tournament blackjack
- Thread starter sagefr0g
- Start date
Probably best to ask on the sister blackjacktournaments.com web site.
Couple questions you'll need answer to before you'll get an answer
Elimination usually means the top 1 or 2 at each table move on to the next round. 2 is better.
Accumulation means the top x bankrolls move on. There are formulas to calculate the target bankroll as a guide.
A combination will usually be Accumulation in the early rounds and Elimination in the later rounds.
Couple questions you'll need answer to before you'll get an answer
- What Type of tournament is it, Elimination, Accumulation or a combination.
- What is your starting bankroll and betting limits
- How many hands
- How many rounds
Elimination usually means the top 1 or 2 at each table move on to the next round. 2 is better.
Accumulation means the top x bankrolls move on. There are formulas to calculate the target bankroll as a guide.
A combination will usually be Accumulation in the early rounds and Elimination in the later rounds.
One very simple idea that will give you a good shot:
If it is an elimination style event (competing against only your table), then bet minimum for most of the round. Late in the round, hopefully you can use one big bet to pass the leaders. After that, match their bets.
If it is an accumulation style event (competing against all chip totals), bet the max from the first hand. Switch to minimum bets when you feel your total is enough to win, or you bust out trying.
As Jack Jackson says, we talk about this stuff endlessly over at https://www.blackjacktournaments.com/
You can find plenty of threads about general advice.
If it is an elimination style event (competing against only your table), then bet minimum for most of the round. Late in the round, hopefully you can use one big bet to pass the leaders. After that, match their bets.
If it is an accumulation style event (competing against all chip totals), bet the max from the first hand. Switch to minimum bets when you feel your total is enough to win, or you bust out trying.
As Jack Jackson says, we talk about this stuff endlessly over at https://www.blackjacktournaments.com/
You can find plenty of threads about general advice.
Having played in a few tournaments and getting into the final in the last tournament I would second Ken's advice here.
You want to use your big guns (bets) for the last few rounds and only if you need to catch up with leader.
Your make or break last bet is usually the mark of a good tournament player.
You want to use your big guns (bets) for the last few rounds and only if you need to catch up with leader.
Your make or break last bet is usually the mark of a good tournament player.
Yes, max bet from the first hand. If you lose it (and have any chips left!) then make a max bet again.
Why not wait for a good count? Even the very slight chance that you'll win/lose/win/lose all round long make any wasted hands at the beginning more costly than waiting for a good count. Really. I've run tons of sims on this. If you are targeting a goal of multiple max bets won, you are better off firing away starting at hand one than waiting for a good count.
Reminder: This ONLY applies to accumulation style events.
Why not wait for a good count? Even the very slight chance that you'll win/lose/win/lose all round long make any wasted hands at the beginning more costly than waiting for a good count. Really. I've run tons of sims on this. If you are targeting a goal of multiple max bets won, you are better off firing away starting at hand one than waiting for a good count.
Reminder: This ONLY applies to accumulation style events.
Yes, this is an accumulation style event. Therefore, my advice of making minimum bets for much of the round is appropriate. That's true even though blackjacks pay 2:1 making the game a positive return for all players.
Why not bet more aggressively early in the round since you have an edge? The value of big bets is asymmetrical. If you lose your big bets, the damage is severe. If you win the big bets that's good but not to the same degree.
Consider the simplest example... Say you go all-in early in the round. If you lose the bet, you're out of the tournament. If you win the bet, you have improved your position but you aren't guaranteed to win the round because your opponents still have time to catch you.
Waiting until later in the round to make your catch-up bets is more valuable for that reason. The key is to wait, but not too long. As long as you are only one bet away from the leaders you can be very patient. if they stretch to a multiple bet lead you'll need to make a decision about when to move.
Why not bet more aggressively early in the round since you have an edge? The value of big bets is asymmetrical. If you lose your big bets, the damage is severe. If you win the big bets that's good but not to the same degree.
Consider the simplest example... Say you go all-in early in the round. If you lose the bet, you're out of the tournament. If you win the bet, you have improved your position but you aren't guaranteed to win the round because your opponents still have time to catch you.
Waiting until later in the round to make your catch-up bets is more valuable for that reason. The key is to wait, but not too long. As long as you are only one bet away from the leaders you can be very patient. if they stretch to a multiple bet lead you'll need to make a decision about when to move.
I suggest reading Stanford Wong's very fine book on Gambling Tournaments:
"Casino Tournament Strategy"
It is for sale at half.com for less than $2.00
http://search.half.ebay.com/stanford-wong_W0QQmZbooks
Search there for other great deals on BJ books !
"Casino Tournament Strategy"
It is for sale at half.com for less than $2.00
http://search.half.ebay.com/stanford-wong_W0QQmZbooks
Search there for other great deals on BJ books !
thank you Ken, i think you mean elimination style?
go the min bet route at first in the elimination style and try and beat the leader in the latter rounds sort of thing, right?
lol, i sort of lost but i've been reading your write up on this site:
it's helping just it's all new to me.http://www.blackjackinfo.com/blackjack-tournaments.php
go the min bet route at first in the elimination style and try and beat the leader in the latter rounds sort of thing, right?
lol, i sort of lost but i've been reading your write up on this site:
it's helping just it's all new to me.http://www.blackjackinfo.com/blackjack-tournaments.php
much thanks
i sure appreciate the advice guys.
lol, i made it to the final table (third table).
unfortunately tapped out on the final table while trying to over take a couple or three players that had gotten pretty far ahead of me.
lol, i think i did a quadruple split of tens with two double down follow ups trying, but ended up losing that round.
if i'd of won that round it woulda been Katie bar the door.
i sure appreciate the advice guys.
lol, i made it to the final table (third table).
unfortunately tapped out on the final table while trying to over take a couple or three players that had gotten pretty far ahead of me.
lol, i think i did a quadruple split of tens with two double down follow ups trying, but ended up losing that round.
if i'd of won that round it woulda been Katie bar the door.
:toast:Well done to make the final table first time out.
Frog, that's the way I play mine -- most nights. Occassionally, if size of chips permits (25/100 on a 100 min bet), I'll kick the min bet to 150 or if I had hit 3 of 4 on a quad-split with at least one double, I'll kick to 250 on a 100min tourney.
Now, I'll wager Ken will disagree with me here...I insure all dealer's Aces in a tourney. (reason for those easily dividable wagers) I may lose ~60% in tourney play, the 40% I hit are when the table has those max bets out there while I'm still in small bet land. I just saved my chips and they took a huge loss. A few rookie players will chase their chips and make a bad move, and with hopes there another dealer-Ace in the next hand to play.
The best part of this, if it's happening a lot, and others follow me...AND I'm now last to bet, I *DON'T* take insurance as my experience has shown that they will lose their big ins. bets and I lose 100. Now they are upset, and will play the hand wrong losing their bet as well. :devil:
This is where female logic, psychology, and just tracking Aces has helped me.
Frog, that's the way I play mine -- most nights. Occassionally, if size of chips permits (25/100 on a 100 min bet), I'll kick the min bet to 150 or if I had hit 3 of 4 on a quad-split with at least one double, I'll kick to 250 on a 100min tourney.
Now, I'll wager Ken will disagree with me here...I insure all dealer's Aces in a tourney. (reason for those easily dividable wagers) I may lose ~60% in tourney play, the 40% I hit are when the table has those max bets out there while I'm still in small bet land. I just saved my chips and they took a huge loss. A few rookie players will chase their chips and make a bad move, and with hopes there another dealer-Ace in the next hand to play.
The best part of this, if it's happening a lot, and others follow me...AND I'm now last to bet, I *DON'T* take insurance as my experience has shown that they will lose their big ins. bets and I lose 100. Now they are upset, and will play the hand wrong losing their bet as well. :devil:
This is where female logic, psychology, and just tracking Aces has helped me.
sagefr0g said:
i sure appreciate the advice guys.
lol, i made it to the final table (third table).
unfortunately tapped out on the final table while trying to over take a couple or three players that had gotten pretty far ahead of me.
lol, i think i did a quadruple split of tens with two double down follow ups trying, but ended up losing that round.
if i'd of won that round it woulda been Katie bar the door.
lol, i made it to the final table (third table).
unfortunately tapped out on the final table while trying to over take a couple or three players that had gotten pretty far ahead of me.
lol, i think i did a quadruple split of tens with two double down follow ups trying, but ended up losing that round.
if i'd of won that round it woulda been Katie bar the door.
I didnt even know you could do that??? Heeeeey... you've been playing tournaments? I thought, we were supposed to throw-down over at Bet21 on some tourneys? I see how it is. My feelings are so hurt:sad: You're a red tailed, two-headed, Alabama rattle snake, from being be-friended there bud. Haha:joker:
just a catch, lol.
thank you for these writings:http://www.blackjackinfo.com/blackjack-tournaments.php
and your post.
lol i almost won that tournament!
now you got a good bet. if you wonder am i gonna buy your e-book.
cha-ching. lol
thank you for these writings:http://www.blackjackinfo.com/blackjack-tournaments.php
and your post.
lol i almost won that tournament!
now you got a good bet. if you wonder am i gonna buy your e-book.
cha-ching. lol
jack said:
I love to see, other players jaw drop, when doubling on S21 after a x4 split. HaHa......There reaction..is like WTF I didnt even know you could do that???
Heeeeey... you've been playing tournaments? I thought, we were supposed to throw-down over at Bet21 on some tourneys? I see how it is. My feelings are so hurt:sad: You're a red tailed, two-headed, Alabama rattle snake, from being be-friended there bud. Haha:joker:
I didnt even know you could do that??? Heeeeey... you've been playing tournaments? I thought, we were supposed to throw-down over at Bet21 on some tourneys? I see how it is. My feelings are so hurt:sad: You're a red tailed, two-headed, Alabama rattle snake, from being be-friended there bud. Haha:joker:
:whip: