Cruise Blackjack Tournaments

Discussion in 'Blackjack Events (Other areas)' started by ANDY 956, Sep 1, 2009.

  1. ANDY 956

    ANDY 956 Member

    Unfortunately I am unable to make one of the organised BJ cruise tournaments.

    However, I am booked on an ordinary family cruise (Adventurer of the Sea) in early November. The ship will be holding it’s own BJ tournament and I am certain to enter it even though I am aware that it is more for “fun” than the real thing.

    I recall that there was a thread on here discussing possible strategy and the best way to play these ordinary BJ cruise tournaments. I have searched but can’t find the information.

    Can anyone direct me to the thread?

    Thanks.

    Andy
     
  2. ptaylorcpa

    ptaylorcpa Member

    Typical format

    Andy,

    I don't know about the link, but here is what I have seen on most cruise ships when they offer blackjack tournaments in their casino.

    Typically there is only one tournament offered during the cruise, maybe on a longer cruise two. Be sure to check the activity sheets they give you daily so you don't miss it, or ask in the casino when it will be so you can plan accordingly.

    It will be accumulation format, usually played at one table with seven or more seats available per round during the time slotted for accumulation rounds. You can buy a chance for some nominal amount like $20. You will play a set number of hands, usually not very many, probably seven or so. Typical rules are some minimum bet, but no max bet, blackjack might pay 2 to 1.

    The objective is to be one of the top seven scores on the leaderboard at the end of the time alloted for the accumulation round. The accumulation round might be open for several hours, to give everyone a chance to play once or as many times as you want.

    The seven finalists with the top scores at the end of the time alloted will play a standard table format for a limited number of hands to determine who has the most chips at the end of that round. Find out all you can about how the final round will be played. Usually you get to choose your seat based upon the position you finished on the leaderboard, so choosing the right seat to have the button to your left is very important. Most of the time they will start betting on the final table from seat one, so you can almost guarantee where the button will finish rotating for the final hand.

    The prize pool is set in advance and is really terrible. $500 is not uncommon for first place. Second and third place might get some money, but beyond that you might get a Tshirt or trinket for getting to the final table. Besides the $500 for first place you will get a small plastic trophy to put on your mantel. The EV is horrible. Just figure how much money the casino rakes in at $20 per seat per round and you can see how this is such a money maker for the casino. It makes you wonder why they don't offer this more often during the cruise like they do Bingo, which is another real money maker for the casino.

    If you do decide to give it a go, what can you do to up your odds?

    Buy a chip to get a seat, but don't play until the very end. Usually chips to play are bought at the cashier window. You give the chip to dealer to get your seat when a round is about to be played. When it gets close to time to quit they will announce only so many seating rounds left. Generally if you have a chip in hand and are at the table waiting for a seat, they will let you play even if you are the only one holding a chip, but don't let an empty seat go otherwise they might tell you that you should have taken the seat then and won't deal to you by yourself. The advantage of waiting to the very end to play is then you know exactly what you have to get in order to be the lowest score to qualify. Be careful though, if that last table is hot and there are several people with good chip stacks, they might knock someone out of second or third place and that seventh place chip score you might have beaten is no longer good enough to qualify since number five is now the lowest score.

    If you are lucky enough to get to the final table, then use your best tournament strategy to the test. Pick your seat carefully. Several people will still play all or bust and will bust. Others will bet minimum to the last hand then go all in. You just have to play smart and hope you get lucky enough to have a shot at either the high or low on the final hand and hope that it falls your way.

    Good luck and have fun! Enjoy the cruise.

    Pat
     
  3. ANDY 956

    ANDY 956 Member

    Re: Typical Format

    Pat,

    Thank you for giving such a detailed reply.

    I have printed it off and have put it in my suitcase ready for the cruise tournament.

    I do want that small plastic trophy to put on my mantel.

    I will let you know how I get on.

    Andy
     
  4. hopinglarry

    hopinglarry Top Member

    Cruise BJ Tournament

    I just won the BJT on the Radiance. I would imagine they will run the BJT the same on the Adventurer.

    $25 entry fee, 7 hands, 2-1 BJs, 500 in chips, 25 min and 500 max bet. 1st paid 862, 2nd 4?? and 3rd was 2??. The pay off was determined in some fashion by the entry fees. They had 2 tables going with 7 players. I do not know what the total number of entries was. There was at least 6 rounds of 14 players. I was on the final table of qualifying and there was only 4 of us, 2 of which went to finals.

    It took 1650 to make top 7, 2200 was top chip count. They announce the low necessary total at the start of each round.

    Started at 1PM and cut off rebuys at 1:40.

    I actually entered 4 times. After the first 2 set of tables played (I wasn't playing in them), the low for the top 7 was 1200. When I started playing I knew it was going to take at least 1500 to make final 7, so I just bet 500 on 1st hand. I didn't win the first hand until the 4th time I entered. I ended up with 2025.

    Seat selection on the final table was determined by chip total. Most chips selected 1st and so on. I was 2nd and selected seat 6.

    I bet 25 for 2 hands to see what was going on. Two people already had over 1000, so I just shoved the 500 out and got lucky and won. On the 3rd hand I also bet 500 got a DD hand and won again giving me 2000. I then bet the minimum. I was the last bettor on the final hand and took high/low on 2nd place. I won the hand to win the tournament. I got the little trophy and a shirt.

    It is a crap shoot, but if you make it to the final table, you should have an advantage, because most of the people will not have a clue as to how to win.

    Good Luck,
    Larry
     
  5. ANDY 956

    ANDY 956 Member

    Bon Voyage

    I am setting off on my cruise tomorrow.

    The Blackjack Tournaments.com shirt and Tournament Blackjack Players Association hat have been packed, so I should look like a “ringer” or real pro for the BJ tourney on the ship. Wearing this stuff will probably make the other players want kill me or make them cautious about their play. One way or another, it should be a good laugh and I will let you know how I got on.

    Wish me luck.

    Andy :D
     
  6. tgun

    tgun Member

    Good luck, have a great time, hope to see you again someday.


    tgun & swede21
     
  7. TXtourplayer

    TXtourplayer Executive Member

    Go get'em

    Good luck Andy, let us know how you do.
     
  8. instagator

    instagator New Member

    Cruise BJT

    Just got off a 2 week cruise aboard the Celebrity Infinity. I finished 1st and 2nd in their two BJTs. We were comped a Royal Suite by the players club for previous play. This is by far the best comped casino of any of the cruise lines. Be sure you let them know in advance of your sailing that you want to be rated. Most of their ships do not have player card tracking so perception and visibility are the keys. Use the Jean Scott/ Anthony Curtis "rules of engagement" to the fullest. When playing video poker onboard always cash out by feeding in enough money to trigger a hand pay. Charge the max allowed to your room each day at the cage and pay it off at Guest Relations before you leave the ship. And don't forget to tip the casino host. She's the one that sends in the report on your play.

    Royal Caribbean holds qualifying BJTs for their year end Finals Tournament. Problem is you win the tournament and if there's not enough entries you don't win the free cruise and a seat in the finals.
     
  9. ANDY 956

    ANDY 956 Member

    Back from the cruise

    The format for the cruise Blackjack Tournament was exactly as stated in the previous posts except that it was $25 to enter. I was on the ship for two weeks so managed to enter both weekly tournaments.

    The first week tournament was scheduled for 8 p.m., which clashed with the first and second dinner sittings. Following the advice of entering late I hung around a bit but saw no one else at the cashiers desk. I decided to purchase my chip and was directed to a table at the far end of the casino. Well it turned out that only eight people had entered, and the casino staff informed us that it would be a seven-hand shoot out with $200 going to the winner. I came third in the tournament and won a Casino Royale T-shirt.

    The second week tournament was scheduled for 2 p.m. which I entered and was expecting more players. I arrived at the Casino a little bit early but again saw little activity at the cashiers desk. Thinking it was going to be another seven- hand shoot out I purchased my chip, which placed me on the first table. All of a sudden people appeared and entered the tournament.

    I won the table and for the next three rounds and was announced as chip leader. Players were buying re-buys, others were joining and the casino staff announced that my total was low and that they should go for it.

    The players did go for it and I started to slip down the table. By the time I realised that I had not made the seven, the re-buys had finished and I was out.

    Like the previous posts said, the golden rule is to enter as late as you can.

    It was still good fun and the cruise was fantastic.

    Andy
     
    Last edited: Nov 27, 2009
    tgun likes this.

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