Tourney Thoughts on this local tournament format? (1 Viewer)

[upNdown]

Revo, in Manchester NH, is running this NLHE tournament. It’s 45k chips for $150 (technically $130 for 25k, plus a dealer add-on of 20k chips for $20.) The levels are 30 minutes, which has caught my eye - tough to get that, at that price point.
The wildcard for me is that are registration runs for 6 hours and 50 minutes - until the end of level 12 / beginning of level 13. That seems crazy long, for what I’m used to. And re-entries seem unlimited (on Atlas is says “four or more.”)
So is this a good deal or a potential money trap, or both?

 

[krafticus]

Looks like a standard WSOP structure to me

 

[doublebooyah85]

That’s standard anymore. @NotRealNameNoSir has broken this down before.

I’d recommend late reg.

 

[upNdown]

Looks like a standard WSOP structure to me

I suppose you’re right. I’m just not used to the entries available that late. What I see around here is re-entries and late reg are available until the start of level 7 - 10. Even at Encore, Foxwoods, and Mohegan Sun aren’t letting you late reg beyond the start of level 10.
Having it open until the start of level 13 is the curveball for me.

That’s standard anymore. @NotRealNameNoSir has broken this down before.

I’d recommend late reg.

Maybe you’re right, but not quite standard around here.

 

[NotRealNameNoSir]

That’s standard anymore. @NotRealNameNoSir has broken this down before.

I’d recommend late reg.

I'm always conflicted on how much to push these ideas lol, but honored for the tag.

Yeah this is late reg, 15 BB 13 levels in, but this type of tournament is ripe for late reg. Easily a great choice. I skip the line, and after 6 hours there has been many rebuys and knockouts; my $150/45k chips are worth more than twice as much buying in 5.5 hours after the start and I'm up against a field that's narrowed and tired.

I don't know the prize distribution or bubble but I would bet a substantial amount of money on the math involved. If you're paying it like a ticket for fun? Go early, enjoy, talk to people at your table. But I think if you're treating it like a pro, you're attempting to fire a few bullets in levels 10+.

This is a thinking-player friendly break down, unlimited rebuys with a slow structure means they have time to fire bullets and build up a big stack for cheap if you want to get an earlier start. Freezeouts favor variance/underdog, short levels favor variance/underdog, and limited late reg favors variance/underdog. This is the exact opposite.

Option 1:
It might be frustrating because you might buy in and lose quickly with only 15 BB, but I bet on my short game and increased value.

Option 2:
Lots of rebuys, play aggressively and isolate recs with lanyards on to build up a stack or go broke quickly.

I don't see buying in on time once as a good investment. You can for fun and you may win, but you're hamstrung against those wanting to abuse the structure.

 

[upNdown]

Yeah this is late reg, 15 BB 13 levels in

To be clear, it’s 12.5 BB 13 levels in.
Tonight, they had 112 entries, with 36 alive at the end of registration. 11 got paid - first was $3700, 11th was $370. This is a NH charity room, so the rake will always be high - 20% in this case.
I’m personally capable of buying in at the end, jamming the first ace I get, and seeing where that goes. But it’s something like a 90 minute drive each way, so that isn’t practical.
As I implied above, I’m drawn to the 30 minute structure at the low price point - I actually enjoy grinding out the early levels of a tournament when the structure allows it. So I guess the question is, am I at a disadvantage doing that, with all the late reg available?
For whatever it’s worth, they had 107 registered at the beginning of 11, and only 112 registered at the beginning of 13, so there weren’t a hell of a lot of people exploiting the late reg option.

 

[BarrieJ3]

It's pretty much down the street from my house @upNdown, I drive by it most days.

If you're looking for pain, instead of 30 minute blind levels for nlh, you can just come on by and we can sit in the cold together on the porch while the kids throw Lego pieces at us

 

[upNdown]

It's pretty much down the street from my house @upNdown, I drive by it most days.

If you're looking for pain, instead of 30 minute blind levels for nlh, you can just come on by and we can sit in the cold together on the porch while the kids throw Lego pieces at us

Aw man. I guess you fit in with the NH guys, too cool for NLHE tournaments. I don’t get it. I think MTTs are the coolest form of poker, but that doesn’t mean I don’t love other poker games too.
I dunno. If you hang around, we’ll meet up soon enough. We’ll probably hate each other because we’re both assholes, but we’ll still have fun playing cards. And if you’re too ADHD to focus on a NLHE tournament, I won’t hold it against you.

 

[BarrieJ3]

Aw man. I guess you fit in with the NH guys, too cool for NLHE tournaments.

I actually like all cards. I’m just a social gambler.

Being transparent, the one thing that stuck out about nlh to me (as a new poker guy) was how miserable people were.

I realized very early on, the nights I won big everyone was so blah. The nights I lost big people were so much fun. I 1000% had a TON more fun on nights I lost because I’m just a social guy and it was a blast. It’s such a drag to sit there up $2k while everyone’s just womp womp.

I think that’s where I learned my habit to this day where if I’m up at a home game, I’ll make sure to give enough back by nights end.

I haven’t found that to be the case with circus players. The overall feeling and beat of the game tends to be a bit more uplifting if that makes sense.

Just one guys experience from playing poker for the first time and in home games the past couple years.

 

[BarrieJ3]

Aw man. I guess you fit in with the NH guys, too cool for NLHE tournaments. I don’t get it. I think MTTs are the coolest form of poker, but that doesn’t mean I don’t love other poker games too.
I dunno. If you hang around, we’ll meet up soon enough. We’ll probably hate each other because we’re both assholes, but we’ll still have fun playing cards. And if you’re too ADHD to focus on a NLHE tournament, I won’t hold it against you.

The rest of this, hell yeah! Just hmu when you plan on coming through. I’ll 1000% come play, buy us drinks, rebuy 5 times in the first 2 levels, play some cash, and then come rail when you final table.

I’m not actually an asshole, I just play one on tv. I have too much fun in casinos and playing cards to be a grump

 

[NotRealNameNoSir]

To be clear, it’s 12.5 BB 13 levels in.
Tonight, they had 112 entries, with 36 alive at the end of registration. 11 got paid - first was $3700, 11th was $370. This is a NH charity room, so the rake will always be high - 20% in this case.
I’m personally capable of buying in at the end, jamming the first ace I get, and seeing where that goes. But it’s something like a 90 minute drive each way, so that isn’t practical.
As I implied above, I’m drawn to the 30 minute structure at the low price point - I actually enjoy grinding out the early levels of a tournament when the structure allows it. So I guess the question is, am I at a disadvantage doing that, with all the late reg available?
For whatever it’s worth, they had 107 registered at the beginning of 11, and only 112 registered at the beginning of 13, so there weren’t a hell of a lot of people exploiting the late reg option.

You're right, was looking before break good call.

So look at that player difference, that's massive. When you buy in for 45k chips at first light you're back 80-100 people and the prize pool is less. By the time you late register, there's already 70+ dead buyins and you're much closer to the bubble. Just better value. And you're not in that awkward stack size, you have a defined strategy to steal blinds and antes to make it to the bubble, you're not regretting whatever you called off with a few hours before.

If you're starting on time and only plan to play one bullet, you're at a statistical disadvantage to those who buyin late or are comfortable trying many times. That's fine because for most of us it's all just recreation and fun, I never advocate for removing that from the equation I just get wrapped up in what's +EV. I'm less obsessive when its live play, and if it's a friend's tournament I'm coming early anyways to setup.

And you're right, not max late reg. But that's 36 alive at the end of registration, 5 of which are brand new and have 12.5 BBs. 25 players have to be knocked out, good luck! Then its just the ICM game and reading your table. I'd love to see how those 5 did for my own thoughts, wonder how many of them cashed.

 

[merkong]

I actually like all cards. I’m just a social gambler.

Being transparent, the one thing that stuck out about nlh to me (as a new poker guy) was how miserable people were.

I realized very early on, the nights I won big everyone was so blah. The nights I lost big people were so much fun. I 1000% had a TON more fun on nights I lost because I’m just a social guy and it was a blast. It’s such a drag to sit there up $2k while everyone’s just womp womp.

I think that’s where I learned my habit to this day where if I’m up at a home game, I’ll make sure to give enough back by nights end.

I haven’t found that to be the case with circus players. The overall feeling and beat of the game tends to be a bit more uplifting if that makes sense.

Just one guys experience from playing poker for the first time and in home games the past couple years.

I couldn’t agree more. On top of NLH being “flop-turn-river” until you’re numb, half the table (players stacking and catching cards) are having a ball and the other half (stuck, getting run out on) are miserable. This (eventual) realization has driven me to a breather from hosting and into the arms of 150 rounds of golf since April, a reorganization of the home gym and being back to heavier lifting and well-rested weekends.

As the cold dark days of winter tighten their embrace, I’m considering turning on the lights for some lower stake tourneys and mixed game sessions.

Flop-turn-river… Yawn

Sourpusses

 

[upNdown]

I actually like all cards. I’m just a social gambler.

Being transparent, the one thing that stuck out about nlh to me (as a new poker guy) was how miserable people were.

I realized very early on, the nights I won big everyone was so blah. The nights I lost big people were so much fun. I 1000% had a TON more fun on nights I lost because I’m just a social guy and it was a blast. It’s such a drag to sit there up $2k while everyone’s just womp womp.

I think that’s where I learned my habit to this day where if I’m up at a home game, I’ll make sure to give enough back by nights end.

I haven’t found that to be the case with circus players. The overall feeling and beat of the game tends to be a bit more uplifting if that makes sense.

Just one guys experience from playing poker for the first time and in home games the past couple years.

Have you played cash NLHE or tournament? Because in my experience, especially in NH, NLHE MTTs are a different experience than NLHE cash games. The tournaments are much more social.
I too, have no use for a douchey NLHE cash game.
I love mixed games too, but they don’t make me hate Holdem.

 

[BarrieJ3]

Have you played cash NLHE or tournament? Because in my experience, especially in NH, NLHE MTTs are a different experience than NLHE cash games. The tournaments are much more social.
I too, have no use for a douchey NLHE cash game.
I love mixed games too, but they don’t make me hate Holdem.

Lil bit of both. I will say yes, tourney nlh not as much of a frowny face evening.

It’s less the ADHD for me and more so “time is money” thing. Tourney I’m playing less hands, less money going in and out, less falling on the floor laughing.

I think in my early 20s I’d enjoy it far more, but once kids and wife and careers and all that hits, if I’m taking a night off and driving somewhere it’s gotta hit.

That being said, give me a group of friends playing a $20 rebuy stt or mtt having an absolute blast? Count me in!

 

[thePokerClub]

Registration runs a bit long like you call out.

No real way to know how it plays out until you play in it. Never know, you may love the structure.

Give it a shot!