State Finals - Antes

[mr_niceguy_1979]

Can anyone tell me how the antes work? I've never played a texas holdem tournament with them and it would be good to know how they work before Sunday!

Some questions:
1) Do they change for each blind level (I assume they do)? If so, can we be told what they are at each blind level?
2) What is the procedure of putting them out? ie does everyone put them in front like a bet, then the dealers collects them all and puts them in the middle, then deals?
3) What happens if you are not seated at the table, do you still pay the ante?
4) Can you decide to sit out a hand and not pay the ante even if you are at the table?
5) Are cards only dealt to people who pay the ante?

I'm sure I had some other questions, but can't remember them right now

Can't wait till Sunday! See you in the first flight

[Scotty]

All antes would be put out by every player, and thus form the main pot. Blinds are put out, and the dealing commences.

If you are not seated at the table, you still have to ante up (same as if you were at the bar when it's your BB, for example)

It's a tournament; you cannot decide to 'sit out' a hand. You will pay an ante for every hand that you are in the tournament once they are introduced.

Again, everyone pays the ante. It's not a choice.

[Des]

Keep in mind I haven't seen the blind structure for this years state finals, so I'm not 100% if antes will be used or not. But here are the answers to your questions.

As far as I know ante's will be used in the Berri deepstack.

1) Do they change for each blind level (I assume they do)? If so, can we be told what they are at each blind level?
Generally the first few levels wont have an ante. Once antes start then yes, they will increase as the blind levels increase.

2) What is the procedure of putting them out? ie does everyone put them in front like a bet, then the dealers collects them all and puts them in the middle, then deals?
Yes.

3) What happens if you are not seated at the table, do you still pay the ante?
Yes.

4) Can you decide to sit out a hand and not pay the ante even if you are at the table?
No, all players pay the ante regardless if they are there or not, and will be dealt cards as per usual.

5) Are cards only dealt to people who pay the ante?
See no 4.

[muzzington]

They'll be introduced at a certain level, and then increase as the blinds do. They just go straight into the pot and don't affect the amount you have to call or bet. (although you might want to make a larger raise since the pot is bigger)

When you see them in the pot you just want to steal them.

[rcon]

I can't see them using antes for the state finals..... wouldn't seem to me to make much sense to qualify for a final, and then contest that final under a different structure. Esp when it wasn't advertised/promoted, as it will completely change the bet sizing people have to use. Be like playing the regular season in the AFL with complete freedom for interchange, then placing restrictions on interchange once you get to the finals.

But then again, they'll replay a draw in the GF, so who knows.

Really looking forward to seeing them in action at Berri tho

[mr_niceguy_1979]

Due to the expected size of the field the day we will again be implementing a flight system. This season we will remove a couple of blind levels and introduce antes. We hope this will shorten the day for dramatically as we do not wish to see another 16+ hours of play for our winner.

viewtopic.php?p=17533#p17533

[rcon]

Wow. That is surprising. Understandable, but still surprising.

I hadn't read that thread as I won't be there, but I'll be very interested to hear reports in prep for Berri.


edit: Hmmm, maybe not. I guess it depends on how you see the "finals". Is it to determine who is the "best" from the NPL regular season, or is the regular season a satellite into this tourney? Either way works for me.

[AceLosesKing]

Wow, there's antes for state finals? I didn't even know. I should really read the forum more often

[Brett Kay]

Pray like hell there isn't Prahlad Friedman at your table.

[Scotty]

But who will Jeff threaten to punch if he's not?

Love that "exchange of words".