[tripod22]

This is what I'm thinking of using for a blinds structure. Two tables of eight with starting stacks of $2800 ($44800 in play). No rebuys.

20-minute Levels
5-10
10-20
15-30
Break/Color-up of $5 chips

30-minute Levels
25-50
50-100
Break/Color-up of $25 chips

100-200
200-400
Break

300-600
500-1000
800-1600
Break if still playing

1500-3000

I'm guessing this will result in a 4-5 hour game if I use 20-minute breaks. Does this seem like an okay progression? Do you suggest any adjustments?

[hachkc]

Starting stack seems pretty generous (280BB) to start with considering you blind structure. Your blinds do seem to get more aggressive later on but I'd guess at minimum this tournament would take 4-5 hours, very possibly longer depending on player types (tights vs maniacs). Your going 2hrs and 40 minutes (5 rounds with 2 breaks) and your BB is only 1/14 of the starting stack.

My gut would be to skip the 5/10 level and go right to 10/20 or switch the starting round times from 20 to 30 minutes and ending round times from 30 to 20 minutes. Usually rounds get shorter as the tournament progresses because there are less people so folks are still seeing roughly the same number of hands in less time.

Here is some more info on estimating tourney length from HPT http://www.homepokertourney.com/blinds.htm. Method 3 says the tourney should end when your BB is between 2240 - 4480 which easily pushes you into 6hrs in your current setup.

[Dwight87]

Tripod, didn't you get the poker genie? Just put the chip info, # of players and tourney time and let it run your blinds!

[tripod22]

Originally Posted by hachkc

Starting stack seems pretty generous (280BB) to start with considering you blind structure. Your blinds do seem to get more aggressive later on but I'd guess at minimum this tournament would take 4-5 hours, very possibly longer depending on player types (tights vs maniacs).

I know, I'm a sucker for getting as many chips on the table as possible. I also want to have the blinds small for the first rounds since many of my players are new/nervous about playing, and I want to be sure it's fun for them this first time. This also makes it hard to know if they'll be tight or maniacs.

Originally Posted by hachkc

My gut would be to skip the 5/10 level and go right to 10/20 or switch the starting round times from 20 to 30 minutes and ending round times from 30 to 20 minutes. Usually rounds get shorter as the tournament progresses because there are less people so folks are still seeing roughly the same number of hands in less time.

I'll defeinitely switch the 20 and 30-minute structure, thanks.

Originally Posted by hachkc

Here is some more info on estimating tourney length from HPT http://www.homepokertourney.com/blinds.htm. Method 3 says the tourney should end when your BB is between 2240 - 4480 which easily pushes you into 6hrs in your current setup.

I actually used method 2 since it was recommended for 1-2 table tournaments. Based on that my final combined blinds equal 10% of the chips in play. I'm not sure of the time estimate until I post the new 20 & 30 minute levels though.

Thanks again for the comments!

[tripod22]

Originally Posted by Dwight87

Tripod, didn't you get the poker genie? Just put the chip info, # of players and tourney time and let it run your blinds!

I did, but apparently I am so much of a control freak that it didn't even occur to me to use it in any mode other than custom set-up! I think what I'll do is try to tweak this into the best structure I can, and then compare it to what the Poker Genie generates when I get home tonight.

[tripod22]

Thanks again for the suggestions. How about this? With 20-minute breaks, it looks like it will take about 5 hours to reach the final level where the blinds equal 10% of the chips in play. Also made a minor change of the 15-30 level to 20-40.

Still two tables of eight with starting stacks of $2800 ($44800 in play).

No rebuys.

30-minute Levels
5-10
10-20
20-40
Break/Color-up of $5 chips
25-50

20-minute Levels
50-100
100-200
200-400
Break/Color-up of $25 chips

300-600
500-1000
800-1600
Break, if still playing

1500-3000

[ky70]

Per my calculations (and based on your structure in the above post and including 20 min. breaks), your tourney will end between 5 hours and 5 hours and 20 minutes. You would probably make it to your final blind level.

It has been my experience that you can generally expect your game to end when the big blind is *6% or more (apprx.) of your total chips in play.

level 10 big blind = 1600/ 44,800 in play = 3.6%
level 11 big blind = 3000/ 44,800 in play = 6.7%

You can use the above 6% measuring stick as a way to estimate when your tourney will end. So decide how long you want the game to go and then adjust your blinds accordingly. You should also consider shortening your breaks...especially after break #2 as there should be less players still in at that point. Good luck!

*This estimate does not account for lots of reckless play and/or many big hands bumping into each other...which would shorten things.

[Lumpy]

If you want to do away with the hassle of $5 chips and an additional color up, start with a 25/25 level and run it for an hour.

[seymour]

Originally Posted by ky70

It has been my experience that you can generally expect your game to end when the big blind is *6% or more (apprx.) of your total chips in play.

I've been thinking about stopping the blinds from increasing at a certain level, depending on the total number of chips in play. I couldn't figure out a decent percentage to go by, but I think that would make for a bit of a better game near the end, if the blinds aren't super high compared to everybody's stacks.

But 5-6%-ish does seem to be about where our games end... although it almost seems to be starting to get too high at times.