Setting the Tone
Our league should at all times be friendly, fun, and welcoming to new players.
Naturally we will always have a mix of players who are serious about the game, and others who just want to have a few beers and play some cards with friends. It can be difficult to balance these needs but do the best you can.
A few suggestions:
– for new players, tend to be more lenient about some of the more technical rules like string-betting or the one-chip rule
– earlier in a tournament, be a little more flexible; at final table lean towards a more strict application of the rules
Difficult “Rulings”
When called upon to resolve a question or problem at a table, if you don’t know the answer or don’t know the right way to resolve a problem with a hand in progress, see if there is a more experienced TD in the room who you can ask, if that can be done quickly. (Don’t worry about looking like you don’t know. Players will respect you for wanting to get it right.)
If no help is available, make the best decision you can in the interest of the game, in fairness to all players. You won’t always get it right. No one does. Don’t sweat it.
If you have a player upset with you about a decision you make, try to resolve it with them after the game. Remind them that you are not a professional tournament director, and assure them that you do the best you can to follow the rules and be fair to all players. If you feel there is still an issue with a player, contact your area Supervisor or Tom or Fritz, and fill them in on what happened. In some cases they will contact the player and find a way to smooth things over. We want to support you in every way possible and that includes “having your back” in situations like these.
Blinds
Please make sure you know what the published league blinds are, and follow them.
Blinds for 4 Hour Game
| Level | Minutes | Blinds |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20 | 100/200 |
| 2 | 20 | 200/400 |
| 3 | 20 | 300/600 |
| 4 | 18 | 500/1000 |
| 5 | 18 | 1,000/2,000 |
| 6 | 18 | 2,000/4,000 |
| Break | 10 minutes | Color up the 100's and 500's |
| 7 | 18 | 3k / 6k |
| 8 | 18 | 5k / 10k |
| 9 | 18 | 10k / 20k |
| 10 | 18 | 15k / 30k |
| 10 | 18 | 20k / 40k |
| 11 | 18 | 30k / 60k |
| 12 | 18 | 40k / 80k |
| Additional levels, as needed, will be 10 minutes with the blinds doubling each level. | ||
Blinds for 2-1/2 Hour Game
| Level | Minutes | Blinds |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 16 | 200/400 |
| 2 | 16 | 300/600 |
| 3 | 16 | 500/1000 |
| 4 | 16 | 1,000/2,000 |
| Break | 10 minutes | Color up the 100's and 500's |
| 5 | 10 | 2,000/4,000 |
| 6 | 10 | 3,000/6,000 |
| 7 | 10 | 5,000/10,000 |
| 8 | 10 | 10k / 20k |
| 9 | 10 | 20k / 40k |
| 10 | 10 | 40k / 80k |
| 11 | 8 | 60k / 120k |
| 12 | 8 | 100k / 200k |
| Additional levels, as needed, will be 6 minutes with the blinds doubling each level. | ||
The multiple-game blinds have been revamped to insure that each game can be completed in less than 2-1/2 hours. This means it should never be necessary to run the first three levels any faster than 20 minutes. If your game starts late or there is some other disruption, make an adjustment to the post-break times as needed. For example, reduce levels 4 – 6 by two minutes each. Ideally, if you are changing the blinds, announce to the players what change you are making.
Recent changes: Note, in particular, that in multiple-game events, we no longer have a 1500/3000 level or a 4000/8000 level.
Breaks
The break should be no more than 10 minutes long. Please announce the duration of the break, for example, “we are on a 10 minute break after this hand.”
The break should be timed just like you time the blind levels.
Please allow trusted players to assist with chip-ups, to insure that the chip-ups can be completed, and you can get your bathroom break and/or smoke break, and get the game re-started in 10 minutes.
When 10 minutes are up, the tournament should resume. If you wish to go outside and let players know that you are about to restart the tournament, that is fine, but do not wait for players to return to the tables.
Final Table
When the final table has been seated, and before you re-start the clock, please congratulate the players on making final table, and announce what the prizes are for this game. This is especially important for any special event or special prize night. Some players will have been unable to hear the pre-game announcements, but it should be easy to communicate with the final table before action resumes.
During final table, when blinds are up, please announce not only the number of chips but also the number of minutes for the new level. For example, “Blinds up, 10,000 / 20,000. This is an 8 minute level.”
If you really want to go above and beyond, give a two-minute warning or a one-minute warning, or both. “Two minutes left, this blind level.” Players who are serious about the game will really appreciate that.
Because stacks are short and levels are fast, please do everything you can to ensure that the players see as many hands as possible. There should be a dealer as early as possible at final table. By the time there are only seven players remaining, it should be possible to free up a seat at the middle of the table for a dealer. Do not be afraid to ask players to shift a bit to make this happen. If you are still playing, or if you wish to be preparing chips and sign-ins for a subsequent game, please ask someone who you know to be a fast and accurate dealer to assist with this task. We have a number of players who are good dealers and enjoy dealing. You probably know who they are, so please allow them to support you by dealing when needed, so you can play or focus on other TD responsibilities.
Inputting Scores
Scores should be entered as soon as possible after the event, but definitely within 48 hours. If you are not able to input the scores within 48 hours, please take a legible photo of your results sheet and send it in one of the following ways:
- post in TD group on Facebook, tagging both Tom and Fritz
- text to 215.272.9662
- email to fritz.barnes@bizpromedia.com
There is a help page on the website that explains how the score input page works. If you have questions, or run into any difficulties, please ask.
When inputting scores, if you see that there is a player with multiple accounts (i.e. the name shows up more than once) do not input a score for that player. Players cannot have more than one account, and it is a significant effort to combine accounts once the scores have been put in multiple places. PLEASE inform Tom and / or Fritz as soon as possible so we can resolve the problem. Post a message in the Facebook TD group with the player’s name, place, and the date and location of the event. We will resolve the problem in the system and then enter the player’s score.
Player Problems at Your Game
If there is an unusual situation at your game, such as a significant conflict between players or a cheating accusation, Tom needs to be informed.
Venue Problems at Your Game
If there is a problem with the venue (service, food, noise level, space allotted, anything) please report to Tom so he can discuss with the venue owner. Depending on your level of rapport with the venue owner or manager, you may address it quietly with them, but in any case you need to also communicate with Tom about it.
Recent Changes
In addition to the blinds changes mentioned above, there are a few other changes.
Players can enter the game until the end of the second blind level. This is not likely to happen more than once or twice a season, for any given venue, but it makes it a little easier for players who are running late to come to the game and support the venue and the league.
Stacks and bonuses are changing as well. Please review details here.
We are now giving high hand bonuses! This is just a way to add a little fun by recording quads, straight flushes and royal flushes. We are giving bonus points for these hands (not implemented in the system yet, but coming soon.) Also, we will be displaying recent high hands on the website. High hands can be entered by following the “Input Bonus Points for This Event” link at the top of the points input page.
And Finally, THANK YOU!!!
This league could not run without you, and we really appreciate all that you do.
Please know that in everything we do, we have the TD’s in mind as well as the venues and the players.
Please don’t hesitate to let us know your thoughts on how we can make this league better, or how we can better support you, our Tournament Directors.
Again….THANK YOU.
