sounds to me like the newer players are playing a little too tight. some of the free leagues i used to play in either played like they had money invested where they played tighter or just plain fast and loose, calling down hands like crazy. for the last 5 weeks, take some of the more promising players aside pre-tournament, and try to get a gauge on how they are playing. encourage these players by opening up their hand selection some and challenge these experienced players, put them to the test by going over the top on them when they raise. once you put your money in, the chips become just that...chips. they don't equal money, tell them. if you put a real monetary value on those chips (this is my money i'm betting), in their minds they are protecting their own money, when in fact that money is, in fact, gone. part of the game is taking chances. as far as bounties go, there was one league i played in where the player who either won the first hand at each table, or the points leader there at each table that particular night was the bounty. everyone started out with 4,000 in chips and a 1,500 chip bonus to whoever took out the bounty. the response to this was a pretty good one, especially when a bounty raised and 5 others called him or raised him back, trying for that 1500 chip bonus. sometimes they would feel like they were getting ganged-up on. it makes it more fun in my mind and can lead to some interesting hands, in my opinion.