The Strange World of No Blind Increase (NBI) Poker Tournaments

The No Blind Increase (NBI) format in online poker tournaments had two main variations: standard with a stack of 1,500 and blinds of 15/30, and deep with a stack of 2,000 and blinds of 5/10.

These tournaments could last for hours due to their deep structure, leading to unique strategies and controversies. Players like cowboymarco and callurdawae became known for their tactics in these matches.

cowboymarco played around 20,000 NBI tournaments between 2008 and 2010, achieving a ROI of 27% and earning $86,000. His strategy involved playing very tight and taking maximum time on each move, often leading opponents to tilt or disconnect. A 16-hour NBI match involving callurdawae was closely followed on the 2+2 forum, showcasing the extreme lengths these tournaments could go.