Am I missing anything?

[Irons]

I've been lurking, reading and soaking up info from the forums for quite some time. Now, I am going to run my first tourney next week. I'm really kinda starting from scratch here, especially amongst the players list.

Soo...I have a table I built, bunch of "casino" type chips (those suited slug chips), Copags, snacks, pop, music from the playlist (Thanks TenPercenter), cooler etc. I read the heck out of homepokertourney and am using the blinds and notice from his site. I've also printed out the rules and hand rankings to be posted. I'm running Dr. Neau's Tournament Manager (long learning curve, but wow the features). I have about 16 invites probably 11 of which are definite. A friend is bringing his table for the extra guys and chips for a cash game at the end.

So, what am I missing or not thinking of or missing? Thanks for the help in getting me this far.

[Slow Play Ray]

booze.

[mrmookid]

Be flexible. Lots will go wrong the first time! /images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Make sure you understand how to combine the tables. You don't want to go making stuff up on the fly.

I'd use 2 decks per table. In our games the person to the right of the dealer shuffles the last played deck. Some games have the small blind do it. Either way it makes the games go much faster.

Make sure you run the poker clock software through a test run - you want the sounds to go off and the levels to be correct.

Use random seating either from the software or with cards.

Know what happens when a 'blind' gets knocked out.

With that many people, CHECK OFF those who have paid on a list. /images/graemlins/wink.gif

Meditate before. First time will probably be hectic. Good luck!

[jtr]

By god you sound well prepared. Remind me never to go camping with you, but I am sure it will be a great tournament. /images/graemlins/wink.gif

[theRealMacoy]

looks like a great time!
have fun

cheers,
the Real Macoy

[Irons]

Thanks for the tips guys. I've been reading/hearing that I should use 2 decks per table, I'll give it a shot.

Yea, I'm normally not this prepared by a mile. I guess that's why I keep looking for something I'm missing. Just learn from my mistakes and have a helluva good time.

[Spooky]

Reccomendations:

- Have the chips pre-bagged and include a table/seat card of some kind in each (Paper folded up is probably best). When people pay you hand them a random bag of chips.

- Have a fridge or cooler full of ice for people's drinks (You are having them bring their own right?)

- Give yourself some slack, don't try to do everything yourself
- - Put someone else in charge of the clock
- - IF you trust them, put someone else in charge of the money/chips
- - Save the best seat for yourself. You will probably have to settle some issues, and you don't want to have to wiggle past other people when you do.

- If this is going to be a regular thing, I strongly recommend that you kick off things exactly when you say you will. Have house rules in place to cover late arrivals and no-shows, and be firm on them. This first one will set the tone for all the others and this is one of the most common gripes from new directors.

- Go over your house rules before the first card is dealt. Have them posted too.

[drdre2001mm]

Don't forget to have fun.

[EStreet20]

You've got it all covered pokerwise my friend. Remember to spread the BYOB word and I'd stick a garbage can or two around like it's a frat house for all the empties. Good luck and remember to bring your A-game despite all the pain in the ass hosting responsibilities.
Good luck,
Matt

[Ace_W_Ace]

Get some cut cards. At least one for each deck. Some of our players are terrible dealers and tend to show the bottom card. We tried using one of the jokers, but it would always get shuffled into the deck. Nothing like being on the button with pocket jokers. /images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Slow Play Ray]

I played in a POORLY run bar tournament one time, and my 1st hole cards were 5-Joker. I should have known it wasn't going to get any better from there.

[Art Vandelay]

I played in a home game once where about the 5th hand the flop came rag-rag-rankings of poker hands. Pretty comical.

[Fins]

You look all set but might want to make sure you know what happens with:
• Raising rules
• Color ups
• Moving players
• Blinds busting out (i.e. Dead button rule)
• Side pots
• Rules for showdown (i.e. who shows first or has to show)
• Misdeals

- Fins

Just thought I'd add this article on hosting (http://www.cheeseypoker.co.uk/static/articles/ArticleNo9.aspx).

[Irons]

Nice link Fins, thanks.

I'm beginning to think it'll come off relatively OK.

I'm going to have to set up some practice runs for side pots and do some re-reading of posts. That, and beat into their heads that dropping their chips into the pot like TeddyKGB might look cool, but it's not how it's going to happen in my place.

lol yea, I'll make sure all the "extra" cards are out of the deck, and all 52 are accounted for before the first deal.

As Spooky said, I think I'm going to have to set a precidence now, for a smooth run down the road.

[TN_POKER_MAN]

chairs

Oddly enough, i played in a home game where we had to pull the couch up to the table.

cut cards...definitely.
2 decks per table.
Dealer button.

Sharpie & post-it notes. I just scratch out chip values and post them in plain view. Our chips aren't denominated and for the first half hour, everybody keeps asking: "how much are the red chips worth?"

[Irons]

LOL @ couch, yea I just took care of the chair situation (short of making it BYOChair) yesterday.

Not sure where I can get some cut cards though quickly.

Also going to have to brush up on some of the rules etc (betting, side pots, blinds busting out) especially if I'm going to be the final say.

[Spooky]

The best quick solution to a quick cut card that I have found is to glue the backs of the extra cards (joker,rank,maker, whatever) together.

It'll work in a pinch.