NPL needs an overhaul

[Ashley Higgins]

Neva i agree that players can sometimes take time to make decisions ect. but you should never be waiting for a player that is away from the table. if they are not there when the last card is dealt then their hand is mucked.

[Scotty]

Aren't the first blind levels 15-20 minutes anyway? I didn't think it went to 12 minutes until after the 1st break.

First two blind levels are 20 minutes each.

[Nathan Butler]

One of the key reasons the NPL is so successful is our tournament structure. In the CBD region alone, week by week our compitition companies lose venue after venue.

Many of our compitition companies that have adopted larger starting stack structures have done so in order to compete with us. What happens then is that they fail to provide any return to the hosting venues, they breed poor quality players, the poker quality itself is poor and then sooner or later the venue ceases.

I indeed understand that some players would like to start with more chips but you will find the attrition rate of players eliminated from a tournament would not change.

Even in a tournament where you started with more chips, it would still reach a stage where the blinds consume almost entire stacks. Extending the blinds would not change the manner in which people play either. Its fair to say you might play an additional hand or two per blind level but that would be insignificant compared to the current format and the cost/return offered by the NPL.

It is a fair point to raise and im sure there will be many for and agianst this topic. I just hope we keep on track with intelligent conversation.

Regards

Nathan Butler
CBD - Regional Operator

[Nevah play JJ]

Neva i agree that players can sometimes take time to make decisions ect. but you should never be waiting for a player that is away from the table. if they are not there when the last card is dealt then their hand is mucked.

Hi Ashley,
Just to clarify, we don't wait for those that walk away from the table, time is often taken just wondering where that player is. If they are within arms reach of the table.

I do not mind waiting for those that want to grab a last stamp, mainly because of the inability to prepay for drinks, so to me, that is fair. I rather wait a few seconds for a player than having him come to the table with drinks in each hand having to hammer them down so they are still cold and ending up blind drunk.

I do however get grumpy when players have to run out for a ciggy or for a loo break and don't bother to say anything to anyone on the table, that is not only rude, but at times leaves you feeling a little bad about mucking their hand.

[rcon]

Hi rcon,
I do have to ask this.
Whose fault is it that the blinds skip along so quickly?

The players of course. And if we don't speak up, we are equally culpable! My point was tho, I'd be more happy if there was a more relaxed blind structure, but thats not to say I'm unhappy with where it is now. It just can be very frustrating if you've only had 8 hands before the first break. Sometimes you might get 15, which gives you a chance to play maybe 5 hands, which beats the hell out of maybe 2 from 8!

And not sure who else said it, but I do understand that the attrition rate wouldn't chance too much with a relaxed structure, but you would have more choice in the early stages. I guess what it really comes down to it that I like to play lots of hands - still can't get away from that blackjack mentality

[Des]

i know no one will read my post... so im gonna reiterate something

with a relaxed blind structure... the tourneys wont be end until maybe 1am. how many mid-week players will play tournament that last for 6 hours and end in the early hours of the morning?

i know the late games get good numbers, but you'll find a lot of these people work different hours to the 9-5 or 8-4 crowd.

[rcon]

i know no one will read my post... so im gonna reiterate something

I'll read your post Des

Anyway, I completely understand why NPL does it, and I completely support it. BUT in a RCON centred world, we would play with slightly relaxed blind structures, in a pub close to his house, with all his friends there, and at time convient to him, with him getting dealt AA on the button everytime. Oh, and lots of Pale Ale drink specials. And it would be teaching break every weeks too.

I know it aint going to happen, but I do empathise with the op. I don't expect anyone to change it, but if enough people voice their opinion, maybe someone will come up with something for people, like me, who'd like something slightly different.

[Luke05(Jamo)]

i like the way npl is being run all the staff are doing a great job. name of the game is a to gain chips as fast as u can.

[Dug]

Thanks for the response.

Firstly in response to people saying the chip stack is fine as it is. What happens if you play really tight, and then still lose, cant afford poker passports play on a slow table with 10 -15 hands and then come back from break with still only 1000 chips when blinds are 100/200?. Hence my point all in or nothing to try and double up.

Secondly most tourneys dont last past 4 hours and that is with competitors who have relaxed blinds and increased chips. So if NPL has 12 minute blind levels from 1000/2000, with most venues having an average of around 40-50 players (correct me if i'm wrong), i really cant see a tourney going to 1am. If NPL was to have higher chip stacks

[Luke05(Jamo)]

1000 chips is the right about dude. teaches people how to play short stack.if you only a 1 100 chips left u can still win. it should not matter what the starting stack is. if you good enough to win with a 4000 starting stack u should be able to win with 1k stack.