[Big Mike]

In a couple weeks I will be helping to run a tournament for a friend who is getting married, to raise some money. It will be shotgun style (multiple tables but a winner or two advancing from each to play at a final table). The guy who is organizing it wants it to maybe have rebuys available.
Also, some people have said they'd like to come but might not be able to make it until a bit later. I figure because of the format having one table start late wouldn't be a problem.
Lets say we have ~4.5 hours for this event. First tables play should take maybe 2.5 -3hrs. Final table the last 1.5 hrs. At final table all players will restart w same amount of chips.
Questions:

1) What would you recommend as a blind stucture for both sections, given time constraints?

2) How about that late start table? Should it start at a higher blind level to make it closer to equal with the others?

3) How long should I allow rebuys, and again, what about rebuys for that late start table?

Smallest tourney chip I have is T25. I have enough chips for any structure. Probable # of players is 30-40.

Thanks in advance for your advice!

[BigKyle]

Run 5 or 6 tables of six players each. If you start with 27, run four tables of six and when three more people show up, start the next table of six. You will finish with six or seven winners. I would try to limit the rebuys to one or two, as unlimited may get a bit out of hand. I would use a setup like this:

12xT25
7xT100
1xT500

That's 1500 starting chips. Give out 3xT500 for rebuys. Blind structure (15 minute levels):

25-50
50-100
100-200
150-300
200-400
300-600
400-800
600-1200
800-1600
1000-2000
1500-3000
2000-4000

[reotexas]

Why don't you do this instead of rebuys--

Have tables start 15-20 minutes apart. First table starts at 6pm, second at 6:15, etc.

That way anyone who busts out can rebuy into the next table starting. It also allows people to come within a time span. You may want to have multiple tables start out initially and then start others later too.

Just a thought.

If you did something like this I would have semi-aggressive blinds though. You don't want any one table holding everyone up going into the final table.

[BCR_9er]

Originally Posted by Big Mike

2) How about that late start table? Should it start at a higher blind level to make it closer to equal with the others?

IMO, The late table should have the same circumstances for everything.

[Captn_All_In]

Well, with the shoot out format the final table should either be:
A) 1 winner who has all the chips from that table. Final table starting stack is equal to all the chips in play from the first table with an appropriate blind level to start with (i.e 1st table is T1000 w/5-10 blinds, final table is T9000 with 50/100 or 25/50 blinds)

OR

B) 1 winner from each table and the final table is the same exact starting stack and blind structure. (You could also have 2 finalists and they both start with same amount of chips at the final table)

My 2 bits...

[Big Mike]

Originally Posted by Captn_All_In

B) 1 winner from each table and the final table is the same exact starting stack and blind structure. (You could also have 2 finalists and they both start with same amount of chips at the final table)

My 2 bits...

I plan to go with B, there is some chance we will be having two winners from each table, if attendance is low.
This thread got sort of resurrected, which is nice because the event is this Thursday. Also, I didn't mention in the OP that it's set up so that 100% of buy-in money will be going to the groom-to-be. The guy who set the whole thing up has connections at a radio station, he was able to raid their prizes for this tourney. Here's what's for first and second:

PRIZES SO FAR:

So far we have for first place...
Leafs tickets (Dec. 10th)
A Hammer drill with bits
A Sling box
A Poker chip set
A Ontario Brewers gift pack
A Chris Bosh - Raptors Lunch pail
A Fishing rod
A FAN 590 BBQ utensils set and BBQ Apron
FAN 590 golf shoe bag
An OSKAR retractable snow brush
An OSKAR multipurpose snow shovel
A Stanley FAT MAX Level and Flash light on tripod
A Leafs toque
A Steelback cooler bag and swag
ESTIMATED VALUE: $800

So far Second place gets...
A FAT MAX flashlight
Poker chip set
Chris Bosh/Raptors lunch pail

THIS JUST IN...
Jays jersey
Binochulars
Multi-tool

Not too bad, would be better for me if I were a Leafs fan.....

[Captn_All_In]

Glad to hear about the prizes... you know what might be kindof cool...take one of the small prizes from first place and give it to the first person knocked out of the tourney!

Some other ideas....losers bracket shoot out, when a player busts out they get a chip (or marker of somekind), when the finalists have been determined for the final table all the losers get together and you make a bracket, for each pairing they shuffle and cut a deck and deal out 1 complete hand of holdem (basically an all-in). Winner gets both chips (or what not) and procedes to the next round, keep going until there is just one left, then the winner of the "Losers Bracket" gets a seat at the final table. Just something to make it interesting!

[cdnmoose]

If it is a shoot-out, everyone at final table should get a prize.

[Big Mike]

Originally Posted by cdnmoose

If it is a shoot-out, everyone at final table should get a prize.

I kind of think that too, but I'm not in charge of prizes, I'm in charge of chips.

[Big Mike]

Tourney ended up going real well, though at the last minute we decided to do a regular multitable instead of the shootout (lo # of players). Top four "paid" out of 16 entrants. It was still rebuy, we went with up to 3 for the first hour. With a LOT of bad/inexperienced players who were generally game to rebuy at least once, the groom did quite well I believe. Also, he won the whole thing! (after busting out first and making only that one "rebuy") All the prizes were donated so he basically gave all of the first place prizes away, and is taking the second place finisher to the Leafs game with him. I finished fifth, which would have been the bubble.

Thanks to all for your help on this topic.