Home Game STT tips NLHE Need input pls.

[Ninja_Fish]

Ok... I know how to play NLHE and I'm learning about the odds. I'm organizing a NLHE tourney this weekend with a few of my work friends and I'd just like some overall tips to help me win in case I have problems calculating the odds under pressure.

The setup:
There will be 5-6 of us playing tournament style. 20$ buy-in with up to a 20$ re-buy in the first hour and up to a 10$ re-buy in up to the second hour. (re-buys only available if you go out).

Chips will be non-denominational (but in an even number), either 80 for 6 players or 100 for 5. Blinds will start at 1/2 and will raise by 1 every hour. (2/4 in the second 3/6 in the third etc.)

Expectations:
I expect the game to be very loose. Of the three people I know really well... all three think they are great at poker... but have no idea about poker odds at all. None of the players aside from one "possible" have ever read a book on poker... and only one of those have an internet connection. I have a feeling that most, if not all, of them think poker is nothing more than reading tells, acting, and outright bluffing.
My experience:
I have very limited experience playing for money in Live games. (I've played 6 times in the last 3yrs) I have the post flop drawing odds memorized... and I understand and can calculate pot odds. I know that understanding the percentages makes me the favorite... But I'm looking for every advantage I can wrap my head around.

The only book I've read so far is SSHE and I know that I can't adapt any of the strategies from a book on limit to a NL environment aside from the odds/position concepts.


In the games I've played in the past... I was one of the smallest fish, if not the smallest. So how do I turn my newfound odds/concepts knowledge into a winning tournament?

Also... If some of you more experienced players can find anything that I need to change about the setup... please let me know, be it something that could swing it to my advantage, or something that may allay arguments/avoid pitfalls.

Anywhoo... Thanks in advance.

[Sean_in_NJ]

Your blind levels seem way too slow, especially with rebuys. There could be a LOT of chips on the table after 2 hours.

You should check out http://www.homepokertourney.com. They have good things like blind schedules and required chip amounts. If all your chips are one color, then your blind structure is probably fine, although I'd make the levels shorter and increase the blinds by larger increments after the rebuys are over.