we usually start around 6-7pm
start with around 400 chips, 1,5,10,25 denominations
blinds start at 1,2, and raise every half hour
usually ends around 11-12, second place gets $20, winner gets the rest

if you dont force the blind raises people will grind it out, you need to force the action so it doesnt drag into 1-2am with 5 people left in it

also buybacks in the first hour only, and this is optional, its frustrating as hell to have someone buy back in with more chips than you, so we try to limit that to only if they fuck up real early so everyone isnt punished too much, but they can still play the rest of the night

i havent won in a few months, but im still probably up $40-50 over the last few years