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BGonline.org Forums
Chicago Open..I won't pull any punches
Posted By: neilkaz In Response To: Chicago Open (rory)
Date: Friday, 5 March 2010, at 6:38 p.m.
First of all, I know the most here know that I am not trying to sabatoge this event. In the past I have mentioned my surprise at the low attendance in Chicago for Memorial Day, but I really don't think this format will help matters.
I do realize that a tremendous effort goes into both planning and putting on a BG T and thank Rory, Howard et all for this event.
OK...
My dislike for this format runs very deep. Perhaps it stems from when Les Boyd ran this format in Vermont maybe 20 years ago. I think it cost 100 to enter and 50 for buy backs. That is a MUCH more appropriate ratio, IMHO. Anyhow, I recall buying back 7 times and never qualifying.
With the proposed format, someone who loses once and buys back and wins his bracket, has spent 360 and yet is in the same place as those who won 3 straight and spent 300. That just doesn't seem right to me.
The proposed format is quite pricey for some budgets, since some players will spend 300 to enter and 300 more to buy back 5 times and then we can tack on 35 more for hospitality. The equity pissed away by failing to by back when the ratio cost is 5:1 is tremendous. Clearly anyone who loses needs to continue to buy back, well as long as they can afford to.
If you want to have buy back, do it like Howard does in Vegas and just allow those who lose in Rd 1 to buy back for the fair equity price.
The proposed format will result in about half of the players qualifying anyhow..seems kind silly to me. Hopefully qualifications can be limited to 16 so byes don't have to be given out, and if there's not time to get 16, then byes should go to those who quailified first.
What do those qualify quickly do for the next day+ ? Side events? Hmm a blitz that is only 80% return and that stupidly pays winner take all? Or a JR/SR event that is also low entry fee? Those who win quickly won't have many players to play for side events since everyone else will buy back. There need to be a couple other side events, stop pots or whatever and they need to be 90% return minimum, considering the overall rake ammount that most people will end up paying for the weekend. Hopefully after 2 or 3 buy back rounds, enough players will be free for side events or to even play a rd in Masters or Amateur JP...but maybe not.
Why do playoffs start at 5 PM Sunday? That is dinner time! I see Pizza and Salad sked for 6:30 but not all will want that and some people might like to have a dinner break to get away from BG and socialize with family and friends. I see no dinner break sked for Saturday.. when is it?
35 bucks for hospitality is a lot. I know all sorts of food is provided, but you may be overdoing it, noting that some players may just qualify and go home or go do something else. I hope future events can limit hospitality to 25 max, once again concerned about players' budgets.
Additionally, the growing trend of side pools returning 95 rather than 100% is not pleasing to big players.
My advise that if you want to try this format...
1) Open entry fee is 200, buy backs 75. Stop buy backs when you will get 16 qualifiers (unless there's tons of time, or your field is big enough to get 32)
2) Blitz 85% return and pay at least the final 2.
3) Side pools 100% return.
4) Some kind of side event for those who qualify quickly and 90% return.
5) 25 bucks max for hospitality.
Just my advice..
Will I play.?..perhaps if I change my mind, and the Blackhawks don't have a home playoff game and my daughter doesn't have an ice skating show.
.. neilkaz ..
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