Season 6  is bringing you some changes.  Every season has brought you changes.  But this season we are making some changes to the season finale, the question of TD’s playing, the prizes, and a few other things as well.  We hope these changes will improve everyone’s enjoyment of the game and the season.  As always we welcome your input and if you have any compliments, direct them to Matthew and any complaints, direct them to Mark.

There are a few things that we are going to try as a test and see if they work.  These are not yet permanent, but if everyone likes them they will become a fixture.  Starting August 1^st, we are going to start everyone with a Double Stack!  Everyone will start with 2000 chips.  Your dealers will still get 500 extra chips for dealing.  However, we are going to do away with Extra Chip Cards.  In this test period, bars will no longer be giving away extra chip cards.  We will be offering something new.  A Survival Bonus.  Instead of Extra Chip Cards, we will be offering you extra chips just for making it to the break.  At the first break (after 50 and 100) you will receive 500 in extra chips.  At the second break (after 500 and 1000) you will receive 5000 in extra chips.  We really believe that this will make things more fun and fair for everyone.  But we do need help to make this work.  We still need you to drink like there was no tomorrow and eat early and often.  If the bars find their sales are dropping much, we will have to put the Extra Chip Cards back into play. 

Season 6 is going to be a long season.  We are transitioning into a two season league.  There will now be a Summer/Fall season and a Winter/Spring season.  Season 6 represents our first Summer/Fall season.  Season 6 points started on July 4^th.  The last day to earn points for Season 6 will be October 31^st.  Points will be finalized on November 7^th and the Season 6 Finale will take place the weekend of November 13^th and 14^th. 

Also changing for Season 6 is the Two-day Tourney format.  We will still have a Winner’s Tourney and a Points Tourney, but this season we will have them both on the same day, at the same location.  Making it a double tourney rather than a two-day event.  And our prizes will be very simple this season.  Cash.  Cash.  And nothing but Cash!

The other changes for the season concern how the points are counted and your TD’s.  The same format as before will apply for First through Eighth place points each night.  100pts for 1^st down to 20 for 8^th.  The first change is that we are getting rid of points for attendance.  People seemed to be split on the question of if they liked them or not so we are getting rid of them.  That will also make it a lot easier to track your points and who should and shouldn’t be in the Finale.  The second change is one that concerns your friendly TD’s.  I tried not allowing TD’s to play in any games.  All my TD’s quit.  I tried letting some of my TD’s play.  Then I almost quit.  So we had to find a fair point in the system that allows TD’s to play, but still allows there to be a true value to the other players rather than just another obstacle for them.  So below, you will see the new rules for TD participation.  These rules start August 1^st as well.

TD’s (Matthew, Jolene, Mark, Katie, and Bill) will not be allowed to play in any game they are running.  They will be allowed to play in any game they are not running.  They can win the nightly prizes.  Except for Matthew and Jolene, they can play in and win the Season Finale.  In the past we have offered chip bounties but we are no longer offering chip bounties on TD’s.  We are now offering points.  If you take out a TD you will receive 65 points in addition to any points you may receive by reaching the final table.  There is a special bonus on Matthew’s (my) head.  If you take Matthew out of any game he is playing in you receive 85 points in addition to any you may earn by reaching the final table.  Any TD bounty points you receive are yours.  You do not have to reach the final table to receive your bounty points.

That’s about it for the changes.  I know, there are a lot of them, but we have needed a few changes and Family Poker Night is always in the process of fine tuning.  Some things will stay the same.  We still offer a $100 bonus for any new place you refer us to that signs a contract with us.  We are going to be a little stricter on the behavior rules.  Good Sportsmanship is going to be a must.  Even in my own behavior, I have been slipping.  We were started on the premise of being a fun place to play and we intend to reclaim and solidify that.    

Most of you will never know how much we appreciate all of your support and just how thankful I am to be able to bring our little piece of the world to you every week.  For all of us here at Family Poker Night, thank you!

Matthew Pierce