Table Games BlackJack Tourney

How do black jack tournaments work? Received the email offer from the Cromwell for their tournament but don't see any rules or instructions. Checked out blackjacktournamentsdot.com but it looks like there are several types of tourneys.

 

There's a couple of good videos on YouTube. The thing that struck me is that there is a certain disregard at times for basic strategy in favor of 'gamblin'.
https://www.888casino.com/blog/blackjack-strategy-guide/blackjack-tournaments

 

There are also a number of books and articles on BJ tournament strategy. Anything by Stanford Wong is worth reading.

 

Thanks for the link there is some good information. I had not thought about youtube. Has anyone ever competed in one? Is the number of entries capped?

 

I have played in about 20 of them and every tournament is different. Sometimes you are competing against your table to advance, sometimes you are competing vs. all tables (highest chip count) for a certain number of rounds. That is the most important to understand.

From there, BJ tournaments are all about maximizing your opportunities at the right time. When others are max betting, you may be min betting and hoping for a dealer win, where as when others are min betting, you may go big for some separation. You will double on hard hands you never doubles on before, split cards you never split, etc... all because its not real money and its all about chip count and where you are comparatively to other players.

BJ tournaments are fun, but you need to be somewhat aggressive and have a very strong understanding on what's going on around you.

 

Pay close attention to the amount of chips every player has at your table. As you get close to the last 3 or 4 hands for your table, you'll be able to judge whether you need to bet big (you are behind), whether you just need to maintain (you are close to the chip leader), or whether you need to bet just enough to stay ahead of 2nd place (you are the chip leader). Same thought process goes for doubling or splitting hands you normally wouldn't, based on basic strategy.

It's a totally different beast than playing BJ at a regular table.

 

Thanks for all the feedback. How big do these tournaments get? The Cromwell offer has payout through 48 spots.

 

I have played in similar tournaments at Paris and Harrah's. If I remember correctly, they had somewhere around 400-500 participants. You will start off with $1000 in chips, min. bet $25, 3:2 (Paris), 6:5 (Harrah's), (I am assuming that Cromwell's will be 3:2), 20 rounds (hands), first to bet rotates around the table, so if you are in the first spot, you are not always betting first. You are given a certain amount of time to bet when it is your turn, but most people are putting their chips out for the next round right away. Since you need to gauge your bets based on the other players bets/chip counts, it's best to wait your turn to place your bet. They will stop play after round 17 and do a chip count, which helps towards the end. Once you are out of chips, you are done. Sometimes there is an opportunity for a rebuy-in if there are enough open spots. This will cost you $100. At the end of the session, the two highest chip counts at the table advance to the next round. The number of sessions depends on how many people are participating. In the Harrah's tournament, if you made it past the first two sessions, you were guaranteed in the money for at least $775. Of course, this is in casino play, not cash.

They should give you a rules sheet when you register, but if they don't, ASK FOR IT! It will go through all of the rules, and it helps to read through it, even though they will explain the rules before each session.

These can be a lot of fun, and very frustrating as well. Basic strategy takes a backseat at times, and you will be surprised at some of the unorthodox plays people will make and end up advancing! Of course, if the cards don't fall your way, it won't matter what strategy you use! LOL!

Besides Wong, Ken Einiger has a book on tournament BJ called "Play to Win". It is an easy read, and has lots of great information.

Good luck, and HAVE FUN!!!!!

 

Some places will set their BJ's at 2-1 to discourage you from doubling down especially if the dealer has a bust card.

As posters said above, pay attention to everyone's hand. You are going to see some weird things happen that you wouldn't see at a normal BJ table (splitting 10's, hitting H17 and up etc). Oh yeah and the button moves after each hand.