Blind Structure Feedback

[mrmookid]

I host a weekly NL tourney at my house and am still trying to get the perfect blind structure. We start at 8 PM (weekday night) and don't want the games to longer than 3 or 3.5 hours. Usually have between 10-14 players.

With our current blind schedule, I always feel like the blinds get way too hard and fast after level 4 (90 min into the tourney). Schedule is 10/20 - 15/30 - 25/50 - 50/100 - 100/200 - 200/400 - 300/600 - 400/800 - 500/1000. The first 4 rounds are 25 min, rest are 20 min. Each player starts with 1000 in chips.

It really gets crazy around the 100/200. No matter how good you are, if you haven't built up a decent stack you are toast.

I'm considering adding a 75/150 level in between the 100/200 and 200/400 level. Then reducing the first 4 rounds from 25 to 20 min. I am wondering if anything thinks this will allow the better players some survival time. Any other comments you might have are appreciated.

The reason I am thinking about adjusting the schedule is because I feel with our current structure there is just too much luck involved. But maybe that's just poker [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

I have used the schedule(s) suggested at Home Poker Tourney but I've found that the games last over 4 hours which is too late for a work-night.

Thank you and have a good day.

[Fins]

Why not try leaving it as it and start with T1500? What level does you tourney usually end? I think you mean to insert the 75/150 level b/n 50/100 & 100/200. By 100/200 it should be "crazy" as the blinds are bcomming significant and the short stacks are going to start to feel pot committed.

- Fins

[mrmookid]

Thanks Fins. Yes, I did mean to place that round inbetween. Will edit the post now.

I don't have enough chips (at their current values) to give everyone T1500. I don't think we've EVER passed 500 / 1000. Usually the game breaks up around 200/400 or 300/600.

EDIT: Yikes, I cannot edit my original post, too much time has passed.

[TenPercenter]

In my opinion, you cannot get rid of the "craziness" at the mid-late blind level without also making the tourney longer. If you want 3-3.5 hours, it's a fast moving tourney no matter what you do.

Ten

[Fins]

[ QUOTE ]
I don't have enough chips (at their current values) to give everyone T1500.

[/ QUOTE ]
What type of chips, how many do you have of each and what's your starting chip setup? Just curious mainly. Do you do any color ups? If they're non-denoms (even if they're not) when you color up you can reuse the chips for higher denoms. Going to T1500 would only be 1 xtra chip (i.e. T500)... not that you didn't know that but if you have enough for 10-14 players I figured you'd have just a few xtra.... Ten's got a point about the structure & craziness being the nature of the beast.

- Fins

[Hardmix]

You might want to consider not changing the blinds in the 5 level and introducing a escalating annie starting at $25 or $50. This will soften the the action a little in middle rounds, while promoting more creative play...stealing blinds + annies...more importantly its puts alot of pressure on players in later rounds!