Live Poker League Blind Structure.

[Gus Mango Fish]

What does everyone think of the current LPL blind structure?

The structure is currently:

4000 chips

25/50 - 25 mins
50/100 - 25 mins
100/200 - 25 mins
150/300 - 25 mins
200/400 - 20 mins
500/1000 - 20 mins
1000/2000 - 20 mins
2000/4000 - 15/10 mins (depending on time constraints)
5000/10000 - 15/10 mins


Speaking as a player, I think the jump from 200/400 > 500/1000, and from 2000/4000 to 5000/10000 is too big a jump, and makes the latter part of the game something of a crapshoot. Obviously there are time constraints with running the events in venues that have to kick everyone out by a certain time, but could the structure be improved?

What does everyone think of the following structure:

2000 starting chips

25/50 - 15 mins
50/100 - 15 mins
100/200 - 15 mins
200/400 - 15 mins
400/800 - 15 mins
600/1200 - 15 mins
800/1600 - 15 mins
1000/2000 - 15 mins
1500/3000 - 15 mins
2000/4000 - 15 mins
3000/6000 - 15 mins
4000/8000 - 15 mins


Could an alternative blind structure be trialed in one of the venues to see how it effects the game? Or is everyone happy with the existing blind structure as it is?

[drwinston]

my understanding of all games in Weston is that the blinds are increased every 20 minutes no matter what the blind is, so if what you are saying is true I would say we firstly need to make sure all games no matter where they are have a standard system and don't differ from eachother.

I have said since I started playing in this league that up to first chip up you can play poker, then it becomes a crap shoot with everyone going all in and whoever gets the luckiest / best cards wins the pots. There's little room for bluffing etc.

I would be all for a different blind structure and suspect that a lot of people would agree especially if the blinds are increased every 15 minutes because for some reason people seem to like quick blinds. Again, I would actually prefer 1 game a night with longer blinds. This would give more room for play and basically the good players would win a lot more instead of the luckier players. I would result in an actual game of poker. I know it makes sense to have more than 1 game on to keep people who go out early in the venue for the second game etc. That's why I like final night so much because it does give you the chance to play poker, bluff at pots that can be bluffed at etc, and not just wait for good hands to go all in with at chip up

[LPL_Mike]

my understanding of all games in Weston is that the blinds are increased every 20 minutes no matter what the blind is, so if what you are saying is true I would say we firstly need to make sure all games no matter where they are have a standard system and don't differ from eachother.

Mango has posted the blind structure for one game as you know most games in Weston are two and these have to be adjusted to make sure we fit the two games into the time frame we have for an evening.
I think the idea of changing the amount of chips that you get at the start of the game might not please a lot of people? and the problem we have at the moment is that although the feedback is good on the message board..i feel it may not show a true reflection of peoples wishes.
However on saying that:

2000 starting chips

25/50 - 15 mins
50/100 - 15 mins
100/200 - 15 mins
200/400 - 15 mins
400/800 - 15 mins
600/1200 - 15 mins
800/1600 - 15 mins
1000/2000 - 15 mins
1500/3000 - 15 mins
2000/4000 - 15 mins
3000/6000 - 15 mins
4000/8000 - 15 mins

I actually like this blind structure it and would be more than willing to trial it at one pub to see if people would prefer it.
You also might get away with adding another 2 levels into the structure, as single games tend to play for 3 1/2 hours

Maybe a:
150>300-level
300>600_level

The only other factor that concerns me is with only 2,000 in starting chips after the first 90mins you are going to be on a 600/1200 blind level? without the extra 2 blind levels implace?

[DonkBox]

Mike,

I'm certainly willing to trial it at the night i run as is adie (i think) as this is a new pub that might be a good idea - although i'm sure a lot of the faces from the assembly would be playing also. Mango's structure looks good, but i'm not sure you need to change the starting stack.

If there's 40 players each starting with 4000 that's 160,000 in play. so when the blinds reach 4000/8000 both players will have max 10x BB so there won't be a lot of room for play.

I certainly think the two extra blind levels you suggested should be put in. one way to do this would be to start all games at 7pm.

[waltypies]

In Glos they have the 150/300 level i must say the lower levels are great and gives you the chance to play.

However once it gets to around 10pm its normally a case of just folding to find a hand you can go all in on as the blinds get so high. However i guess if a games got to finish its got to finish.

[LPL_Mike]

Mike,

I'm certainly willing to trial it at the night i run as is adie (i think) as this is a new pub that might be a good idea - although i'm sure a lot of the faces from the assembly would be playing also. Mango's structure looks good, but i'm not sure you need to change the starting stack.

If there's 40 players each starting with 4000 that's 160,000 in play. so when the blinds reach 4000/8000 both players will have max 10x BB so there won't be a lot of room for play.

I certainly think the two extra blind levels you suggested should be put in. one way to do this would be to start all games at 7pm.

I agree with not having to change the starting stack, i would prefer to see how people would react first to the new levels with the 2 additional blinds added.
I would be more than happy to start Filo's on the new structure for a month and then to review it, if it worked then i have no problem putting this out to the rest of the league.

[sligobhoy]

your forcing the crap shoot by putting the early blinds up every 15 instead of 25 mins.

I prefer leaving the blinds at 25 minutes early on because the better players win more because they are not forced to play hands because of the blinds going up so quick.

I am dead against this new idea

[Gus Mango Fish]

your forcing the crap shoot by putting the early blinds up every 15 instead of 25 mins.

I prefer leaving the blinds at 25 minutes early on because the better players win more because they are not forced to play hands because of the blinds going up so quick.

I am dead against this new idea

I think the 15 minute levels coupled with a less harsh blind structure will result in a game that is much less of a crapshoot than the current system.

At the moment, the best players usually make it to the final two tables or so, but then the blinds get so harsh, it becomes a lottery as to who gets the final placings.

[drwinston]

it's a tricky one this. I would suggest making sure the final is perfect as far as blind structure goes allowing for more play. This could mean starting the final a lot earlier and allowing 6-7 hours for it to be played. This would result in the "better" players on the day probably lasting longer. As far as the normal league games go, if you're a half decent player you should be able to get into the final with 1000+ points with little trouble anyway. Yeah, you're going to lose your 50/50 and 60/40 shots when the blinds are increased to the silly levels but you'll also win your fair share. If you get to chip up with about 4-5000 in chips then it's down to the luck of the cards.

The final is the important thing to get right. Thats where we all want to play our best poker and concentrate that little harder on making the right decisions.

[Lanky Matt]

Even with the crap shoot situation at the end, if you've only got a couple of chips at chip up, if you've been watching the other players and their bets, you can still win a fair few hands by working out if their bluffing. Doesn't work all the time, but you certainly can get a fair few places at the final few tables this way, and you still have an element of luck.

The final table is always going to be a bit of a crap shoot, even without the tiem limits of the pubs. Blind will keep going up with a limited amount of chips in play, you'll get to a situation where every hand is a show down. Skill still play a part in it, imho.