New Poker Competition in Limerick Starting Wednesday 27th April

hblg

I decided some months ago to start up a “poker club” which is finally starting next Wednesday 27th April in the Davin Arms (near the Gaelic Grounds on the Ennis Road in Limerick)

There are certain things that I wanted to rectify from other tournaments that I have played in

1) Getting to the next level – I am sure you have all looked at Late night Poker, like me, and said that you could beat or at least would like to have a chance to play Simon “Aces” Trumper, the Pink Lady, Joe “the elegance” and so on.
I have secured spots on the European Poker Tour (EPT), the first one being in Dublin on the bank holiday weekend in October. The basic structure is as follows. For 20 weeks, I am going to collect €200 every week from the poker takings and put this into the master fund. This will give a grand total of €4000 at the end of twenty weeks. The regristration fee for the EPT tournament event is €1500. €500 will also be given for accommodation (as the person will be from the mid west region) €2000 in total. This will pay for two players.
So over the twenty weeks of running the tournament, let's day the top 54, based on the points accumulated over those twenty weeks, will qualify for the master tournament in which the top 2 will get those 2 spots on the EPT event (which will be televised as well)
I have been in negotiations with our EPT partner for the last 8 weeks on this one.

2) Bringing new players – Personally I am unhappy with the fact that if a player brings new players with him, who have never played before, he/she gets 2000 worth of chips for each player that he/she brings. I was at a table about 2 months ago in Kilmurray Lodge where one guy sat down with 14,000 worth of chips after brining 6 new guys with him.

What I am proposing as an incentive for bringing new players (which is what we all want as it will increase the cash prizes) is that the registration fee is halved. i.e. if you bring someone to the tournament in the Davin Arms, after Week 2, both you and the person you brought will pay €10 each – so there is an incentive for you, the new player and me as tournament director while not be penalizing any others by offering extra chips. If you bring 5 new players, all 6 people will pay half the regristration fee each.

3) The chips themselves – Firstly one side of the chips will have the value of the chip printed on them. This is just for ease of use, especially for new players.
The other side of the chip will have a four digit code on them, to protect the players from any other player being able to bring in similar chips before the competition starts. When I was in the Poker Room in Jacksonville USA, 8/9 times I got talking to the security and tournament director and both recommended this.

4) New Players – New players need to be protected on their first night – I met a lot of players who didn’t even make it to the break because they didn’t fully know the game and lost €30/40 in an hour and thought this was not for them. They have not been seen since. (The 3 I know of anyway) They need to be shown how to play before they start. I was originally thinking about the possibility of putting all new players on the same table for the night but after reading Careca's response on this, "Selecting players for certain tables is unfair to everyone", players will now be seated at random.

5) Running a professional tournament – In a few weeks time the person organizing the Irish Based EPT tour events has offered to come down and help me run a tournament one night to show me how it is done. She has over 15 years experience of running casinos so I will gladly take her up on this.
Another thing which was said which I agree with is forewarning on the blinds being brought up. We will always give 5-10 minutes notification pre-warning players of the time the blinds will go up. As a poker player for many a year now, I understand the impact of raising the blinds at the right and wrong time. These blinds will be notified at the start of the night.

6) Rulings – Another thing, which I agree with, is the importance of good rulings. We have decided the use the EPT version rulings, which will be available for every table. (These are the same rulings which the casinos and EPT use)

7) Approachable – I will always trying to take player’s views on board as you are the base of the game. This is why I read these websites as well to see if I am missing something that is influencing players.

All I can ask is that you come up to the Davin Arms next Wednesday, 27th April, starting 8:30, and see for yourselves, and by all means let me know of anything you think should be changed or anything that might pi$$ed you off.

There is a dedicated area well able to hold >100 players so spacing should not be an issue. I am going to limit the numbers to 100 players for this event, with up to 9 players per table. Also there is plenty of car parking spaces and food at the break chicken nuggets, cocktail sausages and the likes)

DapperGent

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=227377

MadsL

2) Bringing new players – Personally I am unhappy with the fact that if a player brings new players with him, who have never played before, he/she gets 2000 worth of chips for each player that he/she brings. I was at a table about 2 months ago in Kilmurray Lodge where one guy sat down with 14,000 worth of chips after brining 6 new guys with him.

My head would explode if this happened. I would be demanding my buy-in and reg back. :mad:

New Players – New players need to be protected on their first night – I met a lot of players who didn’t even make it to the break because they didn’t fully know the game and lost €30/40 in an hour and thought this was not for them. They have not been seen since. (The 3 I know of anyway) They need to be shown how to play before they start. I was originally thinking about the possibility of putting all new players on the same table for the night but after reading Careca's response on this, "Selecting players for certain tables is unfair to everyone", players will now be seated at random.

Then run a sit and go or even freeroll for new players before the tournie. It is nonsense to suggest that the 'fish' need to be somehow 'protected' from the sharks. There are plenty of players who have won tournies at the fitz on their first night in. Damn - it's nearly a tradition in the freeroll.

Dave

Yeah read the charter, you left out loads of information. The big one for me being how much is registration and rebuys. As a lowly student I can't afford much.

hblg

Firstly new players:

The tournament starts at 8:30. At 8 pm there will be a table(s) set-up to show new players the rules of Texas Hold'em no limits and get them to play some dummy hands for 20 minutes before the tournament starts (most of the "new players" that have phoned me have been classic players and haven't played Texas Hold'em no limits before)

Cost

The initial cost is going to as per Kilmurray Lodge
€20 register for 2000 chips
€10 buy-in
€10/20 top up just before break (9:50)
no buy-ins after break.

On the 1st night, I will be going around to the players asking them their preference of registering. Personally I would opt for €40 with 1 buy in allowed (no top ups) but it will depend on the will of the majority of the players who are going to be playing this competition. Different players have different opinions but I will have to go with the will of those players who attend.

NickyOD

hblg wrote:

Firstly new players:
The tournament starts at 8:30. At 8 pm there will be a table(s) set-up to show new players the rules of Texas Hold'em no limits and get them to play some dummy hands for 20 minutes before the tournament starts (most of the "new players" that have phoned me have been classic players and haven't played Texas Hold'em no limits before)

Cost
The initial cost is going to as per Kilmurray Lodge
€20 register for 2000 chips
€10 buy-in
€10/20 top up just before break (9:50)
no buy-ins after break.

On the 1st night, I will be going around to the players asking them their preference of registering. Personally I would opt for €40 with 1 buy in allowed (no top ups) but it will depend on the will of the majority of the players who are going to be playing this competition. Different players have different opinions but I will have to go with the will of those players who attend.

I don't mean to be patronising in any way because I'm glad someone in Limerick is going to trouble and effort to organise a good tournment but, please don't call the game "texas holdem no limits" because no one will take you seriously. The game is "No Limit Texas Holdem"

I'm not sure what you meant about the €40 registration. Do you mean an initiial double buy in. €40 for 4000 chips? Is there a limit to the number of rebuys?

Also, going with the will of the majority is a really bad idea given the majority of players will be very inexperienced and what the majority wants might not be the best idea in the interest of a good tourney. I think if you have someone with experience in organising tourneys on your team they should dictate how everything is done initially and you can think about making changes in accordance with how players feel as the tourneys go on.

Thanks.

N.

DeLaBass

NickyOD wrote:

I don't mean to be patronising in any way because I'm glad someone in Limerick is going to trouble and effort to organise a good tournment but, please don't call the game "texas holdem no limits" because no one will take you seriously. The game is "No Limit Texas Holdem"

I'm not sure what you meant about the €40 registration. Do you mean an initiial double buy in. €40 for 4000 chips? Is there a limit to the number of rebuys?

Also, going with the will of the majority is a really bad idea given the majority of players will be very inexperienced and what the majority wants might not be the best idea in the interest of a good tourney. I think if you have someone with experience in organising tourneys on your team they should dictate how everything is done initially and you can think about making changes in accordance with how players feel as the tourneys go on.

Thanks.

N.

I have to agree with Nicky on this one....

Davey Devil

Hblg, come on now be honest. How much experiance go you have with hold'em?

hblg

NickyOD wrote:

I don't mean to be patronising in any way because I'm glad someone in Limerick is going to trouble and effort to organise a good tournment but, please don't call the game "texas holdem no limits" because no one will take you seriously. The game is "No Limit Texas Holdem"

If I am sounding unsure it is purely down to the fact that I have had 6 hours sleep in the last 3 days since junior number two has arrived so apologies for that. (and any mispelling along the way)

Davey Devil wrote:

Hblg, come on now be honest. How much experiance go you have with hold'em?

I have been playing poker since the 80s when I was in college - as for Texas holdem no limits, I have been playing this with a group of friends every week about 3 years now and when it comes to taking part in competitions for example the Kilmurray Lodge that has been discussed already, I have not missed one Tuesday night since it started last October.

Imposter

Do they play no limits in the Kilmurray too?

NickyOD

hblg wrote:

NickyOD wrote:

I have been playing poker since the 80s when I was in college - as for Texas holdem no limits, I have been playing this with a group of friends every week about 3 years now and when it comes to taking part in competitions for example the Kilmurray Lodge that has been discussed already, I have not missed one Tuesday night since it started last October.

Have you played "No Limit Holdem" in a casino, online, or in a larger buy in event? What will be the blind structure for the event? i.e. increments and time length of levels.

Thanks.

N.

Culchie

hblg,

Why don't you get Nicky to advise and help you get this off the ground?
He's obviously mad keen for Poker to take off in Limerick.

I'm sure a little 'consultancy fee' could be arranged .... probably the best money you can spend.

You only get one chance to make a first impression.

NickyOD

I would never ask for any kind of fee. This is hblg's venture. All I want is to get the chance to play in a well organised tournament.

One thing that I learned very fast after 7 years of playing poker tournaments, and 2 years of that online, was that I knew nothing about what a well organised tournament was like until I played in a professional large buy in event. The first big event was an EPT ranking event €500+30 and I went there thinking I knew my stuff but I didn't. I was making string bets and throwing in 1 chip before announcing a raise and basically embarassing myself. We've all been there, and you learn pretty fast, but without a doubt unless you have played professionally run tournaments there's no way you could know how to run one yourself.

hblg if you send me an IM in the forum I'll pass on my details and I can pass on my thoughts.

N.

hblg

In a few weeks time the person organizing the Irish Based EPT tour events has offered to come down and help me run a tournament one night to show me how it is done. She has over 15 years experience of running casinos so I will gladly take her up on this.

Also while not playing on the EPT, I have played many many times in the poker rooms in the USA, albeit mainly on the 1-2 tables where you could only loose $28 by the river. Thankfully I did fine and always won > $200 dollars which is more than I can say for the Kilmurray which I have yet to win :rolleyes:

NickyOD, if you are coming to the Davin on Wednesday night let me know - I would be glad of your input especially at the end of the night on the things you thought went right and wrong.

NickyOD

:rolleyes: :rolleyes:

hblg wrote:

NickyOD, if you are coming to the Davin on Wednesday night let me know - I would be glad of your input especially at the end of the night on the things you thought went right and wrong.

I will be there for certain and I'll gladly introduce myself and give my thoughts at the end of the night. Thanks for going to the effort of organising this.

Just some concerns before the event...

-The blind structure needs to be clarified beforehand and clear for everyone to see at all times. If you find the tournament runs later than it can, then by all means shorten the blinds but try to be consistent. I think the usual rebuy structure at the Macau in Cork for the lower buy in tourneys is 30 minute levels until the add-on period, then 20 minute levell from then on. Usual blinds for this kind of event would be something like this but given the numbers and the time limit you might have you're probably going to need to make changes.

25/50
50/100
100/200
300/600
400/800
500/1000
800/1500
1000/2000
1500/3000
2000/4000


-You must take names of everyone who rebuys and have a chipcount of the exact amount of chips in play. If someone wants to ask how many chips are in play, and how many players have bought back then you need to be able to answer this.

-You must also make it clear exactly how much you are taking for yourself, and the breakdown of the payouts. Ideally the money you take should be in the form of a compulsory reg fee and everything else goes into the prizepool.

-In the Kilmurray there are some pretty heavy going cash games running on the side (I know because I played them). As I'm sure you're aware this is illegal anywhere there is alcohol being served, and if you're tournament is seen to attract these kind of side games then ......you see where I'm coming from. As a workaround for players who bust early you could organise Single table tournaments. This would be really beneficial for new players. Just make sure the STTs use different chips from the main tourney.

If you want my input on anything you can IM me on this forum.

Good luck with the tournament.

Nicky.

BTW, if you cap it on every street in 1/2 the max you can lose is $24 (Jesus I should be shot :rolleyes: )

DeLaBass

Hoping to get there too. Its my birthday wednesday so go easy on me!

NickyOD

DeLaBass wrote:

Hoping to get there too. Its my birthday wednesday so go easy on me!

:eek: It's your birthdy? Ok I won't steal your blinds birthday boy.

DeLaBass

NickyOD wrote:

:eek: It's your birthdy? Ok I won't steal your blinds birthday boy.

Good enough for me! Last tourney i played it seemed like my blinds were loaves and fishes, everyone got a taste! Groan.....

hblg

NickyOD

-The blind structure needs to be clarified beforehand and clear for everyone to see at all times. If you find the tournament runs later than it can, then by all means shorten the blinds but try to be consistent. I think the usual rebuy structure at the Macau in Cork for the lower buy in tourneys is 30 minute levels until the add-on period, then 20 minute levell from then on. Usual blinds for this kind of event would be something like this but given the numbers and the time limit you might have you're probably going to need to make changes.

25/50
50/100
100/200
300/600
400/800
500/1000
800/1500
1000/2000
1500/3000
2000/4000

HBLG: Agree with above - we have planned to raise the blinds every 25 minutes throughout the night and forewarn 5 minutes before the blinds go up. The blinds we plan are fairly similar to that above


NickyOD -You must take names of everyone who rebuys and have a chipcount of the exact amount of chips in play. If someone wants to ask how many chips are in play, and how many players have bought back then you need to be able to answer this.

HBLG: Agree with above - had planned to do this, so that we can "guestimate" what the the tournament should end as well as above.

-You must also make it clear exactly how much you are taking for yourself, and the breakdown of the payouts. Ideally the money you take should be in the form of a compulsory reg fee and everything else goes into the prizepool.

This will be announced at break time and I can tell you now that it is less than the costs that some other tournaments are charging in Limerick at present

-In the Kilmurray there are some pretty heavy going cash games running on the side (I know because I played them). As I'm sure you're aware this is illegal anywhere there is alcohol being served, and if you're tournament is seen to attract these kind of side games then ......you see where I'm coming from. As a workaround for players who bust early you could organise Single table tournaments. This would be really beneficial for new players. Just make sure the STTs use different chips from the main tourney.

HBLG: No cash side games allowed by order of Davin Arms Managment. I will have different chips for the exact reason you have stated above.

Pokerevents

I like to know who the tournament director is.

hblg

This poker competition as discussed here and as advertised in the Limerick post last week has been cancelled.

DeLaBass

hblg wrote:

This poker competition as discussed here and as advertised in the Limerick post last week has been cancelled.

awwww no!

Culchie

Why?

NickyOD

wtf?

Imposter

I guess it has limits after all.

NickyOD

Imposter wrote:

I guess it has limits after all.

lol