Tourney Looking for advice on my home game (2 Viewers)

[CincinattiKiddo]

Fellow poker lovers,

I have been hosting a weekly tournament on sunday. For the last 3 months, I was hoping on some advice of you more experienced home poker organizers.
maybe some of your house rules that make the game better. ( Note : we always play Hold'Em since there are mostly new players, and aren't interested in the variations YET.)

How i plan my tournament :

We play 1 Table

I have 2 formats. T25 and T100.

T25 tourney = 10.000 starting stack for 5€
T100 tourney = 30.000 starting stack for 10€

T25
chip stack per player =
12x 25
12x 100
5x 500
7x 1000
= equal to 10.000

Rebuy =
2x 500
4x 1000
1x 5000
= equal to 10.000

Add-on = 2.5€ for 1x 5000
= this is added to add a little extra to the pot.

Blinds =
Levels SB BB Time
1 25 50 15 Min
2 50 100 15 Min
3 75 150 15 Min
4 100 200 15 Min
5 150 300 15 Min
6 200 400 15 Min
7 BREAK + colour up
8 300 600 20 Min
9 400 800 20 Min
10 600 1200 20 Min
11 800 1600 20 Min
BREAK + colour up
12 1000 2000 20 Min
13 1500 3000 20 Min
14 2000 4000 20 Min

If we play full table of 9 players. I do 3 winners, to make sure they come back.
1st = 50%
2nd = 30%
3rd = 20%


T100
Chip stack per player
10x 100
4x 500
7x 1000
4x 5000
= equal to 30.000

Rebuy =
2x 5.000
2x 10.000

Add-on =
2x 5.000

Blinds =

Levels SB BB Time
1 100 100 20 Min
2 100 200 20 Min
3 200 400 20 Min
4 300 600 20 Min
5 400 800 20 Min
6 600 1200 20 Min
Break
7 800 1600 20 Min
8 1000 2000 20 Min
9 1500 3000 20 Min
10 2000 4000 20 Min
11 3000 4000 20 Min
12 4000 6000 20 Min
Break
13 6000 12.000 20 Min
14 8000 16.000 20 Min
15 10.000 20.000 20 Min

Same thing for the winners.

Anyone some advice to upgrade my home game? I am open for all

 

[Trihonda]

First ask yourself if you think anything you’re doing isn’t working? The structures you posted both appear decent, but I might suggest find the format that works well(best) for you and your players, and stick to that for consistency. My group tends to prefer the T25 format, but your group could be different..

If you’re doing two formats to add variety, try doing things like charitable add ons for things like bringing a non perishable food item for a local food bank, or something like that. When I do tourneys, I sometimes give chip bonuses for bringing food to donate, or something like that. Spice it up in different ways.

 

[MrBoosh]

I agree that everything looks pretty good as far as your structure. Starting stacks, blind progression, even payouts our very similar to what we do. Although we just do T25 base tournaments 90% of the time. I think this aspect of your game looks pretty sound. I would look at other ways to improve your poker nights. Are you good on a decent table and comfortable chairs? Decent card setups? Get a nice table topper from @rjdev7. Just work on making the best atmosphere and environment for your players. Decent snacks or beverages. Give your players a great experience and be consistent with it. When they think of your poker nights they will think, man that Kiddo has got it together. The buy in process is smooth, a nice well displayed screen to display the blinds, just a fun well run night. If you are consistent in all those things, people will appreciate it and the players will come and they will continue to come.

We are always looking at ways to improve our overall experience for players. @TravNasty and myself discuss things after every single event and try to find even the smallest if areas that we can improve upon.

It sounds like you are off to a great start already. Good luck on your home game journey!

 

[4SUMERZ]

Your format seems similar to what I did when we played tourney...paid top 3. We eventually changed our game to cash $0.25/$0.25 blinds and set a time limit on the session. Everyone prefers cash game over tourney because they can stay in the game until the end with rebuys and top up as required.
As mentioned, comfy chairs, drinks and an ice machine is a must. As the host, I provide drinks and lite snacks on the house.

Good Luck with your game.

 

[BPTDirector]

To spice it up and spread the $ around a little add a $5 bounty. That way more players win cash even though they finish out of the money. It adds an element of fun to the competition. Structure and blinds timing look good. Best of luck, always be recruiting.

 

[TheRealTeddyKGB]

Looks good.

I would move up the T25 Break/color up to right after Level 5 & the T100 Break to after Level 4. I would also move up both the 2nd breaks up according & add a 3rd. The players at the end can always skip the last Break if they choose to but people who eat & drink prefer to have more frequent breaks.

I highly suggest having a cash game every so often to change it up. Much more relaxed & it's basically the same game. Then start sprinkling in different variations etc etc

 

[Preditor]

Pretty solid overall, but a few things

First, your math is a bit off:

12x 25
12x 100
5x 500
7x 1000
= equal to 10.000

That equals T11k, not T10K. For me, I do a T25 base with a T10k starting stack, and a 1K chip bonus for showing up on time for a total of T11K, so similar to yours by the time I add the bonus. Just get the math right.

T25 tourney = 10.000 starting stack for 5€
T100 tourney = 30.000 starting stack for 10€

This seems a bit lite of a buy-in for me, but I don't know your audience. Even college students though should afford 10-20€ I think for a T10K starting stack? But again, this is largely personal preference

Rebuy =
2x 500
4x 1000
1x 5000
= equal to 10.000

When does the rebuy period end? Something to maybe make not of in your levels.

Blinds =
Levels SB BB Time
1 25 50 15 Min
2 50 100 15 Min
3 75 150 15 Min
4 100 200 15 Min
5 150 300 15 Min
6 200 400 15 Min
7 BREAK + colour up
8 300 600 20 Min
9 400 800 20 Min
10 600 1200 20 Min
11 800 1600 20 Min
BREAK + colour up
12 1000 2000 20 Min
13 1500 3000 20 Min
14 2000 4000 20 Min

The level structures are solid. Personally I am not a fan of starting at 15 minute levels and jumping UP to 20. Especially in the early stages. That keeps more players in a bit longer, which increases the overall vibe.

I would keep it at 20 minutes until around level 12, and then jump DOWN to 15 or 10 minute levels.

But that is a personal preference.

If you do that, I find for a home game breaking every 4-5 levels is ideal. I do 4. It makes coloring up a bit difficult, but whatever. People enjoy it.

Blinds =
Levels SB BB Time
1 25 50 20 Min
2 50 100 20 Min
3 75 150 20 Min
4 100 200 20 Min
BREAK (Last chance rebuy/add-on)
5 150 300 20 Min
6 200 400 20 Min
7 300 600 20 Min
8 400 800 20 Min
BREAK + COLORUP
9 600 1200 20 Min
10 800 1600 20 Min
12 1000 2000 20 Min
13 1500 3000 20 Min
BREAK + COLORUP
14 2000 4000 10 Min
15 3000 6000 10 Min
16 4000 9000 10 Min

If we play full table of 9 players. I do 3 winners, to make sure they come back.

I would have a few more formal rules for this. For me, I say the highest number that doesn't except 1/3rd of the prize pool. So what if you get 6 or 7 players? I like to have some sort of formal rule and guide so people know I am not randomly making it up game to game.

Finally and MOST IMPORTANTLY...
-
-
-
-
-
...what brand hot dog roller do you have...?!!!!!!!

 

[DeeVee8]

Have you tried hookers and blow?

Seriously, everything looks good through my eyes. A game takes time to grow, it seems like you have a solid set of rules.

 

[allforcharity]

Your T25 should be 12/12/5/6

 

[CincinattiKiddo]

Your format seems similar to what I did when we played tourney...paid top 3. We eventually changed our game to cash $0.25/$0.25 blinds and set a time limit on the session. Everyone prefers cash game over tourney because they can stay in the game until the end with rebuys and top up as required.
As mentioned, comfy chairs, drinks and an ice machine is a must. As the host, I provide drinks and lite snacks on the house.

Good Luck with your game.

how you determine when the timer stops? do the players know? or how you plan this?

Looks good.

I would move up the T25 Break/color up to right after Level 5 & the T100 Break to after Level 4. I would also move up both the 2nd breaks up according & add a 3rd. The players at the end can always skip the last Break if they choose to but people who eat & drink prefer to have more frequent breaks.

I highly suggest having a cash game every so often to change it up. Much more relaxed & it's basically the same game. Then start sprinkling in different variations etc etc

i try to host a cash game on thursdays, but most of the times we are only with 3 people, so i cancel it unless we are with min of 5 players.

Pretty solid overall, but a few things

First, your math is a bit off:

That equals T11k, not T10K. For me, I do a T25 base with a T10k starting stack, and a 1K chip bonus for showing up on time for a total of T11K, so similar to yours by the time I add the bonus. Just get the math right.


This seems a bit lite of a buy-in for me, but I don't know your audience. Even college students though should afford 10-20€ I think for a T10K starting stack? But again, this is largely personal preference


When does the rebuy period end? Something to maybe make not of in your levels.

The level structures are solid. Personally I am not a fan of starting at 15 minute levels and jumping UP to 20. Especially in the early stages. That keeps more players in a bit longer, which increases the overall vibe.

I would keep it at 20 minutes until around level 12, and then jump DOWN to 15 or 10 minute levels.

But that is a personal preference.

If you do that, I find for a home game breaking every 4-5 levels is ideal. I do 4. It makes coloring up a bit difficult, but whatever. People enjoy it.

Blinds =
Levels SB BB Time
1 25 50 20 Min
2 50 100 20 Min
3 75 150 20 Min
4 100 200 20 Min
BREAK (Last chance rebuy/add-on)
5 150 300 20 Min
6 200 400 20 Min
7 300 600 20 Min
8 400 800 20 Min
BREAK + COLORUP
9 600 1200 20 Min
10 800 1600 20 Min
12 1000 2000 20 Min
13 1500 3000 20 Min
BREAK + COLORUP
14 2000 4000 10 Min
15 3000 6000 10 Min
16 4000 9000 10 Min


I would have a few more formal rules for this. For me, I say the highest number that doesn't except 1/3rd of the prize pool. So what if you get 6 or 7 players? I like to have some sort of formal rule and guide so people know I am not randomly making it up game to game.

Finally and MOST IMPORTANTLY...
-
-
-
-
-
...what brand hot dog roller do you have...?!!!!!!!

Hey, i see i made a typo, we actually do 7x500 and 5x1000 that add up to a 10.000 stack.

i see, I will take another look at adding more breaks to my structure and relook the timing each level. thanks for the tip.

We did play 10€ one time, and no-one rebought. Most of the time with the 5€ everyone are almost everyone rebuys, so i hold this for now.

if we get 7 player, we pay top 2 only. when 8 or 9 I pay first 3.

No hot dog roller yet

Your T25 should be 12/12/5/6

I made a typo , we do 12/12/7/5
so
12x25
12x100
7x500
5x1000

 

[4SUMERZ]

how you determine when the timer stops? do the players know? or how you plan this?


i try to host a cash game on thursdays, but most of the times we are only with 3 people, so i cancel it unless we are with min of 5 players.

When we play cash games, we set a time when we will do a final time around the table. Typically our session is 4 hours, then one final time around the table then we cash out.

 

[Preditor]

Hey, i see i made a typo, we actually do 7x500 and 5x1000 that add up to a 10.000 stack.

I would recommend you do 5xT500s and 6xT1000s instead. The reasoning behind this is you never need any more than one T500 chip to make a bet. Betting T800? One 500 and three 100s. Betting T2800? Two 1000s, one 500, and three 100s.

So the T500 is more of an odd necessity. You're better off doing less of those and giving everyone an extra T1000, which will be the workhorse chip at some point.

 

[BGinGA]

Levels SB BB Time
1 100 100 20 Min
2 100 200 20 Min
3 200 400 20 Min
4 300 600 20 Min
5 400 800 20 Min
6 600 1200 20 Min
Break
7 800 1600 20 Min
8 1000 2000 20 Min
9 1500 3000 20 Min
10 2000 4000 20 Min
11 3000 4000 20 Min
12 4000 6000 20 Min
Break
13 6000 12.000 20 Min
14 8000 16.000 20 Min
15 10.000 20.000 20 Min

Anyone some advice to upgrade my home game? I am open for all

Add a 100/300 level, keeping the blind increase percentages consistent (also avoids a 100% jump).
Change 3000/4000 level to 3000/6000, same reason.
Change 4000/6000 level to 4000/8000, same reason.