Quote:
Originally Posted by PokerStars Luke
We're taking your concerns about the structures seriously and I'll be making a separate post addressing them before the end of the week.
I think my biggest problems with the VLT's is that they don't reflect the various stages of tournaments. I made a comment that in the H55 yesterday, despite being on the final table, we were still considerably far away from reaching the level requirement for 6 mins. This is badly designed because it fails to utilise the purpose of VLT's.
I think if we can categorise tournaments having various phases of play into something like the following:
1. Initial stages - While not often significant to the outcome of the tournament, this is a phase that should provide players with a chance to provide players with an opportunity to play deep stack situations and across multiple streets. Suggested Level Times:
Bigs 8
BB 7
Hots 4
2. Early Middle - Pre flop all ins become more common as stacks fluctuate more than the early stages. Pots become more significant. Play across multiple streets is still important, but should often end with a player being eliminated from the tournament. This stage should end with the bubble being burst, thus preventing stalling issues.
Suggested Level Times:
Bigs 9
BB 8
Hots 5
3. Middle - Average stack usually falls as a result of the bubble effect. This phase should provide players a chance to build a stack up for the final few tables.
Suggested Level Times:
Bigs 10
BB 9
Hots 5
4. Late - This phase I consider to be the final 3 or even 2 tables depending on the field size. Pots have significant impacts on players expected value of the prize pool. Play should lengthen to ensure the game is not a crapshoot.
Suggested Level Times:
Bigs 12
BB 10
Hots 6
5. Finale - This phase I consider to be around the bubble of the final table downwards. Pots have extreme impact on players expected value. Like the previous phase, the goal here should be able to provide players with a chance to play poker and not be resigned to their only option being to shove pre flop and hope to run good. A healthy balance of both is important obviously.
Suggested Level Times:
Bigs 15
BB 12
Hots 6
A few notes on my reasons for why I selected different level times across the 3 brands.
Bigs should be the best structure - vanilla poker designed to play multiple streets and a long game experience.
Bounty Builders have knockout prizes thus reducing fold equity and causing the average stack to stay fairly healthy. Play doesn't need to be as slow the Bigs.
Hots are obviously designed to be quick and fast paced. Great for players who want short sessions. The increase in level times later on should reduce the crapshoot factor, while not impacting too heavily on an increase in time due to the early levels being shorter.
Just my 2c's.