PokerRun 8000 - idea for a poker rally across Europe!

[Gus Mango Fish]

Having tried unsuccessfully to enter a team into the innagraul Mothball 3000 rally, I've decided to have another go at getting a similar (more ambitious) event off the ground. This event should appeal to Poker Players with a sense of adventure.

This time, it's going to be called the Poker(.co.uk) Run 8000 (based loosely on the Gumball 8000 / Cannonball Run).

The idea is to travel across Europe, from the UK to Eastern Europe. Each team will have to first purchase a car and mod it up. The maximum allowed for this is £1000 (no buying a car off a mate - reciepts will have to be provided).

Here's a basic idea of a route we could follow: UK (Bristol > London > Dover) > France (Calais > Paris) > Belgium (Brussels) > Holland (Amsterdam) > Germany (Hanover > Berlin) > Czech Republic (Prague) > Austria (Vienna) > Slovenia (Ljubljana) > Italy (Venice > Milan) > Switzerland (Geneva) > France (Paris > Calais) > UK (Dover > London > Bristol).

As for the poker element of the game, I think there could be various ways to run this. Here's my first draft idea:

Teams of 2 players minimum, 4 players maximum, entry fee of £1000 per team (£250 each player if 4 in a team). 8 teams max = £8000 prize pool, though if we can get some good publicity and/or sponsorship there could well be some added value.

6 teams, payouts = 1st: £4000, 2nd: £2000.
7 teams, payouts = 1st: £5000, 2nd: £2000.
8 teams, payouts = 1st: £5500, 2nd: £2500.

At the end of each leg each team will be awarded chips depending on their finishing time.

1st = 10,000 chips.
2nd = 6,000 chips.
3rd = 5,000 chips.
4th = 4,000 chips.
5th = 3,000 chips.
6th = 2,000 chips.
7th = 1,000 chips.
8th = 1,000 chips.

The poker game will start 2 hours after the first team reaches the checkpoint (at a place to be agreed upon beforehand). Teams that haven't reached the rendevous point by then will find they are blinded out.

Each team member will have to play 1 level, after which each team can choose which player to put in as long as the same player doesn't play 2 levels in a row.

Points will be awarded depending on finishing positions.
1st = 10 points
2nd = 6 points
3rd = 5 points
4th = 4 points
5th = 3 points
6th = 2 points
7th = 1 point
8th = 0 points

After the game we'll find food and beers!

The total points score will determine who wins the contest.

What do others think? I think I am probably being far too ambitious and that a lot of people may sign up for the event, but then pull out last minute. In order to avoid this, I think I'll insist on a non-refundable upfront payment of the entry fee, at least 2 months before the rally starts.

So, when will this take place? Well, I'm thinking just after the WSOP. So, mid > late July - probably for a period of 7 days.

[Dice Man]

What happens if the first team gets to the table and plays super-fast, blinding everyone out?

[Gus Mango Fish]

Originally Posted by Dice Man

What happens if the first team gets to the table and plays super-fast, blinding everyone out?

Well the idea is that the game can't start until 2 hours after the first team has reached the destination. I'd imagine for most legs at least 4 or 5 other teams will have reached the rendevous point within 2 hours of the first team getting there. So hopefully there should be limited opportunities for the scenario you mention.

[Gus Mango Fish]

Here's some distances from Multimap.com, and I've also broken the rally down in to possible legs:


Day 1:
- Bristol > Dover: 194 miles, 3hrs 27
- Ferry crossing Dover > Calais [game 1 whilst waiting for, and on the Ferry]
- Calais > Paris: 184 miles, 3hrs 15 [game 2 in Paris]

Day 2:
- Paris > Brussels: 191 miles, 3hrs 22 [game 3]
- Brussels > Amsterdam: 127 miles, 2hrs 23 [game 4]

Day 3:
- Amsterdam > Hanover: 233 miles, 4hrs 7 (omfg!) [game 5]
- Hanover > Berlin: 180 miles [game 6]

Day 4:
- Berlin > Prague: 220 miles [game 7]
- Prague > Ljubljana (Slovenia): Slovenia isn't listed on Multimap - will update [game 8]

Day 5:
- Ljubljana > Vienna: not sure how far - will update [game 9]
- Vienna > Venice: multimap can't calculate this route - will update [game 10]

Day 6:
- Venice > Milan: 172 miles [game 11]
- Milan > Geneva: 197 miles [game 12]

Day 7:
- Geneva > Paris: 336 miles, 5hrs 47 [game 13]

Day 8:
- Paris > Calais: 184 miles, 3hrs 10 [game 14]
- Ferry crossing Calais > Dover [game 15 whilst waiting for, and on the ferry]
- Dover > Bristol: 194 miles, 3hrs 27 [game 16 and prize presentation]...

Okay, lmao.. I don't think this particular route is going to work. It would be absolutely knackering! Also, 16 games of poker! Strewth, that's going to be bloody hard work in itself. All good fun though lol

I think the idea needs more work lol.. Any suggestions?...

[BurnleyJoe]

Why not just do one throughout the UK?

[Gus Mango Fish]

Originally Posted by BurnleyJoe

Why not just do one throughout the UK?

I thought it would be much more interesting/exciting to see a few other countries whilst taking part in the rally. Also, it's roughly based on the Gumball 8000, which is a famous race across Europe.

[Professor]

I`m not sure you can buy a 2nd hand Lear Jet for around a grand??.... becuase that`s what you`ll need to get to all these places in just seven days!!!

Though the idea is intresting and, I could get a decent enough motor for a grand... John

[PokerWoody]

I like the idea, but that is far too many miles/games!

[Gus Mango Fish]

Originally Posted by Professor

I`m not sure you can buy a 2nd hand Lear Jet for around a grand??.... becuase that`s what you`ll need to get to all these places in just seven days!!!

Though the idea is intresting and, I could get a decent enough motor for a grand... John

lol, true.

Who is John btw?

[Gus Mango Fish]

Originally Posted by PokerWoody

I like the idea, but that is far too many miles/games!

QFT. I think I went way OTT on the first draft. I'll re-think the idea today.

How many miles a day do you think we should be looking at? And how many games?

How about 1 game a day, but split in to two halves? e.g. we play the first 4 blind levels at checkpoint 1 (25/50, 50/100, 100/200, 200/400), then the rest of the game (300/600, 400/800, 600/1200, 800/1600, 1000/2000, 1500/3000 etc) at checkpoint 2.

We could award the starting stack depending on the time to get to checkpoint 1:
1st: 6,000
2nd: 5,000
3rd: 4,000
4th: 3,000
5th: 2,000
6th: 1,000
7th: 1,000
8th: 1,000

Then bonus chips on the time to get to checkpoint 2 (as above). Should create an interesting mix of racing/pokering