online structures

[Ironside]

are online sites trying to turn tourny poker into bingo
speed this, turbo that,
when in reality their normal events are basically turbo events.
very few sites have a good structure most sites are aiming to get
the tourny over in less than 3 hours.

when your only option in the middle of an event is all in or fold then there is something wrong with the structure
either they need to put in another level slow the clock or (wait for it) put in a running ante

the running ante helps get players out quicker giving bigger average stack and therefore a better stack to blind ratio

pokerstars seems to have a reasonable structure and have turbo events for the bingo players who finish work and want a quick 2 hours playing poker before bed

the former sponsors (before prima) use 10k stacks with the wsop structure with 10 minute levels although bigger events have 20 minute levels with 10 minute levels the event last around 3-3.5 hours and about 6 hours for 20 minute levels

with small events online nowadays having bigger prizepools than alot of B&M tournys (majors exculded) and many online sites sending all in or fold players to WPT,EPT and WSOP events isnt it time that online sites realised the players they are sending are going to be like rabbits in headlights untill they slow down the sats and the bigger (50$+) online tournys

my all means have turbos and bingo poker to allow players with only a couple of hours to play but by the use of such poorly thought out structures there are turning online tournys into 99% luck and 1% skill



if any online site wants help in setting out a decent structure just let me know i am sure it can be arranged

[ifm]

I quite like blue square, Victor Chandler (and whatever other skins exist) as you get a choice, you can play the kamikaze games (3 min blinds) or the more laid back tournys (12 min blinds).
Always a variety.
Ian

[RED-DOG]

Ironside m8, I know your predictions are a bit suspect but apart from that you do talk a lot of sense, Ive been banging away about structures for ages both on and offline, but I dont have your eloquence.

ok, thats enough praise, your predictions are still crap.

[londonpokergirl]

Have to say I like VC's structure for tournies 2k in chips and then pick which one u wanna go for
3min blinds     8min blinds (ok)  or 12 min blinds (tops ) 

[Ironside]

Have to say I like VC's structure for tournies 2k in chips and then pick which one u wanna go for
3min blinds 8min blinds (ok) or 12 min blinds (tops )

i think there structure is on a par with prima and laddies and sucks big time
there is no play by playing a hand you are committing your self to the pot
limping in is just throwing away your chips
and having to call with any 2 because the antes are about to get you makes it bingo poker

[K9sixtwo]

Im with Ironside all the way here on this one . I enjoy playing on PokerStars and find there blind structure quite easy with 9 minutes between levels. I entered a BPO qualifier on there the other night only to find it was a Turbo ( I know I should read he small print) Turbos just seem to be a way of taking your money off you Post Haste... There is no chance of establishing who is the more skillful player as it really is a Wham Bam Thank you Ma'am style of play.

I have to say I changed from VC for that very reason there were speed events and then Turbo events which really lost the plot as far as I am concerned .
I know that to play at a steady pace the answer is to go and sit in a cash game that suits your wallet ....But I really enjoy tourneys. Its not like the Poker sites are losing money they are raking it in. Frankly they should just arrange the blind structure to be a little longer...To me its as much a social event as it is a game.... I like Poker not Bingo

[ericstoner]

I'm glad to see Ironside Is back on the forum, after an apperent illness.
I, like meny enjoy his perseptive style, amd interesting musings.
Keep it up, and stay well.

[tikay]

Thanks Eric.

As it happens, Ironside is still not too well, he had a bit of a setback today, & has to see the Doc again in the morning.

I am sure everyone on blonde echoes your sentiments.

Get Well Soon Ironside, we miss you mate.

[Colchester Kev]

Hear Hear , Keep well Ironside.

[ifm]

i think there structure is on a par with prima and laddies and sucks big time
there is no play by playing a hand you are committing your self to the pot
limping in is just throwing away your chips
and having to call with any 2 because the antes are about to get you makes it bingo poker

No offense but what?
u make no sense at all here,
how does calling a 50 blind commit you to a pot?
I don't disagree that a slower clock and higher starting chip is desirable but my god you must be practical.
The truth is you ain't gonna get what you're after (1hr blinds, 50,000 chips) cuz it's silly. who can spare the time
ian

[Ironside]

calling a blind is wasting your chips after level 2 just basic poker will tell you that

making a pot size raise on the 3 networks listed after the first hour commits you to the pot
as a pot size raise is normally over 40% of your stack even if you have a chip lead

poker doesnt need to be 50k stacks and 1 hour clock

what it needs is a balanced structure that allows play both pre and post flop

an online event that takes 4 hours should take the same skill as a 10-12 hour B&M event

the rapid blinds and bad structures at certain online sites are to give people who want
a couple of hours of poker after a hard days work to play

they are what they are but they have nothing to do with skillfull POKER

when you are forced to play 93o all in from bb with an average stack because your pot commited
there is something wrong with the structure

[RED-DOG]

AMEN

[ifm]

Hey you're preaching to the converted here, i just think you are over doing it a little

calling a blind is wasting your chips after level 2 just basic poker will tell you that

Level 2 is what 50/100, so calling a blind at 100/200 commits you?
So you don't play a hand after level 2 cuz if you lose it's a waste?
Every friday night at my local casino they play a 15minute blind structure and they last for err.............9 hours!!!

[Ironside]

i never said anything about calling as its a mugs game if your going to play a pot after level 2 you should be coming in for a raise

[henrik777]

Well the main event of the laddies lecop is 25 mins and a 5000 start for $2500. I'm going to guess 350 entries and 7/8 hours of play.

It'll give a few ideas if it's workable for smaller buy ijn larger fields.

Sandy