Here are a few extras and new ideas I added on the cruise. Let me know what you think about them. 1. The double count, (I found out later that several casinos in Reno already do this). It is where we counted the players chips with 5 and then with 1 hand left in the round. 2. I offered a bonus for the first person to get a Ace and Jack of spade Blackjack. (NO WINNER) 3. Another bonus was for the first player to get three 7's for 21. (NO WINNER) 4. Another bonus for 6-7-8 = 21 (one winner). 6-7-8 in order (no winner). 6-7-8 in same suit (no winner). * Note bonuses were only offered in the first round only when everyone was playing. 5. Alternate in case of ?. This came in to play once due to schedule change and almost a couple of other times due to sea sickness. I allowed any player that couldn't finish a chance to get a player already out of the tournament to finish up the tournament in their place. This eliminated them just forfiting their money and helped build the prize pool up. Rule was the alternate had to finish up the rest of the tournament for you. 6. I allowed talking at the tables. This was great for the new players as they could ask for help, but only after the hand was played out. this really helped teach the newer players. 7. I allowed the finalist to chop the pot if they wanted to. This means that instead of playing out the final table, all of the players just split the prize money 6 ways instead. This assured everyone of make more then 3rd place and just a little less then 2nd place. 8. I offered prize money back to over 55% of the players who played in each tournament so it was afordable to all to play in all four tournaments. 9. I allowed the players to vote on most of the rules and regulations used on the cruise. I believe that tournaments should be for the players since they are the ones playing. I tried to make the tournaments as fun for everyone as possible. I can only hope that everyone left happy and enjoyed themselves. Hopefully next year we will have more players and be able to give away even more prize money then the $45,000 we did this year. Thanks to everyone that came on this years cruise, hope to see you all on next years cruise. I also want to send a special thank you out to Chipsmcoy, his wife Joyce, and Ken Smith for all their help and support they gave me this passed year helping to put these tournaments and the cruise together.
Comments on "A Few Extras" 2. I offered a bonus for the first person to get a Ace and Jack of spade Blackjack. (NO WINNER). - [IF YOU CONTINUE THIS, IT SHOULD NOT COME OUT OF THE PRIZE POOL, AS IT WAS NOT PART OF THE "RULES"/INFORMATION PRIOR TO THE TOURNAMENT. - SAME COMMENT FOR #S 3 & 4.] 5. Alternate in case of ?. This came in to play once due to schedule change and almost a couple of other times due to sea sickness. I allowed any player that couldn't finish a chance to get a player already out of the tournament to finish up the tournament in their place. This eliminated them just forfiting their money and helped build the prize pool up. Rule was the alternate had to finish up the rest of the tournament for you. - [THIS WAS LIKLEY UNIQUE TO THE CRUISE AND (LACK) OF A FIRM SCHEDULE. ONE MUST BE CAREFUL/TAKE STEPS TO SEE THAT THIS IS NOT ABUSED IF INSTITUTED AS A RULE.] 7. I allowed the finalist to chop the pot if they wanted to. This means that instead of playing out the final table, all of the players just split the prize money 6 ways instead. This assured everyone of make more then 3rd place and just a little less then 2nd place. - [FINALIST SHOULD BE PLURAL AND WAS/SHOULD BE ONLY BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT.] 8. I offered prize money back to over 55% of the players who played in each tournament so it was afordable to all to play in all four tournaments. - [THIS WAS NOT A REALLY AN EXTRA OR A "CHANGE" OR BY DESIGN AT THE OUTSET - IT WAS A RESULT OF THE PUBLISHED PRIZE SCHEDULE AND WAS A CONSEQUECE OF 18 SEMI-FINALISTS AND THE NUMBER PLAYING.] 9. I allowed the players to vote on most of the rules and regulations used on the cruise. I believe that tournaments should be for the players since they are the ones playing. - [FOR ANY FUTURE TOURNAMENTS ANY "VOTING" OR POLLING OF OPINION SHOULD BE BEFORE PEOPLE COMMIT FINANCIALLY OR OTHERWISE TO A TOURNAMENT SO THEY "GET WHAT THEY PAY FOR". ALLOWING A CHANGE OF PUBLISHED "RULES BY DEMOCRACY" (OR OTHERWISE), AFTER THE FACT, IS A DIS-SERVICE TO PLAYERS - THE CHANGING OF PUBLISHED RULES, AFTER ARRIVING AT A CASINO TOURNAMENT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU AND OTHERS HAVE RIGHTFULY COMPLAINED ABOUT PUBLICLY - CHANGE IS CHANGE, NO MATTER WHAT THE MOTIVE AND SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED. THIS OF COURSE SHOULD NOT NEGATE THE NEED FOR "THE DECISION OF THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR IS FINAL" HOWEVER WHEN CIRCUMSTANCES WARRENT IT.] I tried to make the tournaments as fun for everyone as possible. I can only hope that everyone left happy and enjoyed themselves. - [I COULDN'T AGREE MORE. I KNOW THAT WE CERTAINLY DID AND THINK THAT THIS WAS A PHENOMENAL SUCCESS FOR AN INAGURAL EVENT - GREAT JOB RICK. LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT ONE] Chips
