S-Points Calculator

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.

<< Previous Next >>

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:

Level	Small	Big	BB Ante	Orbit Cost	Stack %
6	200	400	400	1000	6.7%
10	600	1200	1200	3000	20%
14	1500	3000	3000	7500	50.0%
18	5000	10000	10000	25000	166.7%

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.

Level	Small	Big	BB Ante	Orbit Cost	Stack %
6	200	400	400	1000	6.7%
16	3000	6000	6000	15000	100.0%
17	4000	8000	8000	20000	133.3%
18	5000	10000	10000	25000	166.7%

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.