Questions about Calcuttas / Player Auctions and protocol.

inside_english

inside_english

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I have been running monthly tournaments for a while now in Maryland, and I am frequently asked why I don't have calcuttas. Here are my reasons:

  1. Not enough spectators to have a "decent" pot.
  2. I have seen where calcuttas embarrass the weaker players, who make up more than half of the field.
  3. Having a calcutta delays the start times almost 100% of the time.
  4. There is too much bickering about the payouts.

That being said, here are some quick details about my events.

  1. The field is capped at 32.
  2. The event is a one-day affair.
  3. 25% of the field gets paid.
  4. There is no added money due to small fields, no sponsorship etc.

My program asks that you pay your entry fee, play your guts out and go home with some cash. Nothing elaborate, nothing fancy. I also think the fact that my events are one day only attracts quite a few. Since we can't afford to add money I can't justify asking players to pay for a hotel, even for one night.

So....if I do decide to have a calcutta one day, I have the following questions:

  1. Are there guidelines for how many spots get paid?
  2. Is there a "standard" percentage that goes to the house?
  3. Are there guidelines for minimum bids, blind bids, etc.?

I know some of these change from event to event, but was wondering if some of you could weigh in here.

Thanks.
 
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Calcutta

We usually pay 4 spots. 1. 40% 2.30% 3.20% 4.10% depending on the how many players.

Nothing goes to the house.

One thing that worked for us was to sell the A and AA in calcutta and sell everyone else as one. Saves on embarrassment and speeds up calcutta.

Buyer gets multiple players to sell half back and actually can make money.

Player always has chance to buy half before the draw, after draw up to buyer.

Hope this helps.

Marc Oelslager
 
1 out of every 4 players should cash in to prize money. So for 32 player field without any bye's you should pay 4 places.

As far as calcutta's go . Keep in mind they are Illegal. because they allow para-mutual betting on other players.....Usually nobody complains.. However once at Castle Billiards some college kids entered our sunday handicapped tourney and lost early and then dropped a dime to law enforcement about the calcutta..... So, for about 2 months we just had an individual $20 side pot... After a while it went back to business as usual.....It only takes 1 idiot to complain and drop a dime......Sometimes it just isnt worth it
 
IMO Calcuttas are only good in markets where you have the spectators that want to get involved. Also, calcuttas should not pay deep imo---i.e. it should be a win place or show. If they payout too deep it doesnt make much sense to purchase the heavy hitters.

I have been in other areas where the players wanted extra $ involved so the tourneys started using a 1st and sometimes 2nd sidepots. I have seen $10, $20, and $50 side pots. This allows the players there for the $ only to be able to put more on the line and those that do not wish to add more they can choose not to get into the side pot{s}. Side pots would also be a top heavy win/place/show type payout only. Advantages here are more money for players interested and no time needed to do a calcutta. Side pots do not put any stress/pressure on the lesser players.
 
For a small regional weekly event, we used to throw all the names in a hat, and sell numbers for $5 or $10, whatever is deemed affordable for the spectators. If there's 16 players in the tournament, then 16 numbers would be sold.

Each player's name would be assigned a number on the chart.

Whoever pulled that number out of the hat, gets that player in the calcutta.

This way, all players are created equal in the draw for the calcutta.

It's what we call a "poor man's calcutta," but it was fun and gave everybody a little sweat bet. :)
 
I probably have an advantage since I'm an auctioneer. :smile:

A few things you can do:

Hand out bid cards with numbers instead of stopping and asking the buyers name after each sale. (unless you know everyone's name)

All players that get no bid get put into a pool and sell the pool at the end. (someone will almost always bid the minimum for a pool of players)

Some tournaments require the player to buy themselves for the minimum bid. I don't like this practice, it forces a newbie to spend more money.

Don't spend a lot of time talking up players before you sell them. People know who the players are.

Run is fast and furious, don't beg for bids. If you start the auction with the attitude (if you want to buy you better bid quick) the crowd will follow suit.

As soon as the Calcutta is over start the tournament. You can figure up the money and announce the payoffs later.
 
I've never seen a player embarrassed in a Calcutta. As a matter of fact most get mad if you run the bid up.
 
I just added a mini calcutta to our weekly tournament and here is what I found.
We paid top 4, 40 30 20 10. There was 21 players and $435 in the calcutta.
It only took 15 mins for the calcutta. Just make sure you run through it quick!
I sold 2 wildcards first and then ran through the other 19 players names. With this weekly tourney our opening bid was $5 and $5 increments. Every player sold, most people will spend another $5 on themselves.
It was well worth the extra 15 mins. Players stayed in the hall longer to sweat their horse. It also gives the players who never cash in the tourney a chance to make some money.
It added some more excitment and cheering to an otherwise same old tourney.
Nothing should be given to the house. Just give it a try and see if it works for your players. Good luck!
 
John Novak said:
1 out of every 4 players should cash in to prize money. So for 32 player field without any bye's you should pay 4 places.

As far as calcutta's go . Keep in mind they are Illegal. because they allow para-mutual betting on other players.....Usually nobody complains.. However once at Castle Billiards some college kids entered our sunday handicapped tourney and lost early and then dropped a dime to law enforcement about the calcutta..... So, for about 2 months we just had an individual $20 side pot... After a while it went back to business as usual.....It only takes 1 idiot to complain and drop a dime......Sometimes it just isnt worth it
Click to expand...

gawdam collidge kids. probably you 32/4=8 too, didnt they.

fukkers.
 
calcutta points

Allow the player to buy back 1/2 himself if somebody else buys him, If they want less, he can work it out with the winning bidder. If not they will dump them into the ocean when it counts to let their friends win!!!
 
JAM said:
For a small regional weekly event, we used to throw all the names in a hat, and sell numbers for $5 or $10, whatever is deemed affordable for the spectators. If there's 16 players in the tournament, then 16 numbers would be sold.

Each player's name would be assigned a number on the chart.

Whoever pulled that number out of the hat, gets that player in the calcutta.

This way, all players are created equal in the draw for the calcutta.

It's what we call a "poor man's calcutta," but it was fun and gave everybody a little sweat bet. :)
Click to expand...

I liked when they did it in this fashion as well, but we called it a blind calcutta. Good post JAM!
 
Calcuttas are best paid out to 10% of the field. Sometimes it can't happen if you got an odd amount of entries like say 105, it has to pay thru 8th, or thru 12th at this point. Base it upon the amount in the pot then.

But for a 32 player field 4 is not unrealistic, but myself I've never paid more then 3.

I've run quite a few around the greater houston area. It works fine this way, and calcuttas are never suppose to payout the 1/4 of a field like the tourney

Definitely has to be in a market with spectators, pool players alone don't make for a good calcutta
 
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