[shadesofgrey]

Originally Posted by agalvan

Would this work?

Let me set up a scenario:
You are hosting a $20 buy-in tournament and their are 27 players including yourself. You dished out about $200 on food and beverages plus you figure you are due some money for setting up and cleaning up (let's say $60). This works out to $10 per person.

Here's what you do:
Right before the tournament begins, you will join each table for a quick "cash game." Each player must buy in for $30 with blinds at $5/$10. Give everybody one $20 chip and two $5 chips (or however you want to do it). For the first hand you should be in the big blind. Everybody limps in for $10. Last to act, you go "all in" for another $20 and everybody folds "out of fear". After winning that hand, you decide to change tables. Do this at every table until everybody has "lost" $10 to you. Now they can use their $20 chip to buy into the main tournament.

Keep it between friends only:
All your close friends will know how it is all supposed to work so there will be no problem there. Any "friends of friends" that show up will probably be asking questions, but you just have to tell them it is a cash game. There is a chance they will play and win the money, but they might play and fold along with everybody else. Or you can make the "cash game" optional. As long as there is no mention to any "friends of friends" that they are "supposed" to fold, I don't see how they can prove there was a "rake".

Nice! that made me laugh

No officer - they all folded to me... No house rake here Just a bunch of people who dont understand the value of their starting hand....

Now you just need about 20 people who are willing to play this game off of Craigs list.. j/k