Please Review Home Game Structure and Advise

[BusterFlush]

I run a successful weekly home game that has been running for almost 3 years. I am considering a tweek and am looking for some unbiased advice.
The current structure is 100 buy in with 50 rebuys (unlimited) and a 50 add-on. The first three levels are rebuy and last 30 minutes each. All levels after during the freezeout are 20 minutes.
100 buy in is for 1,000 chips, rebuys are 50 for 500 chips and the 50 add-on is for 1,000 chips. Blinds start at 5-10 and advance as follows: 10-20, 20-40, 25-50, 50-100, 75-150, 100-200, 150-300, 200-400, 250-500, 300-600, and 400-800. There is not an ante.
Average is 14 players (two tables).
My question is how can I tweek the structure so as to give the better players more of an edge without the event taking 8 hours? Is this a good structure now?

[ShannonRyu]

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My question is how can I tweek the structure so as to give the better players more of an edge without the event taking 8 hours? Is this a good structure now?

[/ QUOTE ] I like the structure. The only way to increase skill is to give more chips or lengthen levels, which will both result in a longer game. Does it take 5-6 hours now? What do the players think? Is your interests in tweeking the game from them or you? I'd leave it be. Looks good.

[BusterFlush]

5 to 6 hours is the norm. I have not asked the players as I wanted some unbiased opinions from outside sources so thank you for the reply.
The last 3 or so weeks seems like the weakest players have cashed so modifying the structure to benefit the good players was a consideration.

[Small Fry]

Do you need to be broke to rebuy? If so I doubt I would. 500 is not enough chips to really do anything with and even if I did that and the add on at the end of round 3 I'm still not in great shape. 1500 chips with blinds at 25/50 and going to double to 50/100 in twenty minutes. This looks like the make or break period for most people. Try throwing in a 35/75 level to give players just a little more breathing room. Only adds 20 minutes.

[PantsOnFire]

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Is this a good structure now?

[/ QUOTE ]
It's not bad. However with 1000 starting chips, I like the first level to be 5-10. Starting tourneys with less than 100BB is usually a disadvantage for good players. If chip denominations are a concern, then start with 2000 chips.


Other Ideas:

Add 15-30
Change 25-50 to 30-60
Add 40-80
Remove 250-500
Change 400-800 to 500-1000.

Allow a rebuy at the beginning to allow for 1500 starting chips. Allow a rebuy when you get below 1000. (Or double all that if you decide to go with 2000 starting chips).

Make all levels 25 minutes.

[Scotty O]

Use a standard structure like "foxwoods". Having levels of 10/20 and so on force you to have $5 chips on the table in addition to the $25, $100, and $500 chips. Having to count out more chips will slow the tourney down.

As for how long the tourney takes depends on the total chip count out and when the blinds reach 2-5% of the outstanding chips. Vary the amount of starting chips to shorten or lengthen the tourney. A rebuy makes it a little more complicated but use your past tourneys to determine the chip count

[Lottery Larry]

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I run a successful weekly home game that has been running for almost 3 years. I am considering a tweek and am looking for some unbiased advice.


[/ QUOTE ]

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The last 3 or so weeks seems like the weakest players have cashed so modifying the structure to benefit the good players was a consideration.

[/ QUOTE ]

ARRGGHHH!!! Why why WHYYYY?!?! Did you really READ what you just wrote?

[Lottery Larry]

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It's not bad. However with 1000 starting chips, I like the first level to be 5-10.

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Guess you missed this line

" Blinds start at 5-10 and advance as follows: 10-20, 20-40"

[jeramy576]

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[ QUOTE ]
I run a successful weekly home game that has been running for almost 3 years. I am considering a tweek and am looking for some unbiased advice.


[/ QUOTE ]

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The last 3 or so weeks seems like the weakest players have cashed so modifying the structure to benefit the good players was a consideration.

[/ QUOTE ]

ARRGGHHH!!! Why why WHYYYY?!?! Did you really READ what you just wrote?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yea you want the weakest players doing well some times so they'll keep coming back or else your game dries up.

[DPP LDR]

Try maybe starting with more than 50 bets, its kind of a short stack. Try like 80-100 bets. Maybe start with more bets and use an ante in the 5th or 6th level. Then there is more action without being forced all in on every flop after a preflop raise. There you go the whole event takes a shorter amount of time without sacrificing the skill aspect of the game. Here is how i run my tournaments.
20 minute blinds starting stack of 5000
blinds start at 25-25
25-50, 50-100, 100-200(25 ante), 150-300(25), 200-400(50),
300-600(75),400-800(75),500-1000(100) etc