PokerStars will no longer offer Double or Nothing Sit & Go’s, Effective February 28th, 2011
02-15-2011
, 01:43 AM
02-15-2011
, 01:51 AM
02-15-2011
, 01:51 AM
02-15-2011
, 01:56 AM
02-15-2011
, 02:19 AM
Quote:
Fifty50 blind structure speed compared to DoNs
The structure for Turbo Fifty50s is not similar to a hyper-turbo. While the blinds are 3 minutes per level, the blind increases per level are smaller than the blind increases in other tournaments. The 'speed' of the Fifty50 blind structure is quite similar to the 'speed' of the Double or Nothing blind structure.
Here is an extreme example of why length of levels is not a complete indicator of speed:
Tournament A has 5 minute levels and 1500 starting chips
Level 1: 100/200
Level 2: 200/400
Level 3: 400/800
Tournament B has 3 minute levels and 1500 starting chips
Level 1: 10/20
Level 2: 15/30
Level 3: 20/40
Level 4: 25/50
Level 5: 30/60
While tournament B has shorter levels, it has the slower structure as the blinds start lower and the levels increase far more gradually.
A more complete way to compare blind structures is to evaluate the blinds and antes after X minutes of play, for each value of X. For example, we can compare the blinds and antes in tournament A after 5 minutes to the blinds and antes in tournament B after 5 minutes of play.
Here is a comparison of the blinds and antes of the Turbo DoN structure vs. the Turbo Fifty50 structure:
The Fifty50 structure is a little bit faster but the difference is not nearly comparable to the difference between a turbo and a hyper turbo. The major important differences in the structure are in the 25th minute and during the 28th minute and beyond. Many Fifty50s do not even make it to the 28th minute. Many Fifty50s end in the 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 26th, and 27th minutes when the blinds are the same as what they would be in the current DoN structure and the ante is only very slightly (5 chips) higher.
The blind structure was chosen for a reason
PokerStars consulted with many high volume Sit & Go players prior to setting the structure for Fifty50s. Two different structures were trialed by players recruited from 2+2 and by Team Online members. The structure chosen was the clear preference of the participants.
When discussing Sit & Go blind structures, players commonly mentioned that stalling near blind raises was becoming more common. The change to this structure is intended to reduce the impact of stalling to time blind increases as each blind increase is a smaller amount.
Regardless of the reason, Fifty50s are finishing faster than DoNs
While the changed structure is not the main cause of the Fifty50s ending faster than Double or Nothings, the fact remains that the Fifty50s are finishing more quickly on average than Double or Nothings did. The main cause of this difference is likely the differing play styles utilized in the two tournaments due to the different payout structure.
Players have made good points about the average duration of the Fifty50s being shorter than the average DoN of the same game speed and buy-in. While the feedback here is valued, it's important that PokerStars take the time to review the thoughts of an unbiased sample of players prior to considering structure changes.
Thanks for taking the time to express your thoughts on the Fifty50 structure.
The structure for Turbo Fifty50s is not similar to a hyper-turbo. While the blinds are 3 minutes per level, the blind increases per level are smaller than the blind increases in other tournaments. The 'speed' of the Fifty50 blind structure is quite similar to the 'speed' of the Double or Nothing blind structure.
Here is an extreme example of why length of levels is not a complete indicator of speed:
Tournament A has 5 minute levels and 1500 starting chips
Level 1: 100/200
Level 2: 200/400
Level 3: 400/800
Tournament B has 3 minute levels and 1500 starting chips
Level 1: 10/20
Level 2: 15/30
Level 3: 20/40
Level 4: 25/50
Level 5: 30/60
While tournament B has shorter levels, it has the slower structure as the blinds start lower and the levels increase far more gradually.
A more complete way to compare blind structures is to evaluate the blinds and antes after X minutes of play, for each value of X. For example, we can compare the blinds and antes in tournament A after 5 minutes to the blinds and antes in tournament B after 5 minutes of play.
Here is a comparison of the blinds and antes of the Turbo DoN structure vs. the Turbo Fifty50 structure:
The Fifty50 structure is a little bit faster but the difference is not nearly comparable to the difference between a turbo and a hyper turbo. The major important differences in the structure are in the 25th minute and during the 28th minute and beyond. Many Fifty50s do not even make it to the 28th minute. Many Fifty50s end in the 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 26th, and 27th minutes when the blinds are the same as what they would be in the current DoN structure and the ante is only very slightly (5 chips) higher.
The blind structure was chosen for a reason
PokerStars consulted with many high volume Sit & Go players prior to setting the structure for Fifty50s. Two different structures were trialed by players recruited from 2+2 and by Team Online members. The structure chosen was the clear preference of the participants.
When discussing Sit & Go blind structures, players commonly mentioned that stalling near blind raises was becoming more common. The change to this structure is intended to reduce the impact of stalling to time blind increases as each blind increase is a smaller amount.
Regardless of the reason, Fifty50s are finishing faster than DoNs
While the changed structure is not the main cause of the Fifty50s ending faster than Double or Nothings, the fact remains that the Fifty50s are finishing more quickly on average than Double or Nothings did. The main cause of this difference is likely the differing play styles utilized in the two tournaments due to the different payout structure.
Players have made good points about the average duration of the Fifty50s being shorter than the average DoN of the same game speed and buy-in. While the feedback here is valued, it's important that PokerStars take the time to review the thoughts of an unbiased sample of players prior to considering structure changes.
Thanks for taking the time to express your thoughts on the Fifty50 structure.
