Break Pot Must Go!! Ideas needed.

[ajohnson13]

Several months ago, I started and 8-ball Break Pot in the Weekly Tournament I run. It has been a success, and it brings in new better players weekly. It has been selling on average 25 tickets per week, and is currently up to $353. Due to the ever-growing pot, ticket sales are increasing. Last night we sold 48 tickets spread over about 14 or 15 players. (18 players participated in the tourney)

Once it hits $400 or maybe $500, I would like to do some sort of "must go" one night, to ensure that someone takes home the cash. I need thoughts and ideas. I have been talking to some of the players and only one decent idea has come up: to pay out a small percentage of the pot (like 10%) if someone snaps the 8 during the normal course of the tournament. One stipulation to this would be that the player would have had to buy at least 1 break pot ticket that night. I like the thought if this plan, and will probably instate this rule starting next week.

Another thought would be to keep drawing tickets until someone takes it. (Currenlty two tickets are drawn half way through the tourney) What other ways that I can better the chances that one of the players will take the dough home?

BTW most of the players that buy tickets are pretty strong, and a break and run pays 90% of the pot just as an 8-ball break would. I have had several players get close, including myself.

:idea:One more idea that just came to me as I was typing was to use the break pot money as money added to a larger scale tournament on a Saturday afternoon. The only problem I see is that the bar only has two tables and a 32 player field will take some time. This larger tourney would be invitation only to players that purchased break pot tickets along the way, or maybe just a smaller entry fee to break pot participants than non break pot donators.

Thoughts and ideas please!:help:

 

[TX Poolnut]

Personally, I would be upset if you changed the rules after I had already put money in the pot.

If you change the rules now, you will not satisfy everyone that has put money into the pot. Keep that in mind.

 

[Jason Robichaud]

Just looked at a site from my home province. a room there that has weekly 10 break contest is up to 4600$ thats $460 a ball!!! Find a tournament paying that

 

[ajohnson13]

Personally, I would be upset if you changed the rules after I had already put money in the pot.

If you change the rules now, you will not satisfy everyone that has put money into the pot. Keep that in mind.

Good point, thinking of it from the other side definately puts things in perspective.

 

[Majic]

Just keep it going. If the pot gets big enough, I might make the trip from NC.

 

[mtdsports]

just let it ride. the carom room in beloit has a break and run pot and it get's over 5k pretty regularly. i'd say it's one of the biggest draws to the tourney.

 

[ShootingArts]

got to let it ride this time

You didn't say how you were running the break pot right now but I think you have to let it ride until somebody wins it. Only then should you consider changing anything if you come up with a better idea. Changing the bet in midstream will make many people unhappy I suspect. Right now the break pot is doing exactly what you want it to do so no sense rocking the boat.

Hu

Several months ago, I started and 8-ball Break Pot in the Weekly Tournament I run. It has been a success, and it brings in new better players weekly. It has been selling on average 25 tickets per week, and is currently up to $353. Due to the ever-growing pot, ticket sales are increasing. Last night we sold 48 tickets spread over about 14 or 15 players. (18 players participated in the tourney)

Once it hits $400 or maybe $500, I would like to do some sort of "must go" one night, to ensure that someone takes home the cash. I need thoughts and ideas. I have been talking to some of the players and only one decent idea has come up: to pay out a small percentage of the pot (like 10%) if someone snaps the 8 during the normal course of the tournament. One stipulation to this would be that the player would have had to buy at least 1 break pot ticket that night. I like the thought if this plan, and will probably instate this rule starting next week.

Another thought would be to keep drawing tickets until someone takes it. (Currenlty two tickets are drawn half way through the tourney) What other ways that I can better the chances that one of the players will take the dough home?

BTW most of the players that buy tickets are pretty strong, and a break and run pays 90% of the pot just as an 8-ball break would. I have had several players get close, including myself.

:idea:One more idea that just came to me as I was typing was to use the break pot money as money added to a larger scale tournament on a Saturday afternoon. The only problem I see is that the bar only has two tables and a 32 player field will take some time. This larger tourney would be invitation only to players that purchased break pot tickets along the way, or maybe just a smaller entry fee to break pot participants than non break pot donators.

Thoughts and ideas please!:help:

 

[Ky Boy]

Several months ago, I started and 8-ball Break Pot in the Weekly Tournament I run. It has been a success, and it brings in new better players weekly. It has been selling on average 25 tickets per week, and is currently up to $353. Due to the ever-growing pot, ticket sales are increasing. Last night we sold 48 tickets spread over about 14 or 15 players. (18 players participated in the tourney)

Once it hits $400 or maybe $500, I would like to do some sort of "must go" one night, to ensure that someone takes home the cash. I need thoughts and ideas. I have been talking to some of the players and only one decent idea has come up: to pay out a small percentage of the pot (like 10%) if someone snaps the 8 during the normal course of the tournament. One stipulation to this would be that the player would have had to buy at least 1 break pot ticket that night. I like the thought if this plan, and will probably instate this rule starting next week.

Another thought would be to keep drawing tickets until someone takes it. (Currenlty two tickets are drawn half way through the tourney) What other ways that I can better the chances that one of the players will take the dough home?

BTW most of the players that buy tickets are pretty strong, and a break and run pays 90% of the pot just as an 8-ball break would. I have had several players get close, including myself.

:idea:One more idea that just came to me as I was typing was to use the break pot money as money added to a larger scale tournament on a Saturday afternoon. The only problem I see is that the bar only has two tables and a 32 player field will take some time. This larger tourney would be invitation only to players that purchased break pot tickets along the way, or maybe just a smaller entry fee to break pot participants than non break pot donators.

Thoughts and ideas please!:help:

What am I missing here???? 18 players in an 8 ball tourney and if just 1 player breaks and runs an 8 ball rack they get 90% of the current pot????

Did I misunderstand something here????


Gary

 

[John Biddle]

Allow me to add my vote that you should continue to let it ride. Not only will the bigger pot be a larger and larger draw for your tournament, but it's the only fair way to do it. Don't ever change the rules in midstream, you'll anger everyone but the winner. If you really feel the need to change the rules, do so for the NEXT pot.

 

[LPHooper03]

I broke and ran 2 racks earlier today...When can I get in this tourney, lol.

Seriously....I B&R usually one rack during league/tourney play...per match. I didn't think this was that difficult.. Especially for 18+ players...I didn't think this was that difficult....I really didn't think this was that difficult....

 

[houmatroy]

Read his post !

What am I missing here???? 18 players in an 8 ball tourney and if just 1 player breaks and runs an 8 ball rack they get 90% of the current pot????

Did I misunderstand something here????


Gary

He said 8 ball on the break pot..not break & run pot.

 

[LPHooper03]

Just looked at a site from my home province. a room there that has weekly 10 break contest is up to 4600$ thats $460 a ball!!! Find a tournament paying that

just let it ride. the carom room in beloit has a break and run pot and it get's over 5k pretty regularly. i'd say it's one of the biggest draws to the tourney.

Going off of what these two gentleman are saying...You break and run whatever rack and you get the pot...In those pots...

In the OP pot, snap the 8 and get the pot.

 

[vasilios]

when the pot gets to 400 start a second pot.then you can have two draws.the small pot goes first.if the second pot gets to 400 start a third.
have three draws.the worst thing that can happen to you and what you are trying to do for your local tournament is let somebody from out of town show up buy 5 tickets,win the money and you never see him again.

bill

 

[DogsPlayingPool]

Now I'm confused. At first I thought is was an "8 on the break" pot but also in the OP it mentioned a possible way to disburse some of the money would be that if someone snapped the 8 they got a small percentage (10%) of the pot. That doesn't make sense if snapping the 8 is the point of the pot to begin with. Later the talk went to break and run.

I'm giving action that it's break and run but I sure would like to know what this is all about.

Assuming it's B&R, I'm also amazed that someone hasn't won this already.

 

[TWOFORPOOL]

8 Ball Break Pot

May I recommend instead of drawing 2 players per tournament draw 3 or 4 to increase the odds on the 8 on the break. With four tickets drawn you will get more ticket sales. If more than one player makes the 8 on the break you split the money between the players that make the 8 on the break (rare that this should happen).

Pot size:
Under 100.00 Draw one player
Over 100.00 Draw two players
Over 200.00 Draw 3 players
Over 300.00 Draw 4 players
Over 400.00 Draw 5 players

 

[deadwhak]

a pool hall i used to go to that shut down had 9 ball break contest all the time..the entry was 11 for the tourney where the $1 would go to break contest and then they would draw 3 names of ppl that entered the tourney to break...well it got up to $1000..then they started another so each week they drew 3 names for the $1000 one then drew 3 names for the second one which then got up to $1000 also (i think?) ..well then they started a third one that got up to about 600 then the $1000 contest was won then left 2 contest left...then within 2 weeks the other two were won!! but these break contest drew a big crowd for they weekly tournament every week!!!

 

[JonnyB]

Break Pot Ideas

A place north of Sacramento used to do 2 things to keep their 9-Ball Break pot under $2,000. (There was something to do with avoiding an IRS form if the amount is under $1600 which is $2000 minus 20% that they put back in to seed the next break pot, so $2000 was their magic number.)

When the carryover and the ticket sales gets over $1000 they paid $10 per ball on your break when your ticket is drawn, over 1500 - $15 a ball made on your break, $2000 = $20 a ball, ...

If you snap it you get whatever is left after any previous payouts minus 20%, up to $1600.

If no one snaps it and they are still over $2000 they draw $50 tickets until it is below $2000.

I don't recall anyone getting upset with either of these strategies.

JonnyB

 

[ajohnson13]

What am I missing here???? 18 players in an 8 ball tourney and if just 1 player breaks and runs an 8 ball rack they get 90% of the current pot????

Did I misunderstand something here????


Gary

If a player's ticket get's drawn midway through the tourney they have 1 chance to break the 8 or break and run. This rack is separate from the tourney. Two tickets are pulled each night.

 

[ajohnson13]

Sorry about the confusion. Here is the original thread i started explaining the rules more clearly:

I implemented an 8-Ball Break pot last night in the tournament I run on Sunday nights. The first night went well, and I had to explain to 60-70% of the players what it was and how it worked. While explaining I realized that there were some variables that I did not have worked out. Below is the current format of the Break Pot. I would like comments & suggestions on how you would like the break pot to be handled if you were playing in my tourney:

-$1 per ticket, Max. 5 per player
-Participation in the Break Pot is by no means required.
-After the 2nd round of the loser's side, I have the bartender pull two tickets. If both tickets belong to the same player a new ticket is pulled, guaranteeing two players will have a chance each night.
-Either I rack both tables or have a competent player rack both tables.
-The player attempting the break can challenge the rack and ask for a re-rack. Racking your own is generally not allowed, but something can be worked out at the TD's discretion if a problem arises
-Each player who's ticket is called has one chance to break and cause the 8 ball drop on the break, or break and run the table. If a player accomplishes either task they are paid the current break pot 100%.
-If no balls are made on the break the turn is over. And if you scratch on the break the turn is over, wether the 8 falls or not.
-If both players with winning tickets break the 8, or break and run the pot is split between them. If neither player wins, the pot carries on to the next week.
-No money is added by the bar, and no money is taken from the pot by the bar or the TD.

The tournament is a single game 8-ball with a Max of 24 players. (If I have less than 12 players I usually up the A side to race to 2) We play on two 8x4 bar boxes. The first night went fairly well, we had 14 players in the tourney, and 7 decided to purchase tickets. The current pot is $24 after the first night. I think most players that didn't buy tickets weren't interested, because either they did not fully understand the idea, or they did not feel they had a chance to break the 8 or B&R if their ticket was called.

Additional ideas under consideration:

-Giving out 1 free ticket for every paid entry fee into the tourney, and allowing up to 5 additional tickets to be purchased.
-Paying a percentage of the pot or a fixed amount (say $5 or 10) from the pot if a ticket holding player breaks the 8 ball during the normal course of the tournament.

Any feedback good or bad will be greatly appreciated.

 

[Reverend Dave]

Break Pot Specialist is Available

I've heard of a break pot specialist that once resided in North Carolina. He snapped one off in Jacksonville for a little over $14000 and the very next one he entered in WIlmington for $900. If your pot continues to grow out of hand, I 'm sure a plane ticket could be arranged to help things out.

Keep us posted,
Dave