinds moving up to fast, almost regardless of how long you keep each level. Have to ask yourself a lot of questions to determine your structure for your group, some off the top of my head...
1. Are your players fast accurate dealers/shufflers or slow?
2. Do people play quickly or take forever to decide?
3. Do you plan to run a shotclock or not?
4. Are you going to use software to manage your blinds or plan to track it manually?
5. Going to use 15/20/30 min levels?
6. Do you use the same set of chips for cash games, and do you have any security concerns about players keeping a big value chip from the tournament and putting it back on the table in the cash game next time?

Players new to tournaments tend to hate when the blinds go up, forcing them to make bigger decisions to shove or fold. If your structure isn't set solidly before the game starts, expect to have some players lobbying to freeze the blinds, etc, putting the host in a bit of a bind.

I run 10k stack tournaments in general. In my old group of 10 guys we could start 25-50, 15 minute levels and knock out the whole thing in 3 hours. My last 10k tourney with new people who generally only play casual cash, it moved WAY too slow around the table for 15 mins to feel "fair" duration, we had levels that went faster than one rotation. So a lot depends on your crew.

Blind structures given above look fine, just be thinking about the above questions and others when determining your game.
 
If your group is new to tournaments, be prepared to have your players upset about the blinds moving up to fast, almost regardless of how long you keep each level. Have to ask yourself a lot of questions to determine your structure for your group, some off the top of my head...
1. Are your players fast accurate dealers/shufflers or slow?
2. Do people play quickly or take forever to decide?
3. Do you plan to run a shotclock or not?
4. Are you going to use software to manage your blinds or plan to track it manually?
5. Going to use 15/20/30 min levels?
6. Do you use the same set of chips for cash games, and do you have any security concerns about players keeping a big value chip from the tournament and putting it back on the table in the cash game next time?

Players new to tournaments tend to hate when the blinds go up, forcing them to make bigger decisions to shove or fold. If your structure isn't set solidly before the game starts, expect to have some players lobbying to freeze the blinds, etc, putting the host in a bit of a bind.

I run 10k stack tournaments in general. In my old group of 10 guys we could start 25-50, 15 minute levels and knock out the whole thing in 3 hours. My last 10k tourney with new people who generally only play casual cash, it moved WAY too slow around the table for 15 mins to feel "fair" duration, we had levels that went faster than one rotation. So a lot depends on your crew.

Blind structures given above look fine, just be thinking about the above questions and others when determining your game.
Haven't played with a bunch of these guys, can't be for certain how it'll go.
I do plan on being transparent about rules/blind progression via chat with each person before hand.
These chips will be big tourney chips.
I have a different set planned for smaller (10 person) tourneys but will double as my cash set until I complete my "nice" cash set.
I am trying to work this "CasinoWare" app... so hopefully it can be app controlled.
 
If you have Roku, it l has an awesome tourney clock. Tracks average stack as well. Pay the $10 for a he customizable version. You can run it on the Roku’d TV.
 
Haven't played with a bunch of these guys, can't be for certain how it'll go.
I do plan on being transparent about rules/blind progression via chat with each person before hand.
These chips will be big tourney chips.
I have a different set planned for smaller (10 person) tourneys but will double as my cash set until I complete my "nice" cash set.
I am trying to work this "CasinoWare" app... so hopefully it can be app controlled.
How did you like CasinoWare?
 
I don’t think it works well on Mac/iPhones. I think I downloaded a bad version or…it’s not compatible with Apple products
 

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!

Log in

Already have an account? Log in here.

Back
Top Bottom