[bigwilly]

A local charity runs an all day festival. They want to add poker but not a huge all day tournament but several small events throughout the day. I suggested running single table tournaments all day. The idea is to finish up each table in about an hour. So, let me know what you think of this blind progression.

(I got the idea from playing in a casino in FL. Everyone started with 1500 in chips, blinds 25/50 to start, doubled every 15 min. Never saw a game last more than 50 minutes.)

Start with $1000. Blinds at 25/50 to start. Double each round (go by rounds so people won't ***** too much about the play)until winner. No assigned dealer. Deal would rotate as normal. One tournament director could oversee 4 tables or so at a time.

Tell me what you think. Thanks.

[Harlequin011]

Seems good,

But you should really see if you can get a some volunteers that you trust.

[jbones]

Starting with 20x BB? Might as well have a charity coinflip tournament?

[Wedge Rock]

Originally Posted by bigwilly

The idea is to finish up each table in about an hour. So, let me know what you think of this blind progression.

For a one hour tourney, I would suggest the following:

Starting chipstack: T2000
First Blind Level

• SB: 0
• BB: 0
• Ante: 2000

You should be done in under an hour.

In case you can't cut through the sarcasm, my point is that a one-hour tournament will be a luck-fest and not poker... You should allow 2-3 hours for a decent STT, at a minimum.

Also, passing the deal is acceptable among friends, not strangers. Get some volunteers to deal...

[bigwilly]

I agree there is a ton of luck invovled but when I played at the Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood FL you had to wait about 3 hrs just to get in one these single table tournaments. Seemed like everyone loved them and like I said before none of them made it an hour long.

The problem is I will probably be the only one there that even has a clue whats going on. I just thought this would be the best way to get several people playing.

[Wedge Rock]

Originally Posted by bigwilly

I agree there is a ton of luck invovled but when I played at the Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood FL you had to wait about 3 hrs just to get in one these single table tournaments.

Sounds like your solution should be more tables, not a scaled-back blind schedule...

You can teach dealers in 15 minutes... And then have a pit boss oversee four tables... after a few hands, the dealers will get it... inviting them to pass the deal is inviting cheaters IMHO (cynical, I know).

[bigwilly]

Keep in mind the poker is not the main attraction, its just one of several things for people to do at this festival. Buy-in is probably going to be around $20.

If I could find a few people knowledgable enough to deal a game I would ditch the SnG idea and just run cash games. Its not that I can't find someone I trust - I can't find enough people I trust AND can deal the game.

I have been to a few charity events where they "Trained" the volunteers to deal. That gets ugly in hurry. Players police themselves pretty well when compared to "training" a dealer the night before.

[bigwilly]

I see what everyone is saying. I guess I need to rethink the whole thing. Thanks for the responses.

[BCR_9er]

Originally Posted by bigwilly

Everyone started with 1500 in chips, blinds 25/50 to start, doubled every 15 min.

1500 with 25-50 blinds is not a big enough starting stack. Raising the blinds every 15 minutes is quite fast. And doubling the blinds every round is just too big of a jump.

10 players x 1500 = 15,000 x 4% = 600 (BB will be about 600 at the end)

Blinds go (20 minutes)
10-20
15-30
20-40
30-60
50-100
75-150
100-200
150-300
200-400
300-600

10 blind levels which is about 3 hours and 20 minutes.

If this is too long, I would recommend a cash game.

[Big Mike]

How many player were you thinking of making each table?
If only 8 then I think 15 minute blinds are fast but ok acceptable. We play with 15 minute blinds all the time at our game, though we usually have only 5-6 players.
I agree that 1500 in chips isn't probably enough, i'd go 2500.

blinds
25/50
50/100
100/200
200/400
300/600
400/800
500/1000 tournament's probably over by now or very soon.

Some will be over in an hour, some won't. Sure it's not really geared for skillful poker, but it's fun and raises some extra $ for the charity.
I agree that if you do this then you need to have dedicated dealers.
btw, I hope you're using Faux Clays for this event.

Mike