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S-Points Calculator

Instructions
Buy-In:
Fees:
Orbit 6:
Orbit 10:
Orbit 14:
Orbit 18:
100% Mins:
 
Vig%
-
S-Points
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S-Points Calculator

With just a few pieces of data from a structure sheet, the Main Calculator can determine how good a poker tournament's structure is. It will calculate the Vig % (money from a buy-in that's not going to the prize pool) and S-Points (Structure Points). The more S-Points the better (more starting chips, longer levels, slower blind increases). Run through the example once, then use it on real structure sheets so that you can play in the best tournaments.

Step 0:     Overview

The Main Calculator is really the only one necessary. However, the values it takes as inputs are themselves calculated, so I provided a Sub-Calculator to help. But you don't need to use the Sub-Calculator if you can remember this:

[Orbit Cost] = [Small Blind] + [Big Blind] + [Big Blind Ante]

An [Orbit Cost] is the sum of the blinds and ante for an orbit of the button at a level. Using the Example Structure in the right column; the [Level 6 Orbit Cost] is 1000 (200 + 400 + 400).

You will need to do that [Orbit Cost] math a few times for the Main Calculator. So, you can do it in your head or use the Sub-Calculator to help.

The Main Calculator is really the only one necessary. However, the values it takes as inputs are themselves calculated, so I provided a Sub-Calculator to help. But you don't need to use the Sub-Calculator if you can remember this:

[Orbit Cost] = [Small Blind] + [Big Blind] + [Big Blind Ante]

An [Orbit Cost] is the sum of the blinds and ante for an orbit of the button at a level. Using the Example Structure in the right column; the [Level 6 Orbit Cost] is 1000 (200 + 400 + 400).

You will need to do that [Orbit Cost] math a few times for the Main Calculator. So, you can do it in your head or use the Sub-Calculator to help.

In the Main Calculator, enter values for Total Buy-In: and Vig & Fees::

Total Buy-In: Total cost to register one person into the tournament.
 
Vig & Fees: Amount from one registration not going to the prize pool.

Determining these isn't that straight forward. Tournaments hide their fees in the fine print, scatter them throughout the page and mask some of them as percentages. The Example Structure does this as well. All the yellow highlighted items are values that should be used for these 2 inputs.

For the Example Structure the Total Buy-In: to input into the Main Caculator is 310 ($300 Buy-In + $10 Add-On) and Vig & Fees: is 62. In the Example Structure, some fees are listed at the top ($28 + $10 Add-On) and then there's more at the bottom ($18 Dealer Gratuity + $6 Promotional Costs).

The next 4 values in the Main Calculator are the [Orbit Costs] at different levels (6, 10, 14 & 18). For this you can use the Sub-Calculator to calculate the correct values for the Main Calculator, or just do the math in your head and enter the data directly.

The below instructions are for the Sub-Calculator.

  1. Enter 15000 (10,000 + 5,000 Add-On) for Starting Chips: .
  2. For each row of inputs that correspond to a Level (6, 10, 14 & 18) enter that level's blind and ante data. Using the Example Structure, the first row should have 6 in the Level drop down, 200 for the Small Blind, 400 for the Big Blind and 400 for the Big Blind Ante.
  3. Select Caclulate Orbit Costs from the bottom drop down and click the Execute button. The Orbit Cost and Stack % columns will populate. For the Example Structure the Stack % values should be: 1000, 3000, 7500 & 25000.
  4. When the Orbit Costs are correct, select Move Orbit Costs To Main in the drop down and click Execute. That will move the Orbit Costs from the Sub-Caclulator to the corresponding inputs in the Main Calculator.

The drop down lets you reset the Sub-Calculator, but don't do that now. You will use Stack % values in the next step.

The last input for the Main Calculator is how long before an [Orbit Cost] is greater than the Starting Chips. Determining this is a manual process of calculating [Orbit Costs] and comparing them to the Starting Chips, but the Sub-Calculator can help.

From the prior step, the Sub-Calculator should be:

LevelSmall BigBB Ante Orbit CostStack %
6200400 40010006.7%
106001200 1200300020%
1415003000 3000750050.0%
18500010000 1000025000166.7%

You need to find the first level where the Stack % is over 100%. Looking at the above data, that occurs between Level 14 and Level 18. To find out exactly, you need to calculate Orbit Costs for levels between those two.

Start by overwriting Level 14 data with Level 17 data. Change the Level drop down to 17, replace the Blind and Ante data with that of Level 17, select Calculate Orbit Costs in the drop down and click Execute. Repeat this process until you find the first Level that has a Stack % 100% or lower.

LevelSmall BigBB Ante Orbit CostStack %
6200400 40010006.7%
1630006000 600015000100.0%
1740008000 800020000133.3%
18500010000 1000025000166.7%

For the Example Structure, Level 16 is the last level where Starting Chips: are greater than the [Orbit Cost]. Since levels are 30 minutes, 480 (16 x 30) is the value you put into 100% Minutes: of the Main Calculator. Next, click the Calculate button and Vig % and S-Points will populate, telling you how well the example tournament is structured.

When done, you will see the Example Tournament Structure has a 20.0% Vig % and 54 S-Points. The Vig % should be easily relatable. For its price range, you'll find its a little high for a special tournament series, but right in line for a recurring monthly or weekly tournament.

54 S-Points on the otherhand means nothing, so you need to give it a context. Establish a benchmark by calculating the S-Points for what you think was the best structured tournament you've played in, then use that to measure other tournaments against. For example, I play in the lower level WSOP Circuit Events (~$350) which have 65 S-Points. Since the Example Structure has 56 S-Points I would consider the Example Structure a good tournament structure.

The more S-Points, the better. See the About Page for my rambling explanation and math behind S-Points. This is the jist:

S-Points compares the Starting Stack Size and Level Lengths to how much the blinds are increasing.

The more starting chips, the better the structure. The longer the levels, the better the structure. The smaller the blinds increase, the better the structure. Those 3 variables are all relative to another though. A larger starting stack can be negated by skipping levels. 10% more time at each level isn't that great if the blinds/antes are increasing 25% more each level.

S-Points relates those 3 variables, reducing them to one simple number that lets you evaluate a tournament. Compare S-Points of different tournaments and you can objectively determine which tournament has the better structure.

Main Calculator

Total Buy-In:
Vig & Fees:
Level 6 Orbit Cost:
Level 10 Orbit Cost:
Level 14 Orbit Cost:
Level 18 Orbit Cost:
100% Minutes:
Vig%
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S-Points
-

Sub-Calculator

Starting Chips:
Level Small Blind Big Blind BB Ante Orbit Cost Stack %
- -
- -
- -
- -
   
Example Poker Series
Event #9:     NLH
11/5/2024 @ 12:00 PM

Buy-In: $300 ($272 + $28)
Players start with 10,000 in Chips
5,000 Chip Add-On For $10 To Dealers
Level Small Big BB Ante
1 25 50 50
2 50 100 100
3 75 150 150
4 100 200 200
15 Minute Break
5 150 300 300
6 200 400 400
7 300 600 600
8 400 800 800
15 Minute Break
9 500 1000 1000
10 600 1200 1200
11 800 1600 1600
12 1000 2000 2000
15 Minute Break
13 1200 2400 2400
14 1500 3000 3000
15 2000 4000 4000
16 3000 6000 6000
15 Minute Break
17 4000 8000 8000
18 5000 10000 10000
19 6000 12000 12000
20 8000 16000 16000
$18 Of Buy-in For Dealer Gratuity
All Levels Will Be 30 Minutes
Promotional Costs Of 2% Taken From Buy-In
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