Las Vegas Hilton $100000 tournament

I have just returned from playing in this event. It was the largest I ever played...close to 1000 players.
The normal Hilton rules were in effect ($5000 chips, 2500 max, 100 min) with two unique twists. 1- on a designated hand, (determined by chance) all players were dealt an imaginary ace as the first card.2- For $100, you could buy a mulligan, which would allow you to replace a card once during the each session.
The 10th hand was drawn for the ace deal. I bet the maximum, intending to use my mulligan if I didn't get an 8. 9 or 10.
When dealt, I got a king, but the dealer, mindlessly, continued dealing giving
everybody a second card. When this was pointed out to the pit guy, he declared a misdeal, and the hand started over. This time i got an eight, the dealer had a twenty, so instead of winning 3750, I lost 2500, a swing of 6750.
Needless to say, I didn't advance.
Comments please.

 

That a shame, but

Fredguy, I am not trying to make you feel bad, but tournament blackjack is different from regular blackjack. Every player at the table during tournament play is responsible for watching the game is dealt correctly. You can’t assume the dealer is not going to make a mistake.

Had I of been in your situation I would have been telling the dealer to stop before ever pulling out more than one extra card.

It is the player’s responsibility to pay attention during every hand during the round. Not just the placement of the cards, but payouts as well. Most every tournament I see some player either getting over or under paid. I point out over payments...LOL, if a player gets under paid and isn't paying attention that is their own fault.

I hope that swing wasn't the difference in you advancing to the next round. If it was it would be a lesson you won't ever forget in tournament play.

 

GImmick

Im just entering the tournament world so maybe Im out of line, but these gimmicks like Burger King or even a KO card are wrong. No tournament isnt like casino blackjack, but it is still played using the game blackjack and good blackjack players should be awarded using normal blackjack rules. It should mimic the game exactly besides the players changing betting strategies to fight off opponents.

JMO,

Barney

 

I fully agree Barney

Most of these gimmicks are used for TV BJ show, that is how they got started in most cases. The shows wanted to add a little spice to the game and the WSOB was just filmed at the Las Vegas Hilton, which is where the tournament we are talking about just took place last week. Plus this little gimmick pick up the LVH about $25,000 to $45,000 back in their pocket.

Now in Mississippi, (Biloxi) they have a gimmick I first saw last year (catch 22 card). If a player has 22 (a bust hand) they can turn in their catch 22 card and play the hand as a bust. from my understanding it has been going on for years and no one seems to complan about that gimmick.

I am like you I believe the best format is straight blackjack tournament with fully written rules.

I like small min./max. bets, 3 splits allowed, DD after splits, Ace's only split once, surrender, two advancing from each table in every round, at least 1 re-buy (I perfer 2), limited wild cards (only if needed), rotate the deal, and insurance (not even money).

I just think these rules are true to blackjack.

 

Hilton $100,000 Mulligan

The $100 Mulligan was added since the last tournament but there was no change in the prize structure. Where did the $40K go?
Also in the semi-finals the announcer badgered the 2 players who had not bought a mulligan unmercifully, until one bought in. I would have been really upset if that mulligan had cost me the chance to advance when those players made the choice not to buy in. Is this not an example of coaching at the highest level by the tournament sponsors? I'm suprised I didn't hear "Table A, seat 3 now's a good time to use your mulligan".
Congrats to Mikki Sullivan for making the semis, and thanks to Mac for being the first to remind me its the start of hurricane season.
IG

 

No Mystery

Is that the question of the day where did the 40 K go.?

We all know where it went and I believe that 40K is a very low number .There were 1,000 players in this tournament and you want us to believe that only 40 % bought the Mulligan. Especially the way its being reported as to how the casino suits were badgering the players to buy it.

Just another case of a fleece job by the casino on its loyal customers .Imagine how they treat customers they don't like


Joep

 

Whats the big deal....

I frankly don't understand what the fuss is regardng the $100.00 mulligan.
Here we have a $100,000 tournament, no entry fee, free rooms, open bar reception,and everyone is bitching about a voluntary $100 add on.

 

The "fuss" in a nutshell

The Hilton promoted this as a “free” tournament with the only qualification that you get a suited BJ, before the tournament, in live play, with a minimum bet of $10. Now technically, they did not violate what was printed in the promotion literature in that there was no entry free for the tournament.

The “fuss” is that the Hilton pulled a “fast one” on the players. Now, in order to maintain a level playing field with the players who elected to purchase the MULLIGAN, one must cough up $100. It’s the same as a store advertising a computer for $1000, then, when you go to buy it they say the hard drive is an extra $100. Sure you may be able to use the computer without the hard drive but it sure makes it difficult.

Players have a right expect a level playing field when they sign up for a tournament, whether it's free or not. Surprising them with having to pay for that level playing field is poor, make that very poor, on the part of the casino. Sure the $100 is not a big deal for most of the participants, it’s the ethics that disturb the players.

Now, as to “free rooms”. If you are an established player with a high enough level of play, then your room may have been comped. However, most players had to pay for their rooms. Granted that they gave a “casino rate” of $55 per night, but you still had to pay.

 

LVH "Fun with 21" $30K Blackjack Tournament - 15-18 JUNE

I got to the LVH around midnight last night and got my info letter for the tournament. And, in contradiction to what I was told would be likely by LVH staff during the $100K tourney, this smaller one also has the "Free Ace" and "Mulligan" options. Mulligan for this tourney is only $20 however, so that relative to the $100K tournament, it is more "valuable" at face value. Tourney prize schedule based on a minimum of 198 entrants. I do not have an estimated number of participants yet, but will post such when available as well as an estimate of how many purchased the Mulligan.

Chips

 

Good luck

Best of luck to both you and Dr. Bass out there and all others playing at the LV Hilton.

 

Wow! Unlike the $100,000 tourney, I think this one will mostly be regular players. With the mulligan and the ace in the hands of people who know what to do with them- just guys are in for some fun!

 

Mulligan participation

Yes, that combined with both the relative low price and the better relative "cost effectiveness" (perhaps a better choice of words than the descriptor "valuable" that I used in my first post on the subject), I will be very much surprised if there is not a higher percentage Mulligan participation than the 100K tourney.

Chips

 

So what's the problem???? Didn't you read the fine print?

Toolman, let's get real. No one was "forced" to buy a mulligan. When you go to a golf tournament they sell mulligan's all the time. I buy plenty (I'm a TERRIBLE golfer) because it goes to a good cause. In this case it didn't go to a "good cause" it went to the casino. Ok, so what?

1. You didn't have to buy it
2. You got a $55 room rate versus a $100 plus room rate
3. You got to play in a free tournament that I couldn't play in cause I didn't get a suited BJ when I was there.
4. You had the potential to get a big pay off for nothing

Sorry but I can't feel sorry for you. Especially when the BJ world needs MORE tournaments and not LESS. Stop the bitc*ing and play or shut up.

 

Where are you coming from?

fgk42:

Nice job of taking my statements out of context. You must practice this a lot because you're good at it. Not only that but you combined two of my sentences into one paragraph to make it seem like I said something I didn't.

For a guy who's never played in a live tournament, you sure think you know a lot.

 

The problem wasn't the mulligan...

fgk42, Toolman wasn't up set with the mulligan, nor was anybody else. The problem was it wasn't advertised until the players got to the tournament.

You mentioned a golf tournament, well most of those you know in advance that you will have them offered anyway.

Now in a BJ tournament this was the first time they have ever been offered (that I have heard of). Had they been known about nothing would have been said, but that was not the case.

And than to make it worse the extra money was not added back into the prize pool. Once again I have no problem with the LV Hilton re-couping some of the money back they have guarantee in prize money, but just let us know before hand.

No one likes last minute changes, and they damn sure don't like it when it cost them more money.

 

Thanks TX

TX: Thanks for setting the record straight.

 

No problem

I am on your side Toolman. I have no problems with any gimmicks a casino wants to offer as long as it is posted before hand. If I don't like it I don't have to go play, but don't spring it on us at the last minute.

Now if the LV Hilton had offered to reimburse players their airfare if they didn't want to play due to the last minute changes I would have cut them a little slack, but I didn't hear them doing that, what a surprize...LOL.

 

10%??

So Tex,

You want 10% of my $20 Mulligan for $2 in this tourney??!!

Chips