Hi folks. Sounds like I will have the first weekend in Groundhog Month free and I would like to have a NLH tourney for anyone interested.
Just to make it more fun, I'm thinking of adding a couple of things to the mix:
#1. Depending on the # of players, the payouts will be more than just "winner takes all".
>If only 3-4 partake it will be 1st=70% and 2nd=30%.
>If 5-8 play then 1st=60% 2nd=25% 3rd=15%.
>If more than 8 are interested (!) I guess we'd have 2 tables at the start, and the top 4 will be 1st=50% 2nd=30% 3rd=15% 4th=5%.
(Yes, I know that usually at a tourney or whatever with 3-6 players you would only have payouts for the top 2, but I want to encourage folks to feel they "have a chance at making it in the money" and rebuys and the add-on (see #2 below) will thus encourage risk-taking and make it more fun I hope.)
#2. The above might sound unnecessary (after all, real men enjoy "winner takes all" don't they? ;) ) but as I just hinted, I want to allow for rebuys during the first 3 blind levels (prolly the first 45-60 mins).
And at the end of blind level 3, there will be the option to do a single add-on (giving you an additional # of chips equal to the starting amount).
All of this $ will be put into the prize pool, which will be dished out in the amounts listed above, minus the "bonus prize" (see #3) and the cost of pizza and a few 2L of Coke or Sprite or whatever we choose to order.
#3. And just to make it even MORE interesting (i.e. more risk-taking and seeing of showdowns) there will be a "bonus" prize awarded to the person who shows down* the highest hand (probably will be a full house, but quads aren't unheard of so keep chasing with that set! ;) ) The bonus prize will be $1.00 x the # of buyins, rebuys, and add-ons.
- - -
So in summary, as an example, let's say it's 6 players with a $10.00 buyin (since we want to allow for and encourage rebuys and add-ons, $20 might be a bit too steep).
Let's say you guys are totally dominating and only I, Darren Dirt, take stupid chances and bust out twice before blind level 4, so I rebuy each time. At the end of the rebuy period, Dirt and 2 others decide to pay an extra $10 and take the add-on. The rest think they're skilled enough to make it I.T.M. without the add-on (fools! all of you!).
So that would mean the # of buy-ins and rebuys and add-ons = 6+2+3 = 11. So the "bonus prize" for the best hand of the night is $11.00.
And the total prize pool would be $60 + $20 + $30 = $110.00, minus the pizza (let's say $30) and minus the bonus prize ($11) = $69.00.
So the $69.00 payout (just a coincidence in the math, really!) would be divided up 60% 25% 15% ($41.40 for 1st, $17.25 for 2nd, and $10.35 for 3rd).
The above is just an example -- I am presuming there would be more than just 2 rebuys the way some of us play ;) and also the add-on is a no-brainer even if you're a chip leader since everyone else will probably be taking it... So the prize pool would likely be more like around $150.00 total, paying out maybe $60 or $70 to 1st place, with a probable investment of $20 for most of us.
So there ya go, the usual lengthy essay from the pen of Darren Dirt.
Any thoughts on my "plan"? It's a week from this Saturday night, not Friday night cuz I might have my kids on Friday -- but at least this time I have given you guys a dozen days' notice.
BE THERE OR BE SQUARE! ;D
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*just to clarify, to "show" down means at the river you and your opponent eventually get to the point of calling and showing both your hands. So a "take down" before the flop, or at the flop/turn/river, where all your opponents fold, does *not* qualify as a potential "best hand" for the bonus prize. So hopefully when your pocket sevens flop A77 your opponent(s) will hold an Ace (or two! Top boat haha that would be a sweet victory eh!) and stay in the action to a showdown. :)
I think we have D&D scheduled for that day. We could maybe move it to Friday, depending on what everyones schedules are.
I plan on having Poker night maybe every 2nd month, so that Saturday would be ideal (otherwise it would have to be at least 2 weeks after that) so if the D&D folks are okay and interested, I appreciate the inconvenience you might go through... :)
Ok, you had a lot of stuff there that after a while I just stopped reading.
If you want to make it so that everyone (or most everyone) comes home with something have a side pot per hand with a $1 dollar buy in and make it so that once you are out of chips, you're done. Easy peasy.
Friday would also be more condusive for me as well.
Yeah, sorry for the lengthy verbiage, I thought I would just "put out there" how I plan to structure things, and explain why I thought some changes would be necessary. Wanted to make sure any potential participants "know what they're getting into", so to speak.
I guess mainly I want to discourage that feeling of "it's all luck when it's down to 2 so I'll probably never win so what's the point in playing for actual money" that some occasionally might have experienced in the past.
The rebuy/addon IMHO would help reduce the chance of someone "sitting out" because of a bad beat early on (hence the rebuy cutoff after blind level 3) and the "bonus prize" adds an element of "luck" into the mix, methinks.
Your "side pot" idea might be a little too much to keep track of, compared to having a % of the pool awarded to the top X finishers. But then again I might not get what you're suggesting. :-\
Also, re. Saturday: I have the kids almost every Friday night, unforunately -- it's a kinda trade-off with having every second weekend free... But I thought a week and a half notice would help offset the Friday preference for most. :(
Sorry won't be back in town by then.
What I'm saying is scrap free buy in, scrap the total pot and make every hand a buck to play. That's really easy to to take care of and people will play a bit more um cautiously than usual. The beauty of it is that if you lose your chips early you still have money and if you are one of the last players you can increase the side pot if you want but either way, if you win enough games you'll have more money than when you started.
Simple and easy.
Look at it this way if you bring $20 that puts you in 20 hands for sure, if we have 5 players that means the pot per hand is $5. I dunno about you but if I exhaust my chip stack in 10 games but won one or two I'm not doing too bad. Players with $$$ stay in during the mid-game and as they get kicked out only the last couple will remain. This way I think also rewards skill and not luck because to come out with more than you walked in with requires that you win more games, heck you might even lose the last couple of games to bad luck but if the side bets don't get out of control you still walk out with $$$.
I'd be down for either Friday or Saturday.
I like your structure ideas. Might I suggest a bounty system? Each player puts up a $5 bounty. When said player is knocked out they have to endure the humiliation of handing over their 5 bucks to their executioner. If you had rebuys, this would only go into play after the rebuy period was over.
Quote from: HandsomeDevil on January 24, 2007, 09:59:36 AM
I'd be down for either Friday or Saturday.
I like your structure ideas. Might I suggest a bounty system? Each player puts up a $5 bounty. When said player is knocked out they have to endure the humiliation of handing over their 5 bucks to their executioner. If you had rebuys, this would only go into play after the rebuy period was over.
That's a hell of an idea!
FYI:
On poker nights, we have everyone throw a toonie in a cup and then randomly put a bounty on ONE players head. Whoever takes out that player gets the toonies.
Thx for all the suggestions, folks.
Maybe I'm being too ambitious by including rebuys and add-ons to the mix, since we're lucky to get more than 5 folks all free on the same night.
So my plan is this:
$20.00 buyin per person, with only a single half-price rebuy for half the starting chips possible, which is no longer available once the "3rd place" finisher busts out and decides to not rebuy (i.e. once it's headsup, neither of the Final Two can rebuy.) $10.00 of the total pool will be put aside for the "high hand bonus prize", and...
Quote from: Bixby on January 25, 2007, 10:43:16 AM
FYI:
On poker nights, we have everyone throw a toonie in a cup and then randomly put a bounty on ONE players head. Whoever takes out that player gets the toonies.
...there will be a double bounty -- $10.00 each on 2 players* -- who will be selected via high-card random drawing BEFORE the game begins.
1st and 2nd place get 70% and 30% of that remaining pool (so it's not entirely down to luck in the end).
How does that sound? Simpler, yet different enough? If so, post here on a scale of 1 to 10 your chance of joining us.
Thanks!
- - -
* for those who need some example numbers:
Say 6 participate, total of $120.00 in the pool. If no rebuys, that means $10.00 for the high hand prize and $20.00 for the 2 bounties, leaves $90.00 in the pool minus ?$? for pizza and pop.
All these bounty and special rules make my head hurt.
What happened to, show up with $20, everyone eats pizza, and the winner walks away with a smile?
*Tangent Alert*
Playing Hold'em tonight in a $20 Freeze Out with 72 players. Wish me luck, I need some spare cash so I can drive to Edmonton in April :)
Our Regular series game is tomorrw night, with any luck I can score big in both events then fly to Edmonton instead of driving. :D
*End of Tangent*
If we can reschedule D&D for the 2nd, I can probably make it, and my girlfriend said she'd like to try a game. I don't mind the bounty thing. In place of the high hand bonus prize, may I suggest that the 2nd place finisher either get $10 or their money back? This would reward skill rather then luck.
Quote from: Bixby on January 25, 2007, 03:30:09 PM
*Tangent Alert*
Playing Hold'em tonight in a $20 Freeze Out with 72 players. Wish me luck, I need some spare cash so I can drive to Edmonton in April :)
Our Regular series game is tomorrw night, with any luck I can score big in both events then fly to Edmonton instead of driving. :D
*End of Tangent*
$1440 total prize pool, I'm guessing (http://www.titanpoker.com/tournaments.html#multi) that means first place gets maybe $400-600 and the next couple spots get around $100-200? Hope all the fish are at your starting table, but remember in those first few hands to fold those Cowboys or Ladies when your preflop raise is quickly re-raised all-in by that typical early-stage maniac donkey with the A4o who ALWAYS rivers his Ace! ;) <-- seen this happen *many* a time, sadly. ::)
PS:
Quote from: Ustauk on January 25, 2007, 03:42:41 PM
If we can reschedule D&D for the 2nd, I can probably make it, and my girlfriend said she'd like to try a game. I don't mind the bounty thing. In place of the high hand bonus prize, may I suggest that the 2nd place finisher either get $10 or their money back? This would reward skill rather then luck.
I changed it above, I like the bounty idea (might get "personal" vendetta-like, who knows...) but also I agree 2nd place deserves "something". Now it's 30% vs. 70% for the winner.
I came in 13th and Kathy came in 12th. Just shy of the coin *sigh*
(Guess I am DRIVING to Edmonton).
Hey, well that's still pretty good -- most larger tourneys will at least pay out your entry fee for the top 20%, which out of 72 is 14th.
I pretty sure I can make it. I like your original payout structure, though.
I'm afraid I can't make it. Sorry.
Thanks for letting me know, dude... next time perhaps.
So what's the official count, who can I expect?
-Me
-My brother
-Handsome Devil
-Lazy? Mr. A? Anyone? Bueller? ???
Quote from: Darren Dirt on January 31, 2007, 02:21:53 PM
Thanks for letting me know, dude... next time perhaps.
So what's the official count, who can I expect?
-Me
-My brother
-Handsome Devil
-Lazy? Mr. A? Anyone? Bueller? ???
For the same reason as Ustauk I can't make it.. It is a DnD night.
If nobody else is able to make it, guess that means I'm cancelling.
Will this always be the case if I make it on a Saturday night? Cuz like I said, Fridays don't look too promising. :(
Quote from: Darren Dirt on January 31, 2007, 04:07:32 PM
If nobody else is able to make it, guess that means I'm cancelling.
Will this always be the case if I make it on a Saturday night? Cuz like I said, Fridays don't look too promising. :(
Every OTHER Saturday night, unless DnD was rescheduled do to some other event.
Ustaulk point out the fact it conflicted with DnD as the VERY first response to this thread..
Thanks, Lazy, I know that but there was also rumour of it being rescheduled. My own Saturday nights seem to be alternating with/without the kids -- seems like Murphy's Law that my "free" weekend is the same alternating one as your guys' DnD night. :(
Actually, I hate to flip flop, but I just talked to Mr. A and it looks like D&D will be delayed. So I can make it now. This may free up other D&D members, though likely not Thorin, who is sick, or Mr. A, who is insanely busy with various sundry things right now.
LOL yeah thx Ustauk for phoning me, so For The Record...
Poker is not yet "cancelled" -- I thought only 3 could make it (including myself) so that was kinda not enough. If Ustauk is able, then I guess that's enough to have it still proceed.
Starting @ 7pm, running until ??? -- I just recently bought the 4th season of "Aqua Teen Hunger Force" (plus I have lotsa other DVDs) for anyone who busts out early; somehow I think the surrealism/dadaism of ATHF is kinda appropriate loser-rewards for our crowd...
Quote from: Darren Dirt on January 31, 2007, 04:28:19 PM
LOL yeah thx Ustauk for phoning me, so For The Record...
Poker is not yet "cancelled" -- I thought only 3 could make it (including myself) so that was kinda not enough. If Ustauk is able, then I guess that's enough to have it still proceed.
Starting @ 7pm, running until ??? -- I just recently bought the 4th season of "Aqua Teen Hunger Force" (plus I have lotsa other DVDs) for anyone who busts out early; somehow I think the surrealism/dadaism of ATHF is kinda appropriate loser-rewards for our crowd...
DAMN DAMN DAMN! Life is far too complex lately :(
Quote from: Darren Dirt on January 31, 2007, 04:28:19 PM
LOL yeah thx Ustauk for phoning me, so For The Record...
Poker is not yet "cancelled" -- I thought only 3 could make it (including myself) so that was kinda not enough. If Ustauk is able, then I guess that's enough to have it still proceed.
Starting @ 7pm, running until ??? -- I just recently bought the 4th season of "Aqua Teen Hunger Force" (plus I have lotsa other DVDs) for anyone who busts out early; somehow I think the surrealism/dadaism of ATHF is kinda appropriate loser-rewards for our crowd...
Awesome. The degenerate in me claps with glee. Ustauk, do you need a ride? I need a navigator.
Quote from: HandsomeDevil on February 01, 2007, 09:50:07 AM
Quote from: Darren Dirt on January 31, 2007, 04:28:19 PM
LOL yeah thx Ustauk for phoning me, so For The Record...
Poker is not yet "cancelled" -- I thought only 3 could make it (including myself) so that was kinda not enough. If Ustauk is able, then I guess that's enough to have it still proceed.
Starting @ 7pm, running until ??? -- I just recently bought the 4th season of "Aqua Teen Hunger Force" (plus I have lotsa other DVDs) for anyone who busts out early; somehow I think the surrealism/dadaism of ATHF is kinda appropriate loser-rewards for our crowd...
Awesome. The degenerate in me claps with glee. Ustauk, do you need a ride? I need a navigator.
My cars fixed, so I can give you a ride, if you don't mind the back seat, since the front is reserved for my girlfriend. My girlfriend says she'd like to give it a try, buy the way. Darren, could you repost what we need to bring in the way of cash? Thanks.
Quote from: Ustauk on February 01, 2007, 10:30:40 AM
My cars fixed, so I can give you a ride, if you don't mind the back seat, since the front is reserved for my girlfriend. My girlfriend says she'd like to give it a try, buy the way. Darren, could you repost what we need to bring in the way of cash? Thanks.
As soon as I get a "final tally" of who is definitely gonna make it. But most likely $30 each, however the payouts or whatever ends up being... It'll be a 1st/2nd place payout, the rest (bounties, bonuses, both or neither...) I guess we can "vote" on Saturday night (even though "my ship is not a gorram democracy! (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0303461/quotes)" ;) )
That's cool, Ustauk, I'll bring my own ride. That's wicked your ol' lady is coming. Five people makes a tournament style game feasible. I guess if we were 4 handed we could do a low-limit cash game though (static blinds, cash out whenever you like for whatever is in front of you).
Dirt, I'm guessing you're good for chips, cards, etc... Need us to bring anything else (beer? food? broads?)?
I am leaning towards agreement re. your view on 4 players being more fun with a ring game/cash game, unchanging blinds (probably SB/BB of 0.10/0.20 thus $20.00 is 100 big blinds, meaning it'll still take a dozen or more big pot losses to bust out), with standard Limit Hold'em rules i.e. 4-bet cap every round except unlimited when headsup at the river).
If 5 or more do show up, we can still do that or else we can go the mini-tourney route. I'm fine either way.
Bring beverages of your preference, I'll be providing a 2L of Coke and one of Mountain Dew (caffeine free, damn tasty stuff). I've also got a 200g bag each of pretzels, chips, and nacho cheese Doritos. That and pizza will prolly be enough but again if you have other fave munchies feel free to bring 'em.
Also, PM me anyone if you don't have my address. See you at 7!
...the story so far...
$20.00 buyin from each of us, separate from the cost for pizza, and the game was afoot. After a few episodes of Aqua Teen Hunger Force just to lighten things up. :D
And then the game was afoot. A lot of folding from Handsome Devil, and a bit less folding from Darren Dirt, as we eyed each other and talked poker pros and tournament experiences. The new folks to limit hold'em saw a lot of flops, and just about as many turns and rivers. The night looked promising for some of us, but as I said later I had to turn "hustler" mode on. ;) (or so I thought...)
Ustauk surprised us all by bringing in his Secret Weapon, his gal whose birthday is like tomorrow. Congrats to her, she's now rich thanks mainly to me -- she busted me out at 3am. We had decided to play a few more hands and raised the blinds to .50/1.00 from the .10/.20 that they were all night, when Handsome Devil left at 2:45am with his 26.50 (net gain of $6.50, or 32.5% profit, yum!)
I'm an idiot, what was I thinking. Shoulda just called it a night. ::)
I got bullied by her bluff river bet into folding a winning K9, only to stir up the courage to call her when she had made 2-pair with her pocket AK (this was 3-handed, nice cards!) That was it for me. Busted. Helped her cash out to the amount of $44.00. Not bad for someone playing her very first game of Hold'em!
My brother ("Dragon" on the forum, not that he ever logs in) was smart enough to sit out before my courageous defeat, with only a $10.00 loss. Glad he could make it, too bad his monster hands didn't pick up monster pots most of the time.
And Ustauk? He pretty much broken even -- seriously, he cashed out with $20.50. It's like he was Seinfeld in that episode where George kept having all the good luck and Elaine had all the bad luck, and Jerry just had it all balance out.
Next time we decide to keep playing at 2:45 am, we'll just double the blinds, not go nuts like we did. Or maybe I'm just guilty of sour grapes :)
But great fun all around, thanks you guys for being great guests, and thanks especially for the last few hours there when my $1.50 stack got back to $14.00 due to your calling down my bets to the river so often ^_^. I shoulda quit while I was almost ahead. ;)
I plan on hosting again 3 weeks from now -- limit cash game if 5 or less players, otherwise a mini-tourney with 1st/2nd 80%/20% and a bounty or best hand prize or both. Either way, it'll probably end closer to 1am (not 3!) and I hope to see more of you there (I presume that will be a non-DnD Saturday).
Merry Sunday to all and to all a good night.
Dirt.
Thanks for hosting Darren, it was a great game. My girlfriend and I had a lot of fun. We're headed later today to a birthday party for a friend of hers; her birthday isn't until July. I look forward to playing again.