Reviving PokerCon?

[hexjunkie]

Re: Reviving PokerCon?

Any further updates on this idea?

[theprez98]

Re: Reviving PokerCon?

A few notes:

1. Hadn't heard anything from Russ yet, so I sent a follow-up email today.
2. Still getting lots of positive feedback from people who want to participate.
3. Until we get a tentative go-ahead, we're still in a holding pattern.

[P3ZZ]

Re: Reviving PokerCon?

I'd be more interested in playing if it wasn't going to charity to be honest. I know that comes off dicky, but we are getting to the point where we should think about renaming DEF CON to EFF CON. I think every time I get the beer shits in Vegas someone donates five bucks to EFF.

I still think that if you limited registration to 100 people, preregistered, free registration, played with custom DC18 poker chips and just gave away prizes (aka first place gets the set of chips) it would be fun.

So yes, I'd be interested in playing in a DC18 poker tournament, but no I'm not interested in doing another charity fund raiser at DEF CON.

This is going to be my first DEF CON and I would want to play if anything just for the socilizing. Prizes I think would be a good idea. I'm just there for the ride.

[theprez98]

Re: Reviving PokerCon?

Because this is a new event, I think time and space are going to at the mercy of the DEFCON gods; I will be happy with whatever we can get. That being said, after talks are over is my ideal time.

I have several ideas in mind for pricing; my overall goal is as low as possible. Sponsors/donors will be solicited or accepted if they offer. ;-)

[hexjunkie]

Re: Reviving PokerCon?

What about the chill out room before Toxic BBQ on Thursday?

There isn't much going on between the shoot and toxic bbq (to my knowledge) and could be a fun way to kick off the weekend.

[Melesse]

Re: Reviving PokerCon?

How about selling the chips ahead of time? I think it would be totally sweet to have a set of DC Poker Chips.

Actually, I just looked up the cost of custom poker chips, and it looks like it ranges from about nine cents a chip (for plastic) to a dollar a chip for the clay ones. This was just a quick look at a couple custom chip websites.

How about doing it at a tiered structure like a lot of cons are doing. $5 gets you in, and $40 gets you AND you get a set of custom chips? Or $0 gets you in, and $30 gets you a set of DC chips. Prices are obviously make believe, and used only for example.

Hex, my immediate thought is the Chill Out Room too, but don't they do the Black and White balls there? I've never been to either, but I thought that's where they were? It would conveniently have all of the round tables lol. As for timing, it would be perfect if it fit between the ends of talks and the beginnings of parties with a little overlap (and there would have to be, given that talks go to seven ><)

I would also be happy to help set up, but I want to play too!

Mel

[theprez98]

Re: Reviving PokerCon?

I'm in even for an entry fee I'd still play. If I bust I'd definitely help out with dealing.

I'd also be down for helping out with the initial set up or if need be helping with donations for chips/cards provided they were maintained for future cons. (would hate to see all this effort for 1 year and never see it again)

Another idea for space (not my say so but an idea) would be the Chill out room. There were a ton of tables there last year and would provide space for ~100 people easy if we were allowed to use it for 4-6 hours in an evening.

This sounds like a lot of fun to me :)

I'm in 100%

Thanks for the offer.

As I have said, I would prefer free entry, but the budget works out a lot better even for a $10/20 entry fee. Either way, I want to keep it as low as possible.

I sent an email to Russ requesting space for ~100 people and ~5 hours. I asked for Friday night but would be happy with Saturday night too (yes, I know this conflicts with multiple other events, but *any* time would conflict with something). This arrangement of time and space would be ideal, but given that this is a new event I will be happy for whatever space we can get, even if that means reducing the time and numbers of players.

[hexjunkie]

Re: Reviving PokerCon?

I'm in even for an entry fee I'd still play. If I bust I'd definitely help out with dealing.

I'd also be down for helping out with the initial set up or if need be helping with donations for chips/cards provided they were maintained for future cons. (would hate to see all this effort for 1 year and never see it again)

Another idea for space (not my say so but an idea) would be the Chill out room. There were a ton of tables there last year and would provide space for ~100 people easy if we were allowed to use it for 4-6 hours in an evening.

This sounds like a lot of fun to me :)

I'm in 100%

[theprez98]

Re: Reviving PokerCon?

Contact Russ (russ@defcon.org) about availability of space in the contest area. I'd try to figure out the time required before I contacted him. I am assuming the blind levels aren't going to be very long to move the action along?

Done, and yes; I have a preliminary blind schedule that would take about 4-5 hours to complete the tournament with 100 people, and this could be compressed even further if necessary. Obviously with less people we could move faster, too.

[theprez98]

Re: Reviving PokerCon?

I emailed Russ to ask about space and time for the event; so pending his response we'll just waiting now.

In the meantime, I will continue to work on the preliminary budget. Chips are going to be the biggest cost, especially if they're customized (and I'd prefer that they are). So much so that we'll either have to accept donations/sponsors, or ask the entrants for a small fee...I'd prefer to avoid the entry fee altogether, but I don't know that it's possible. I'm also looking for buttons for the dealer, big and small blinds, etc.

I'm going with the assumption that we'll be able to use some of the round tables in the contest area, but that is also something that I'm talking with Russ about. If we can't get the space for ~100 people we might have to be moved somewhere else. Again, wait and see on this one.

[theprez98]

Re: Reviving PokerCon?

WAVES Frantically!!! Me me me... I volunteer to be a dealer, especially if I get to be the final dealer. I even have a nice green shade. Okay, NOW this is starting to sound like some serious fun. I love fun. It's my favorite. Oh, and ix-nay on the cameras. Bad idea, for just the reasons you think.

I will put you down on the list of volunteers, and thanks!

As much fun as the cameras could be if it could be made to work, it's just impossible given the circumstances, so I agree that we won't do them.

How do they prevent that sort of cheating at the big televised poker events? Or are the cameras just not displayed live?

I believe that the hole cards/commentary are not displayed live.

[streaker69]

Re: Reviving PokerCon?

WAVES Frantically!!! Me me me... I volunteer to be a dealer, especially if I get to be the final dealer. I even have a nice green shade. Okay, NOW this is starting to sound like some serious fun. I love fun. It's my favorite. Oh, and ix-nay on the cameras. Bad idea, for just the reasons you think.

Maybe prizes could be awarded for the most ingenious way to cheat. :)

[YenTheFirst]

Re: Reviving PokerCon?

Perhaps the cameras can be time-delayed until a hand is over? Cheating would still be possible (you could find out after the fact if someone had been bluffing or not), but it would be less attractive, and less useful.

How do they prevent that sort of cheating at the big televised poker events? Or are the cameras just not displayed live?

Given that there's other ways to cheat, too, maybe there could be a "Spot the Cheater" event.

[shrdlu]

Re: Reviving PokerCon?

Dealers. I'd love to have dealers for every starting table, but that possibility is just going to come down to availability of volunteers. It may not be possible at every table initially, but as people bust out we'll likely have some players who will be willing to deal. I think we'll definitely have a dealer at the final table and perhaps more if possible.

[snip]

I would love to have a final table with small hole-card webcams that would not be viewable by players but could be displayed to spectators; but that's just a pipe dream (and it would probably be impossible to prevent cheating).

WAVES Frantically!!! Me me me... I volunteer to be a dealer, especially if I get to be the final dealer. I even have a nice green shade. Okay, NOW this is starting to sound like some serious fun. I love fun. It's my favorite. Oh, and ix-nay on the cameras. Bad idea, for just the reasons you think.

[Chris]

Re: Reviving PokerCon?

The next step before we can move forward is talking to the appropriate folks about space and time:

Location. I suspect the best location for this would be in the contest area, but I don't know how late that area is typically open. If not available, is there somewhere else that could accommodate upwards of 100 people? 10 large round tables with 10 people? Could be a tight squeeze.

Time. I am leaning toward night after the official events are over. Sure, we'll likely conflict with other events, but that is inevitable. So Friday night? Saturday night? In general, I am thinking ~100 people with a fairly aggressive blind schedule could be done in 4 hours, but some wiggle room would be nice.

Also:

Dealers. I'd love to have dealers for every starting table, but that possibility is just going to come down to availability of volunteers. It may not be possible at every table initially, but as people bust out we'll likely have some players who will be willing to deal. I think we'll definitely have a dealer at the final table and perhaps more if possible.

In the meantime I am working on a (very) preliminary budget:

* (preferably) customized DEFCON poker chips; I already received one recommendation where to buy (thanks!) and if others have recommendations keep them coming
* unless a better (more affordable) option comes up I'll probably look at standard paper cards for the tables and maybe a nice deck of KEM plastic cards for the final table
* buttons for the dealer, big and small blinds
* other items to consider?

I would love to have a final table with small hole-card webcams that would not be viewable by players but could be displayed to spectators; but that's just a pipe dream (and it would probably be impossible to prevent cheating).

Contact Russ (russ@defcon.org) about availability of space in the contest area. I'd try to figure out the time required before I contacted him. I am assuming the blind levels aren't going to be very long to move the action along?