"What is a 3x-Turbo?"

That's an issue that we've been asked more times than I care to bear in mind over time. From the time that the primary x-Turbo was created (in September 2007, as a satellite to the 2007 WCOOP Main Event), the naming convention of this special and really important satellite type hasn't ever quite fit perfectly.

When the primary 2x-Turbo was created, it was named something like "$8.80+R NLHE Turbo (1-Hour Rebuy Period) to the WCOOP Main Event." That was way too long and unwieldy, though...so we thought of it, considered that the rebuy period was twice (2x) so long as a regular turbo rebuy, that the starting stack was twice (2x) as large as a standard turbo rebuy...and "2x-Turbo" was born. Over time, a turbo rebuy type with a 90-minute rebuy period was created and have become the 3x-Turbo, and throughout the last couple of years a 120-minute rebuy period satellite was created, giving life to the 4x-Turbo. The names made less sense than ever.

We've discussed this issue time and again over the years, kicking various potential solutions around: 2x-Rebuy Period, 60-Minute Rebuys, etc. We never came to an agreement on what to do, and the problem died down as other things came to the vanguard of the day's work. Recently, it was stated again, and certainly one of us pointed out the Saturday Splash and the concept that we must always use a reputation that folks could go along with splashing numerous chips around for a very long time in a turbo rebuy, that is the fundamental nature of the tournaments in question. After some discussion, we reached agreement. See the next examples of ways these tournaments could be shown within the PokerStars client...

Satellites:

SCOOP-54-M [Main Event] Sat: $7.50+R NLHE [Little Splash], 5 Seats Gtd (formerly 2x-Turbo)SCOOP-54-M [Main Event] Sat: $7.50+R NLHE [Splash], 5 Seats Gtd (formerly 3x-Turbo)SCOOP-54-M [Main Event] Sat: $7.50+R NLHE [Big Splash], 5 Seats Gtd (formerly 4x-Turbo)

Regular Schedule:

Little Splash, $8K Gtd (formerly 2x-Turbo)Splash, $8K Gtd (formerly 3x-Turbo)Big Splash, $8K Gtd (formerly 4x-Turbo)

We realize, of course, that "Splash" doesn't necessarily mean anything when it comes to immediate recognition in a title any longer than "x-Turbo" does, but it surely doesn't confuse players within the way that "2x-Turbo" does. Many players (especially new players) often think that the "2x" prefix is a modifier of the "Turbo" suffix, meaning that the tournament is a Turbo that's twice as fast, etc. That's one big issue we're fixing with this change.

We have a unique branded rebuy tournament, the Saturday Splash (90-minute rebuy period, 3K starting stack, 30K add-on stack), in order to keep its current name (unchanged). It's our hope/belief that this modification in naming convention of our other turbo rebuy tournaments that have extended rebuy periods and better than normal stacks will lead to players catching on quickly in relation to knowing what to anticipate after they see 'Splash' in tournament titles.

Bryan Slick (aka StaffBryanS) is the PokerStars Senior Manager of Online Championships

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