Hopefully we can get all the Aruba-folk to join in and contribute their experiences over this week. I arrived in Aruba this afternoon, and stopped off at the Radisson briefly on the way to check-in at the Holiday Inn. I'm glad I stopped. A large group of UBT players was gathered in the lobby of the Radisson hanging around a TV tuned to what else... CBS, where the show was airing. That was a nice fun atmosphere to check out the show, but I didn't stay long. After a brief visit, I left to get checked in. Tonight, it was back to the Radisson to try out the satellite action. With many players not yet having arrived, we still managed to get four $120 single-table satellites going. I played twice, making an early exit in both attempts. Of the first three satellites, the winners were Kenny Einiger, Adriana Jade and Tony Germaine. Joe Pane and Blair Rodman were still alive in #4 when I left, along with others whose name I either don't know or don't remember (sorry guys). Wow, it's amazing how I had already forgotten just how tough this format is when you don't have those nice online bankroll displays. It's very, very tough to keep track of all the players. If you've been playing a lot online, be prepared for a serious shock when you play this land-based. They were still going when I left, and for all I know, they may be playing half the night. For me, I'm too tired to play well, and I'm headed to bed early. Tomorrow is a new day, and satellites start back up at 2 PM. I'll be back in action. For those interested in the formats of the satellites and SnGs: $120 Single Table (7 players): 1st = $540, 2nd = $200. $530 Single Table (7 players): 1st = $2700, 2nd = $800 $250 Three-Table (21 players): 1st = $2700, 2nd = $700, 3rd = $600, 4th = $400, 5th = $300, 6th = $300 If you want the vig numbers, it's 11.9%, 5.7%, 4.8% respectively.
Stacks Ken, since you mentioned chip counting vs the online I have a quick question: What are the regulations for UBT on chip stacks, if any? Sounds like a good time. I was telling Hollywood my goal is to find you wandering the hotel in St Kitts, just like you were at the Radisson, and to buy shots until I get you drunk enough to give up all your secrets. :joker:
Aroooooba They must be stacked according to denomination, but so far no hard & fast rules re: how many chips in per stack. At a certain point the dealer will force a color up, but nothing set in stone. The good thing is, the sides of the chips are striped, which certainly aids in chip counting. However, colors are hard to distinguish: 25's are dark green, 500's are dark purple, 100's are black, and 5000's are dark brown, so to say that it can be confusing is an understatement. According to Russ Hamilton, as of tomorrow the black 100's will be removed (with a minimum bet of $500, the only time they're used is for surrendering a minimum bet -- or odd-number larger bet -- which can just as easily be done with a few more 25's) so this will certainly clean things up a bit. The chips are from UB, so for St Kitts we will have Bet21 chips with much stronger contrast. i played one $120 sit-n-go tonite, and the last ten hands had practically double the chip stack of my opponents. After hand 25, it was down to Adrianna Jade & myself, and she swung me by picking up a max bet blackjack while i lost a big correlative bet (about 15-20k). On hand 29, down by over a max bet as a result of this huge swing, i tried a Ken Smith secret bet like in the first UBT episode, betting the minimum in secret & hoping Adrianna would correlate with a big bet -- but it backfired when she just bet minimum instead. On the last hand, i needed a blackjack (and a blackjack only) on my all-in bet to win first, and the dealer DID deal out a blackjack -- to Adrianna! So once again i take second place, with the comfort of a couple hundred bucks as my prize... rock on, my cats & kitties! -hd.
Thanks HD Better luck in the upcoming (Bigger) events this week HD. Keep us updated with all the Aruba happenings and winners.
Live From Aruba Another up date from Aruba.They are having the players keep their chips in stacks of 20. Its being enforced almost 100 %. At least at the table I played Yes all 4 events were won by blackjack players vs. the poker players . Do I hear the skill vs. luck theme ? The winners won their seats into the first 540 event which takes place on Thursday.I won my seat in a good match against Blair Rodman and Kenny Smith. Kenny Smith's 11 dd turned bad on him and he was in trouble after that hand . So for 120 I won my 540 seat and 2nd place won cash The 500 event looks like it will have somewhere around a 100,000 prize pool Hey I won a UBT event that news in itself Joep
New Aruba Update For a recap of the Sit & Go's that were held last night 1st one consisted of 4 blackjack players and 3 poker players On hand 30 4 players were left 2 blackjack and 2 poker players that Sit & Go was won by Kenny Einiger.... 2nd one consisted of 3 blackjack players and 4 poker players after hand 25 there were 2 players left both were BJ players Hollywood Dave vs Vera P. That was won by Vera 3rd Sit & Go was 3 blackjack players and 4 poker players it again became heads up with 2 blackjack players John Ressman vs. Tony Germaine That was won by Tony 4th Sit & Go was 3 1/2 blackjack players and 3 1/2 poker players as Blair Rodman was on the table and plays both on a Pro level That was was won by me More Sit & Go's are scheduled for 2 pm I'm off to go scuba diving Joep
Thanks for the updates It is much appreciated by those of us being forced to sit home and play online... Gayle Wow....my 100th post! Think it took long enough?
Back at you Gayle Congrats on your 100th post Gayle. I was sitting at 99 posts looking for an excuse to hit 100 and you just gave me my opening. I couldn't be with finer company hitting my 100th right behind you. Good luck all in Aruba and may the sun shine down on you.
Arriving here today Aruba I ventured to my first sit-n-go. I had the prividge of meeting Ken Smith in person. At the 120 table I was sitting the producers of UBT were playing also! All BJ players with 1 poker player. I didn't fare well and realized that counting chips, especially these yellow 1000 is a heck of a lot harder than given the numbers on the screen. Guess what - no 25000 all-in on the first hand was observed. In fact the play at my table reminded me very much of Global playing - lots of minimum bets with people taking shots. Interesting thing. At my table one of the BJ players actually started predicting the cards BEFORE they were dealt. That right BEFORE and not just the card but the suit! If I hadn't seen it I wouldn't have believed it. Turns out the dealer for our table didn't do a very good job with the shuffle. Example 10 spades, 9 hearts, J spades, 10 hearts, Q spades, J hearts. The head of UBT saw this and ordered a reshuffle immediately! It was funny actually. Live action is DEFINATELY different than online. Kenny E, Phil Healmith, Hollywood and others were playing. I was just too tired from only 3 hours of sleep so I'm going out for dinner and a good nights sleep. Tomorrow - bright and early for more sit-n-go's. This was the MOST fun I had losing 120 that I ever had!
K42 Thanks for your Aruba post. But are you sure, you wouldn't have had as much fun throwing your 120 out the jump door and trying to collect it on the way down?
Sunday Update Here is your Sunday night Aruba update Today more players arrived and a morning seminar was held on how to play EBJ and a review of the rules. The panel consisted of Blair Rodman, Kenny Einiger, Hollywood Dave,Annie Duke and yours truly Joe Pane Today UBT held 10 Sit & Go's Tournaments for a total of 14 tournaments in 2 days and we havent even played the big events. Is this not good news for everyone 7 of them were for a seat in the 540 event I have a partial list of the winners as some were played while I was on the beach 540 event winners that I personally saw James Grosjean Kami Lis There was one 330 event that featured Phil Hellmuth and Kenny Einiger and the rest of the table was all poker players.Russ Hamilton bet Phil Hellmth 7,000 he could not beat Kenny and 2 other players at the table Kenny Einiger won the table and Phil Hellmuth was last seen counting out 7,000 out of his pocket There were two 530 event's that awarded a seat into the Main Event Previn M won his seat in a table of all star players (A real tough lineup) In the other 530 event It came down to the last hand with out fearless leader Kenny Smith having the lead and a secret bet but having to bet first. Kenny used his secret bet and now George Long who was Br 3 betting second also used his secret bet and Russ Hamilton was Br2 betting last with no secret bet The hands were dealt out and Kenny was dealt a hard 17 .....OUCH George Long was dealt a A-9 Russ was dealt a 10-10 Kenny attempted to bluff the other players by using a secret action card George DD on his A-9 Russ split his 10-10 and received a 9 on one and a 10 on the other The dealer busted giving Russ the seat into the main event and George a 2nd place finish for cash Kenny was last seen knocking down a few at the bar a sight not to many have seen of the mild mannered Miss. man with his hair down. If Kenny ever gets lucky we are all in trouble Until my next Aruba report see ya Joep
Can he make it here in time ? Russ was thinking about giving his seat in the main event away to Rick if he could make it down to Aruba in time before Tuesday morning. I guess Russ wanted to thank Rick for all his support and backing of the UBT here at BJT.com :laugh: Rick we will hold the seat for you until 2:23 am Aruba Time Sept 25 2006 . Joep
Aruba stuff Thanks for the all the posts about what's going on... I actually am one of the winners from the online tournament and will be flown out on Thursday to compete on Friday in one of the 2 final tables. =D I didn't quite realize how huge this was until tonight when I looked on the posts and saw everyone listing who was there!!! Talk about intimidation! Lol. Anyways, if anyone has any advice for me about blackjack, I'd greatly appreciate it, seeing as I just started to go to casinos and play blackjack a couple weeks ago.... as for how I managed to get lucky enough to win the trip to Aruba... I'm still completely confused and 110% grateful that I managed to get this far! Look for me when the event airs- my name is Carly!!! I will post again and let you all know how it goes!
What a difference twelve hours of sleep makes. After I got plenty of rest, I felt MUCH more comfortable counting those chip stacks in yesterday's satellite action. Unfortunately, improved accuracy didn't help my results. I'm now 0 for 5 in satellite action. As JoeP has already described, I played one big $530 satellite yesterday, and I managed to get myself into the lead on the final hand, betting from the button with my secret bet. Once the bets were placed, I had the high and low over the other two players (Russ Hamilton and George Long). However, their cards proved to be better than my 17, and I finished in third place. I'll be back in action tonight. Today I had a chance to talk to fgk and his lovely wife MJ for a while. He's a perfect example of the players that we need to be attracting to the game to make this take off. He says he's having a great time regardless, but I hope he knocks 'em dead in the main event. I've attached a few photos of the amazing beaches here. I haven't ventured down to the Radisson with my camera yet, so no shots of blackjack action or notable people yet. The main event starts tomorrow. I can't wait!
ship I See The Ship Is Leaning So I Assume That Tex Is On Board -but There Is No Dock So He Will Have To Jump And Whale It In:d Everybody Keep Us Posted Sounds Like A Lot Of Fun In Aruba And Post More Pictures Of The Good Bad The Ugly And Of Aruba
I've been thinking about this and it really seems that while it would be nice to win some sit and go's or winning a seat through a satellite, that the main advantage to playing in them is to get comfortable with the types of chips the tournament uses and how much the regulations are enforced with the chip stacks, etc...A good way to get a leg up on the players who are just playing the big event, no matter how small a leg up it is. Just a thought for the people thinking about St Kitts.
Who else is there? I have not heard any mention of Kevin Blackwood or MIT Mike in Aruba. Are they over there? What about some of the other Blackjack/Poker players that we regularly see and hear about. Anyone fancy compiling a list of those competing, and others who may have arrived there just for a look in. Maybe not (don’t think I could be bothered with that after looking at Kens pictures of the place) but you never know. Andy
