I'm starting to grow tired of guys showing up 15-30 minutes late for tourney start times, so I'm taking a page from @krafticus and how he runs his tourneys. Instead of posting and folding late players, I am going to give them their full stack, when they show up, as long as its before the end of the rebuy period (Level 4, 20 minute levels). They will still be eligible for rebuys until the end of the rebuy period. To encourage people to be early, I'm also going to offer a 500 chip bonus (T5000 starting stack) to all of those who are there and paid up prior to the start. My question is, for all of you that offer an on time bonus, what do you give? I just thought 10% sounded about right. I'm curious as to what you all do?
Tourney On Time Bonus... (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter longflop
- Start date
We use 10% to 15%, depending on the structure.
I've advised implementing a 20%-25% bonus for some places that had a really big problem. Once late players becomes a relative non-issue, you can scale it back.
I've advised implementing a 20%-25% bonus for some places that had a really big problem. Once late players becomes a relative non-issue, you can scale it back.
I started a 10% bonus this year and 10 months in, it's been on time, every time. Guys showing up late venmo me in advance and still get the bonus. They walk in, sit down and start playing. Best addition to my game I've done.
We do 300 on a 1200 starting stack for 1500 total if you are on time. You'll be shocked how well it works.
I want to see how this goes, but if it doesn't move the needle as far as getting people on time, I'll give 1000 chips a shot.
Mr Winberg
Full House
I use 10% and it has worked wonders! A huuuge difference!
I differ here. To get my bonus you need to be there physically, players can't send money electronically or with a friend to get it. My reason for having the bonus is to get the players (not the payments) there on time.
I differ here. To get my bonus you need to be there physically, players can't send money electronically or with a friend to get it. My reason for having the bonus is to get the players (not the payments) there on time.
I just yell and berate players who are late. Always worked for me....
Most of them are still late, but I feel great about it.... Stupid assholes....
Hahahah
Most of them are still late, but I feel great about it.... Stupid assholes....
Hahahah
I don't do tourneys very often, but the one time I offered a 10% early-bird bonus, the couple who didn't make it on time expressed disappointment that they didn't get the extra chip.
I don't think 500 will help that much. For a 5000 starting stack I would make the bonus 1,000. We used to have a problem with late arrivals and we starting giving a 2000 bonus onto a 8000 starting stack for a total of 10,000. Except for one person, the problem of late arrivals was quickly solved.
edit: I forgot to add they they must be there 10 minutes before the start of the tourney to get the bonus chips.
edit: I forgot to add they they must be there 10 minutes before the start of the tourney to get the bonus chips.
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I hope you conveyed an equal amount of disappointment that they failed to be on time for their commitment.
Haha! I actually knew they wouldn't make it on time.I hope you conveyed an equal amount of disappointment that they failed to be on time for their commitment.
Yeah, same here -- the rule reads "paid and seated 5 minutes prior to the scheduled start time." The dealers dole out the bonus chips at the 5-minutes-to-go mark starting with seat #1, and if your ass isn't in your seat, tough nookie, cookie. Cards fly on time, and wait on no one.
This curtailed the antics of players who would show up early, get their bonus chips, then disappear into the kitchen or TV area and always seemed to stall the start anyway. I want filled seats, ready to play.
I care more about having to leave MY seat to deal with a late arrival. If they've paid, their chips are on the table and blinded. I don't have a problem with no-shows, as I have a strict 1 game penalty for a no show. I typically have a waitlist - so pre-payment for the guy who is running late with kid duties can come in and sit down with zero effort on my part. Alternately, if they have to cancel last minute, it allows me to contact the wait-list.I use 10% and it has worked wonders! A huuuge difference!
I differ here. To get my bonus you need to be there physically, players can't send money electronically or with a friend to get it. My reason for having the bonus is to get the players (not the payments) there on time.
PhilLaFond
Straight
Given what I've witnessed - I think you're making a brilliant move.
bsdunbar1
4 of a Kind
I don't let guys prepay and still get the bonus, they have to be present & ready to play.
But I will agree with it being the best addition to the game to have everyone on time and ready to go.
We also add ~10%, literally I add a 1k chip to their 9k starting stack to get our 10k stacks to start.
I differ here. To get my bonus you need to be there physically, players can't send money electronically or with a friend to get it. My reason for having the bonus is to get the players (not the payments) there on time.
I tried this but had someone get a speeding ticket (right in front of the poker game location), so now people just have to pay before start. That way I can get the chips out and have everything ready to go. It actually works out to prepay, get the bonus, and blind out if you are going to be within the first ~30 minutes.
Mr Winberg
Full House
See, that's the level of commitment and determination that you can't get without an On Time Bonus!
Yeah, the guys are getting a bit too loose with the start time. I hope this works......
especially those ass-hats that think poker is on a different night and then show up an hour and a half late. What a moron !
I should clarify my statement. They weren’t disappointed I with me or the process, just that they were unable to make it in time to get the bonus. Everyone who is able showed up to get the bonus chips.
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Kid_Eastwood
Full House
In my regular game, there is also an on-time bonus. Basically, it's a 2-table T25,000 freezout on starting blinds 25-50 (20' blinds). The bonus is 5,000. Out of 18 players, 2-3 players used to miss it. Stacks are not in play while the players are not there.
What is important is to communicate the rule in advance so that there is no surprise and not allow exception.
What is important is to communicate the rule in advance so that there is no surprise and not allow exception.
Eloe2000
Straight Flush
10% for the last couple months thanks to this sub and it has worked like a charm. I don’t think we have had a single late player.
Now if only we did seat election by arrival time in our cash games then we would really eliminate lateness. But then I think I would have guys camped out on my porch way too early like it was Super a bowl tickets being sold or something.
Now if only we did seat election by arrival time in our cash games then we would really eliminate lateness. But then I think I would have guys camped out on my porch way too early like it was Super a bowl tickets being sold or something.
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trever
Flush
Know your market and act accordingly
I play in two leagues right now. League 1 is a bunch of casino regfish nits and it has a t1000 on time bonus on top of a t6000 starting stack. Four games in, we have 100% on time and we even started early once.
League 2 is a social, drinking league. No on time bonus. I'd predict that it would have zero impact on timely arrivals, but would be constantly whined about if we tried to implement it.
I play in two leagues right now. League 1 is a bunch of casino regfish nits and it has a t1000 on time bonus on top of a t6000 starting stack. Four games in, we have 100% on time and we even started early once.
League 2 is a social, drinking league. No on time bonus. I'd predict that it would have zero impact on timely arrivals, but would be constantly whined about if we tried to implement it.
[1] We start with 25,000 in chips. The "Early Bird" (EB) bonus is 5,000. It's the best thing for starting on time I've ever found. I think 10-25% is workable, depending on the group.
[2] We've also started with 22,000, and given a 3,000 EB bonus. It worked fine, but I like the simplicity of 1 chip instead of several.
For [1] and [2] ~ I have 2 chip sets where I replaced the 5,000 chips. I use those no longer used chips for bonus chips. If they show up on time, they get a bonus chip that they turn into their dealer for a T5,000. Players hang on to their bonus chips and I always get them back. In case anyone is wondering, the bonus chips can't be mistaken for a T5,000 in play.
[3] We've tried blinding stacks in. Our system is to keep the stack out of play (don't give it cards). When the BB arrives, remove a BB and a SB from the stacks and from play so no one else benefits. That worked reasonably well. The biggest challenge is my tables are in 2 or 3 different rooms as I don't have a room that will accommodate more than 1 table. For whatever reason, different tables handled it differently.
We've had players say we should blind them out even if they miss the EB bonus, but I've pointed out that missing the bonus is a bigger deal than missing 6 rounds of blinds.
[4] We've tried simply starting on time too. That was the worst system for getting everyone there to start on time, at least for us. Some players showed last minute, which delayed starting while they got checked in. Once we had to start 2 tables with 5 and 4 because if we started with 9 because I knew several others were coming (normal to have some come late). We knew if we started everyone at one table, any time saved by starting on time was lost when we had to split the group into 2 tables. When I was doing that, the 9 showing on time only happened once, and we wound up with about 15 players, but it was still frustrating.
[2] We've also started with 22,000, and given a 3,000 EB bonus. It worked fine, but I like the simplicity of 1 chip instead of several.
For [1] and [2] ~ I have 2 chip sets where I replaced the 5,000 chips. I use those no longer used chips for bonus chips. If they show up on time, they get a bonus chip that they turn into their dealer for a T5,000. Players hang on to their bonus chips and I always get them back. In case anyone is wondering, the bonus chips can't be mistaken for a T5,000 in play.
[3] We've tried blinding stacks in. Our system is to keep the stack out of play (don't give it cards). When the BB arrives, remove a BB and a SB from the stacks and from play so no one else benefits. That worked reasonably well. The biggest challenge is my tables are in 2 or 3 different rooms as I don't have a room that will accommodate more than 1 table. For whatever reason, different tables handled it differently.
We've had players say we should blind them out even if they miss the EB bonus, but I've pointed out that missing the bonus is a bigger deal than missing 6 rounds of blinds.
[4] We've tried simply starting on time too. That was the worst system for getting everyone there to start on time, at least for us. Some players showed last minute, which delayed starting while they got checked in. Once we had to start 2 tables with 5 and 4 because if we started with 9 because I knew several others were coming (normal to have some come late). We knew if we started everyone at one table, any time saved by starting on time was lost when we had to split the group into 2 tables. When I was doing that, the 9 showing on time only happened once, and we wound up with about 15 players, but it was still frustrating.
@Vince Bustillo uses an $5000 chip for those that are 15 minutes early at his game. Must be in house. Starting stack is T20k for stt or T25k for multi table. Gets 75-80% to show early.
K ALL IN 9
Flush
I run a T25k and do a 10% bonus. My rule is if you're in the cul-de-sac by the start time I consider it on time
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