Party Poker Adds Time-Based Tournaments

PartyPoker.com has added a new type of Sit-and-Go tournament to its lineup.  This rather odd concoction can be found under the similarly odd tab in the lobby, labeled “HellKat.” 

The HellKat tournaments are just like regular Sit-and-Go’s, except for one major difference.  Instead of just of having the end of the competition come when one person has all the chips, HellKat tournaments are time-based.  Each has a fixed duration; regardless of how many players are left when time runs out, the tournament is over (of course, it may also end like a standard tournament if it just so works out that way before the time limit is up).   

The payouts are the same as a regular Sit-and-Go, as well.  In the case of a time-based tournament, however, the in-the-money finishers are determined by chip count.  In the case of these 10-handed tables, the top three chip leaders make the money.  The HellKat tables vary in duration, with 15, 30, 45, and 60 minute tables available. 

For another twist, Party has instituted randomized finish times at some of the tables.  At these tables, the tournaments can end up to ten percent earlier than scheduled.   

The time-based tables all have timers so that players know the status of the game.  The timer will begin blinking when only ten percent of the tournament remains.  At this point, players will not have as long to act so that it is more difficult to stall.