Home Tournament Blind Structure

[Marcotte]

I'm sure this has been posted before, but I can't find anything using the search function.

I need to come up with a blind structure for a home tournament. We want the game to last probably 1.5 to 2.5 hours and will have 6-10 players. Can anyone give a link to a page (or thread) that discusses this issue?

My first thought was to copy the structure from PokerRoom, but with slightly less chips (T1000 vs. T1500). Do you think it makes a difference if you raise the blinds based on time or number of hands? If you go by time, should the rounds get shorter toward the end? This was one of my initial ideas

1-2 20 min
2-4 20 min
3-6 20 min
5-10 15 min
10-20 15 min
15-30 15 min
25-50 15 min
40-80 15 min
50-100 15 min
75-150 15 min

Starting stacks of of $100-$150.

One of my concerns is buying up the $1 chips after level 3. Most of the players don't regularly play - I think I am the only one who knows what a chip race-off is. Is one strictly necessary?

Any comments are appreciated.

[utmt40]

First off if your playing with blinds that low your game will last forever. Unless your all loose players but even then 75/150 blinds for two people that have around 5000 or so chips a piece will just be an all-in fest. We play home game and start with 2000 in chips blinds at 10-20 20-40 25-50 50-100 75-150 then 150-300 then 200-400 something like this maybe like 15-20 min to get the game you are looking for and I would say use 2000 chips or maybe 1500 if your used to that. Hope this helps.

[Marcotte]

The structure I outlined was the PR structure, but divided by ten (more or less). With starting stacks of T150 and 10 players, there will only be T1500 in play (not T15,000). But your structure sounds good; how many different chip denominations do you use? Do you buy up the 10s after round 2?

One of the things I was struggling with last night is whether to start at 1-2 with a T100 stack, or 10-20 with a T1000 stack. The larger denomination allows more gradual increase in blinds (e.g. 20-40 to 25-50 vs 2-4 to 3-6). What are the other advantages/disadvantages to using a higher denomination starting stack/blinds?

[Phil Van Sexton]

Try the Home Poker forum.

You'll probably get flamed because they get this question constantly, so I'll help you. Go here: http://www.homepokertourney.com/

[Paul2432]

I agree with the other poster. If you really want the tournament to last 1.5 to 2.5 hours I would drop the first three rounds and start at 5/10. Cap the blinds at 200/400 or maybe 300/600.

I would definitely use time instead of number of hands to increase the blinds. Counting hands does not work well in a home game.

Finally, make sure you have clear rules on the movement of the button in the event a player in one of the binds busts.

Also try posting in the home game forum.

Paul

[Marcotte]

Ahh. Thanks Phil. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]
Didn't realize there was that forum. Is it new? I haven't been around here for several months. [img]/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]

[Cleveland Guy]

[ QUOTE ]
I'm sure this has been posted before, but I can't find anything using the search function.

I need to come up with a blind structure for a home tournament. We want the game to last probably 1.5 to 2.5 hours and will have 6-10 players. Can anyone give a link to a page (or thread) that discusses this issue?

My first thought was to copy the structure from PokerRoom, but with slightly less chips (T1000 vs. T1500). Do you think it makes a difference if you raise the blinds based on time or number of hands? If you go by time, should the rounds get shorter toward the end? This was one of my initial ideas

1-2 20 min
2-4 20 min
3-6 20 min
5-10 15 min
10-20 15 min
15-30 15 min
25-50 15 min
40-80 15 min
50-100 15 min
75-150 15 min

Starting stacks of of $100-$150.

One of my concerns is buying up the $1 chips after level 3. Most of the players don't regularly play - I think I am the only one who knows what a chip race-off is. Is one strictly necessary?

Any comments are appreciated.

[/ QUOTE ]

We do this - starting with T1000

5-10
10-20
25-50
50-100
75-150
100-200
150-300
200-400
300-600
500-1000

We rarely get to the 500-1000, but it helps end the game at about 2 1/2 hours (usually the last 2 just split).

People color up when they get a big stack of small chips, it's pretty informal, so you just have the guys next to you, or one eliminated color you up while play continues.

That also keeps the game moving.

If someone moves in for 435 on blinds of 75-150 - we just deal with it.