My first Black Jack Tournament

M

mrbill

New Member
I will be playing in my first Black Jack tournament this coming week. Treasure Island Casino in Red Wing Minnesota has a Black Jack tournament every Wednesday. Cost is $30 with 100% payback. They have a max of 168 entries. First place pays $2300. Starting bankroll is $500 with a max bet of $300. I've watched tournaments on table but never actually been at one live.

I think I've learned a little bit from this board.
 
mrbill good luck in your first swim in the shark tank. The insight I've gained through Ken's advice on bjinsider.com and from everyone on this site elevated my play from the newbie status to the final table in three $100K tournaments last year. The biggest change in my play was keeping my bet at table minimum until the count or until the chip leader approached a max bet lead then come with a max bet catch up bet behind him/her. Sometimes the sharks wind up devouring each other.
Let us know how you do.
IG
 
Midnite said:
Mrbill, how many hands will you be playing ?
Also what is the min. bet ?

Have fun and good luck.

Midnite
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Number of hands is 20 per round. The first round is 3 shifts so it is possible to enter multiple times.

I tried to find the flier last night, but I think my wife went on a cleaning frenzy and I don't know where she put it so my memory is a little hazy on min bet, but I think it's $5.
 
instagator said:
The biggest change in my play was keeping my bet at table minimum until the count or until the chip leader approached a max bet lead then come with a max bet catch up bet behind him/her. Sometimes the sharks wind up devouring each other.
Let us know how you do.
IG
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I think the minimum is $5. My plan is $25 for the first 5 hands and then worry about the others. Might not be the best plan but given I've never done this before so have no clue what to expect, I need a fixed plan to at least start.
 
Is surrender being offered in this tournament? It can become a more powerful option in tournament blackjack than in normal play. BlackjackInfo.com is also a website which should be on your favorites list. And remember you're playing against the other players not the dealer. If you're chasing the leaders and betting after them bet opposite, if you're protecting a lead match them.
Good Luck,
IG
 
mrbill said:
I've never done this before so have no clue what to expect...
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Being as this is a weekly event, you will find local players who enter every week. You could find a player betting max from the first hand or everyone betting minimum at the start. Just keep aware of the chip counts as best you can.

This sounds like a good tournament to cut your teeth on and get playing experience at a reasonable cost. You should definitely read Ken's strategy articles over at blackjackinfo.com before you go Wednesday.

Have a great time and great luck!

--jr
 
Good luck Mr. Bill

Hopefully you won't have to play against Mr. Slugo, Ooooooooh No!

All kidding aside, the best play is the minimum starting off. This play is wonderful with a hot dealer, even though your losing $5 per hand you are taking the lead while everyone else is losing higher bets.

Also by betting smaller you stay in till the end. "You can't win if you not in"!
Remember even in tournament play the dealer has the house advantage of winning the hand, by betting smaller you use the house to your advantage.

Later in the round should you fall behind over a max. bet then increase your bet(s) as needed. Should you have the lead late bet enough to keep you lead. Rule of thumb is match they’re bet, you win with both of you losing or winning. You cannot control the cards so it comes down to luck, but why not play with your highest percentage play to win.

Another note: On the last hand when in doubt bet the max. it is better to lose knowing you had a chance then to win the hand only to lose by $5 because you didn't bet enough.

Now in a weekly tournament it is okay to bet a little higher, when and if the rest of the table players are doing the same. It is the same principal as betting minimum since you’re still low bet on the table only you stay a little closer with a cold dealer.

Example: lets say you have 6 players per table, the other 5 players bet between $50 - $200 on each hand, then I would be betting $25 - $30. If we all win I kept $20 - $25 closer, but if we all lose I have gained $20 - $175 on them. Know of course if they swing you (you lose while they win) it is not going to matter which way you play, (you can't beat luck).

Good luck in the tournament, let us know how you do.
 
Jackaroo said:
Being as this is a weekly event, you will find local players who enter every week. You could find a player betting max from the first hand or everyone betting minimum at the start. Just keep aware of the chip counts as best you can.

This sounds like a good tournament to cut your teeth on and get playing experience at a reasonable cost. You should definitely read Ken's strategy articles over at blackjackinfo.com before you go Wednesday.

Have a great time and great luck!

--jr
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I have been told the tournament gets pretty full so I'm thinking a good percentage are regulars.

I found this site via blackjackinfo.com so I've read the strategy a couple times. Will read it one more time before I go.
 
instagator said:
Is surrender being offered in this tournament? It can become a more powerful option in tournament blackjack than in normal play. BlackjackInfo.com is also a website which should be on your favorites list. And remember you're playing against the other players not the dealer. If you're chasing the leaders and betting after them bet opposite, if you're protecting a lead match them.
Good Luck,
IG
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Surrender isn't mentioned in the flyer and they don't normally offer surrender, so I suspect it isn't available. The only difference they mention from the regular rules is BlackJack pays 2-1 instead of the usual 3-2.
 
Surrender

mrbill
Since blackjacks pay 2 to 1 that eliminates the most recently developed power move in tournament blackjack, surrendering a blackjack !!!
IG
 
instagator said:
mrbill good luck in your first swim in the shark tank.
Let us know how you do.
IG
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Well, I had some success and one major screwup.

I was entered in Round 1A. After 15 hands it was Alf and Myself. I was up 10. He bet first and went 300. I responded with 300. He won and I lost. So now I was down 590. Don't remember exactly what happened in 17, 18 and 19. After 19 I was still down 590. He said "Is there any reason to play it out?" The dealer said it had to be played out for anyone to advance. I was betting 1st so I bet 300. He came back with 5 which I would think was a mistake. He should've done at least 15 to guard against a split, double or blackjack, but I guess he thought he had it won so it didn't matter. I got a pair of 9's and split them so then the light dawned for him. On the first 9 I got a 2 and then the major screwup. Dealer had an 8. Alf had a 17. Autopilot took over and I doubled down and got a 4 giving me 15. On the other 9, I got a 6 for 15. I of course hit it again and got a 10. If I wouldn't have doubled I'd have taken the 6 on the first 9 for a 21. Then the 10 on the second for 19. I lost both of those because of the double. I didn't think and didn't realize I already had enough out there to win. I was happy to be there at the end but really bummed due to the error. Alf had bet 250 on the first hand plus split 10's for 3 hands when he had 300 bet. Won all of those also. It took a lot of work and some luck to even get back even.

So, then I entered 1C. No real big betters. After 19 I was 65 up on my challenger. I was betting first so I bet 300. 240 may have been more appropriate but since it was last hand and I could cover split and double opportunities I just went with the 300. For some reason he only did 5. I won my hand. He got a pair of 10's but with only 5 bet there was nothing he could do. So I was in the semis.

In the semis, I just didn't get the cards. After 9 hands I had 14, 15 or 16 each time to the dealers 8, 9 or 10. Dealer did have a 6 once. I busted ever time except for the dealer 6. I stood on 16. Dealer had an A down so I lost that also. So after 9 hands I had 175 with the leader having over 1200. I managed to run it out to 16 but I realized later I should've bet it all on 10 and kept betting as much as I could. That was the only way to win..

I had fun and will be doing it again.
 
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