Yuma Tourney
Sorry I didn't give more info
each round is 15 hands, single advance, $5 min and no max bet - can go all in at any time. Can double anything, can double after split. Split aces only once, then get one card only - bj pays 3-2, insurance is offered. Bankroll is $200.
Prize pool is either $3,000 or $5,000 - no tourneys in summer months, starts up in September and runs through May, usually. The $3,000 tourneys are the first one or two and the last one or two in cycle, rest are $5,000. They do guarantee the prize pools. Tourneys are always the last Thursday of the month - except - for November and December this year - because this year the last Thrusday for these months are Thanksgiving and Christmas - so they are going off a week early - on the 20th of November and 18th of December. Tourneys start at 6:00 ARIZONA TIME - Arizona is one hour ahead of California time (except of course when Cal is on daylight savings time, which arizona doesn't believe in, then cal time and arizona time is the same). So, starts at 5:00 Cal time. You can start registering the Monday before the tourney, up to start time, and, actually, can enter the later rounds, so even if a late arrival, still get to play.
Big problem with this tourney is there is no button - Players simply plop out bets, in no particular order, and you are expected to bet very quickly - of course some players will deliberately lag, so they can see others' bets - dealer will sometimes hassle you if you take more than a couple seconds to place a bet - play always starts at seat 1.
also - watch for players hiding chips - either obscuring their stack, holding their chips in their hand, or even, in one case, holding a single chip concealed in their hand - especially on final hand - dealers are getting better in catching this behavior - but - don't hesitate to politely ask a player to move their arm, hand, or put down their chips, etc. as needed. A lot of this is accidental, but not all.
for the last hand - play always starts with seat 1, then rotates, for last hand you do have to bet in order, and can take as much time as wanted. Seats are assigned through a random process, players draw cards, Ace gets first choice of seat, two gets second choice, etc. - surprisingly, some players want to be in seat 1; though most realize seat 7 is at an advantage.
no chip count is done.
some tables deal from a shoe, some use a csm.
Level of play is very poor, players tend to bet very large and just chunk out chips and depend on luck - but - with only fifteen hands - someone will get lucky. At one table, going into hand 9, I had $2,400 in chips, and was only in fourth place; on hand 13, I had $1,800 in chips and was the chip leader, with BR2 with under $1,000 - gives you an idea of how play goes.
Format is first round, 6 or 7 players at table, one advance to semi-final. Semi-final round, 6 or 7 players at table, one advance to Final Table. All at final table get paid - Minimum is $100 I think; First gets $2,300. Occassionally will draw a wild card to final table, depending on number of players. Normally three qualifying rounds of six tables each; then will run as many 'rebuy' rounds as possible, to fill up semi-finals. Entry fee is $30; rebuy fee is $20. They run Semi-finals as soon as they get enough players qualified - so you can make a semi; lose; and still have an opportunity to rebuy into another first round table.
Oh yes, they put out some minor h'ordeuvres for players to munch on.
I think that covers everything.
If you make it, look for a 63 year old man, stumbling around aimlessly, puffing away on cigarettes, etc. That will be me - or - maybe one of the 100 snowbirds - but look for Richard Kuczek.
Now to convince husband that this isn't so crazy...and that I have a pretty good chance. That re-buy-in on a R1 table makes the odds in my favor.
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