[AlCaTrAzz]

Guide to the 2010 Newcastle Poker Championships

Below is a rundown of every event of the 2010 NPC as well as general comments on them.

Friday 12th March 2010

• 7pm - Event 1 - No Limit Hold'em Freeroll with Rebuys ($0+$0 with $10 Rebuys)

$3,000 Guarantee

Starting Stack: 2,000

Rebuys: 2,000 for $10 (Players can rebuy anytime during the first three levels of play if they are on the starting stack or less)

Add-on: 2,000 for $10, 5,000 for $20, 8,000 for $30 (Players can add-on at the first break as long as they are still in the tournament)

Comments: Without a doubt, this was one of the most popular events from NPC3 ($5000+ prize pool), and it is only fitting that it makes a return as the opening event for NPC4. Because it is a freeroll event, expect a large field of players ready to rebuy! The play will be fast and furious during the rebuy period, but will relax considerably afterwards. Also, as a two day event, remember that your goal needs to be to survive until day two, then make a run towards the money!

Saturday 13th March 2010

• 4pm - Event 2 - No Limit Hold'em Six Handed ($30+$3)
$2,000 Guarantee

Starting Stack: 5,000

This is a six handed event, which means that there will only be six players per table for the entire tournament.

Comments: By popular demand, we have introduced a six handed event into the NPC4. Six handed play (commonly referred to as 6max or Short Handed) is considered a lot different to a full table, as the blinds will hit players faster, and there will usually be a lot more action as players are able to play a lot more hands. Expect to see some great plays and impressive bluffs on the way to the final table for this event!

Sunday 14th March 2010

• 12pm - Event 3 - No Limit Hold'em Heads Up Championship ($30+$3)
$1,000 Guarantee

Starting Stack:
• Swiss Rounds – 3,000
• Quarter Finals – 5,000
• Semi Finals – 10,000
• Grand Finals – 20,000

This tournament will be run as a “Modified Swiss Tournament”, where all players will play 7 rounds of heads up play with points awarded for each round (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a loss)

After the seven rounds of swiss play, we will cut to a final 8, who will play as a Single Elimination tournament to determine the winners. There will be a play-off between the two players eliminated in the Semi final round to determine 3rd and 4th place.

Comments: This innovative format for heads up play is unique in that players, regardless of whether they win or lose, get to play seven rounds of heads up play (a bargain for the price!). This means that even if you are not a strong heads up player, this event will give you plenty of experience, and let’s face it, if you can’t win heads up, you can’t win a tournament!

Sunday 14th March 2010

• 7pm - Event 4 - No Limit Pineapple "Triple Chance" ($20+$2)
$1,000 Guarantee

Starting Stack: 3,000

The game played in this event is No Limit Pineapple. Pineapple is a variant of Hold’em where players are dealt three cards (unlike the 2 in hold’em). At the end of the first betting round (just before the flop is dealt) players have to discard one of their cards. The remainder of the hand is played out the same as Texas Hold’em.

This tournament is being run in a “triple chance” format. This means that in addition to their starting stack, players receive 2 ‘rebuy tokens’. These tokens can be used at any time before the first break to add another 3,000 to a players stack. They can even be used if a player is knocked out (like a rebuy).

Comments: Enjoy rebuy tournaments, but like to know exactly how much money an event is going to cost you? Then you’ll love the triple chance format for this event! Also, Pineapple is a fun game where the action is always intense (as players will generally all have better starting hands than in hold’em) and is well suited to the triple chance format.

Monday 15th March 2010


• 7pm - Event 5 - Pot Limit Omaha Championship ($20+$2)
$1,000 Guarantee

Starting Stack: 4,000

The game played in this event is Pot Limit Omaha.

Comments: Pot Limit Omaha was trialled as an event during NPC3, and due to the response we have decided to make it a fully fledged event this year. PLO is a game which is not widely played live, but is very popular online and should make for an fun tournament.

Tuesday 16th March 2010

• 7pm - Event 6 - Mixed Games Teams Event [H.O.P] ($60+$6 per team)
$1,500 Guarantee

Starting Stack: 3,000 per team member

This is a three man teams event, where one player from each team will play No Limit Hold’em, Pot Limit Omaha and No Limit Pineapple. Players will all play for the first 3 blind levels (against other players playing their selected game), then after the first break, the teams stacks will be combined and players will switch every blind level.

Comments: Without a doubt, one of the most anticipated events of the NPC is the H.O.P Teams Event. This unique format allows players to play their game of choice in a fun format with a combined chip stack with 2 other players. Traditionally, the winning teams in these events are the teams which are willing to take a chance and are not afraid to go broke to try and chip up!

Wednesday 17th March 2010

• 7pm - Event 7 - No Limit Hold'em Feature Event with Bounties ($75+$5)
$2,000 Guarantee

Starting Stack: 8,000

This is a bounty tournament. From the $75 buy in, $50 will go into the Main Pot, while the remaining $25 will be a bounty on every players head. The winner of the tournament will receive their own bounty back.

Comments: A tournament which rewards aggression and actively looking to take players out on your way to the final table. Also, the deep stack play featured in this event is a great warmup for the Deep Stack event the following day, not to mention the Main Event!

Thursday 18th March 2010

• 7pm - Event 8 - No Limit Hold'em "Deepstack" Event ($50+$5)
$3,000 Guarantee

Starting Stack: 10,000

Comments: This event is deep stack play at it’s best! With a massive 10k start bank, and a generous guarantee, expect a large field and some impressive deep stack play!

Friday 19th March 2010

• 7pm - Event 9 - No Limit Hold'em "CannonBall" Event ($10+$1)
$1,000 Guarantee

Starting Stack: 1,500

In a “Cannon Ball” Tournament, the blind levels start very fast, and get longer as the tournament progresses. For example, the first blind level is 5 minute, the second level is 6 minutes, and so on.

Comments: A new addition to the NPC, the Cannon Ball event is a turbo event where the blinds get more relaxed as the event goes on. This means that while it might start out turbo, by the time we reach the final table, it will be like playing a deep stack event!

Saturday 20th March
• 12pm - Event 10 - No Limit Hold'em Main Event ($300+$30)
$30,000 Guarantee

Starting Stack: 30,000

The Blinds for this event will be 45minutes for Day 1, and 60 minutes for Day 2.

Comments: The single largest event run annually in the Newcastle region is without a doubt, the Main Event of the Newcastle Poker Championships. This two day event has a very relaxed structure and allows for a lot of play on the way to the final table. The guarantee has been increased this year to an impressive $30,000!