Home Game: Structure
Part two of the Building Your Home Game is about developing a good STRUCTURE. This is the area you need to really sit down and work out and periodically adjust as your game grows, so the more attention you give it from the start, the better your game will run. Structure is all about shaping your game into the format you want it in, and there are several options open to you.
CASH VS TOURNAMENT
The first decision to make is deciding on whether or not you want to run a simple CASH game or TOURNAMENT style game. Cash games are much easier to organize and manage (in my opinion) as all you really need to decide on are the limits being played for and the amount of total time you want to dedicate to the game. A simple $1/$2 No Limit can last a very very long time, and you have to be prepared to sit it out for the entire duration as the host, or at least make yourself available for any questions, concerns, and/or issues that may arise. I’ll get more into this in the next segment on Rules and Regulations. After you determine the limits and time frame, all thats left to do is set minimum and maximum buyins, and start playing…no increasing blinds, no timers required, and people can come and go as they please.
Tournaments on the other hand, take a bit more attention. You need to decide on the total buyin for the game, if its a rebuy (where players can buy in again and again after busting out), freezeout (where once a player busts, he’s out of the game), the specific game being played (NL, Limit, HeadsUp, HORSE, Omaha, Dealer’s Choice, etc), the estimated total time for the tournament, and most importantly, the blind structure. Once you decide on the game and amount of time allowed to play it, you have to set up a blind schedule that allows all players to have sufficient amount of chips and time for each blind level to give them as much PLAY as possible. If the blinds go up too slow and everyone is very deep stacked, your game last too long. On the other hand, if your blinds are too short, and the stacks are low, none of the players have enough time to really be able to play effectively and the game turns into a push and fold bingo, with luck being the overall factor. If possible, you want to eliminate the sense of going broke because the blinds are too fast as much as possible. Give your players enough time at each level to play their style of game, but also make it enough of a challenge for them that they have to make moves once in awhile to keep alive.
BLIND STRUCTURE
Creating a good blind structure can be difficult, but not so much so that it can’t be done. As a quick guideline, I recommend following this procedure:
- Divide the starting chip amount by 50 or 100. Make this your first big blind.
- Make your big blind equal to your starting chip amount at the time you want your tournament to finish. This is your anticipated final blind.
- Arrange the middle levels so that the blinds gradually increase from your first big blind to your anticipated final big blind. Keep the first 2 or 3 levels low to allow new players to learn without having to risk too much.
- Add a couple extra blinds levels to be on the safe side.
For example, if you want a starting chip stack of 1000 chips for each player, you want the starting blind level to be say 5/10. This allows each player to start off without experiencing any really urgency, and they can observe the game and the other players, and play their style without feeling pressured. The last blind level of the tournament should be equal to the original starting stack, so the last level would be 500/1000. By this time, the remaining players should all have medium to high chip stacks, yet not so high that they don’t start feeling the pressure when in a hand. Even with a chip stack of 10,000 chips, one hand at this level will cripple or bust a player, so they have to be on their best game in order to win. I actually like adding what I call the Widow Maker Round after this one, at 1000/2000 blinds. The reason being that if the game HAS to end by a certain time, at this level, it is almost guaranteed to be over very soon. If time isn’t a factor though, it isn’t necessary, so use your better judgment in planning the ending schedule.
The levels in between the first and last blind level need to be increased inclemently yet still allow all players enough time to earn chips, especially in the earlier rounds. Start slow, end high. This is the difficult part of planning a good blind structure, and it will need to be adjusted several times before you find one that works just right for your game. Be sure to ask your players how they felt about the blind structure, and if they have any recommendations for improvement. Not only will it make your game more enjoyable, it also gives your players a sense of involvement in your game, and are more likely to return in the future if they enjoyed themselves and felt that they contributed.
Once you have created the structure, be sure to print it off and have it posted for everyone to see, as well as showing on any tournament software your running as well.
For more help in creating a good blind structure, as well as templates for posting your blinds, http://www.homepokertourney.com/create-a-blind.htm has a very good section to help you out.
Another great resource is at http://www.pokerforum.ca/ Sign up, log into the Home Game section, and make a post with a title of “ZITHAL ZITHAL ZITHAL” The mystical master of poker blinds, Zithal himself (or one of his many delegates) will help in creating a blind schedule that will work for your game after you inform him of the basics (#of players, starting chipstacks, and time frame).
AS THE HOST:
As the host, it will be your responsibility to get the game organized and moving forward with minimal disruptions, yet still be available for any issues that pop up during the game. This can be a very daunting task as a host, especially if you are hosting 20, 30, or more players. Be sure to keep your game moving forward, and tackle any issues that pop up immediately and effectively. Its a good idea to start small with 8 to 12 players, and then build your game from a good base after you perfect your blinds and rules.
Next time, I’ll discuss the Rules you’re going to need to keep your game running as smoothly and efficiently as possible.
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