Small Entry Tourneys

Culchie

Having recently branched into the world of live poker, I wouldn't consider myself as any sort of expert, but I would like to offer one suggestion to the smaller entry tourneys (say Up to €50).

The biggest complaint people have is the extreme rapid structure in the increase in blinds, so much so that by the time you get to the final table the chip leader quite often has less than 7 or 8 BB's.

The consequences of this, as we discussed on a recent thread is that when we get to the 200/400 blind level, more often than not it becomes 'push or fold' poker.

If a player enters a pot and doesn't win it, he is crippled. The only thing that will entice him into a pot is a very good hand...not pot odds or value.

I also understand the pressures that organisors have to finish by a reasonable hour as well, so aggressive blinds are required.

So...I just wonder, has the principle of running antes been tested in these games, after say level 4 or 5 ?
With a larger preflop pot, and also each player having contributed something to the pot, 2 things I would imagine would happen.

1) More people will see the flop, as they all have chips invested, better pots odds to see the flop, more post flop play, better standard of poker

2) The chips are still entering the pots, probably quicker than if blinds alone, so this will still ensure that the tournament would finish at a reasonable time.


I'm sure someone will be able to shoot holes in this suggestion, (so go easy on me), or maybe someone else has a suggestion to create more play, but still finish on time?

It's just think it might be good to experiment and try something different?

Look at Oscars 6-Handed tourney, a big success

The Troll

Personally, I hate tournaments that use antes.

Fatboydim

Completely agree with you Culchie that tourneys nearly always end up as crapshoots... This is a constant problem... One solution I think is to make the clock shorter at the start of a game and longer at the end. So for example when the blinds are 25 / 50 have a 20min clock and when they are 1000 / 2000 have a 30min clock. Problem is organisers need to give all players enough play early on - For example the weekly IPT events... The first two hours being a rebuy to give everyone who wants to, at least two hours play... then after the break the blinds seem to rocket rapidly and play goes out the window with chip leads swapping all the time. Sometimes I think the only answer might be to set up a poker co-operative. Say enough people got together on a regular basis and hired a place - the reg fee not going into profit but to hire place dealers equipment. Problem is this would only work where there are enough players.

califano

Culchie wrote:

or maybe someone else has a suggestion to create more play, but still finish on time?

It would help to have earlier and more punctual starting times creating time for longer blind levels. No reason why tournaments need to start at 8.30pm - 9pm or later.

jtsuited

maybe organisers could possibly considering running events in places that are not subject to licensing laws. This would take the alcohol out of the situation but that's probably a good thing.

Rnger

The 30e game on sundays at the fitz. kicks off at 4:30. Its got a slower blind struture than most tournements you'll play in the fitz