Bacarrat Tournament

[ortango]

Hey all,

I am considering entering a baccarat tourney next month, but am have not committed to it yet for the following reasons:

1. I have never played baccarat!
2. I have never played in a casino tournament (except slots, which doesn't count)
3. ... and the buy in is $8000!

Now one would wonder, with those reasons why I should even humor the idea? Well here are my counterarguments to the three reasons above:

1. Baccarat is essentially a flip of the coin game, with no strategy, even for an advanced player or card counter, meaning most of it is based on luck and betting strategy.
2. I live in Korea and baccarat is the only tourney they offer. Additionally, I plan to study hard for maximum strategy, and asian gamblers are notoriously bad at gambling (if watching them play blackjack for 3 months is any indication)
3. Depending the number of participants, I could glean a very positive expectation, though there are only 3 prizes: 1st - $200,000 2nd - 100,000 3rd - 40,000.

So there are the facts. Now, I have already ordered Wong's Casino Tournament Strategy, which many claim is the best and includes a baccarat section. What I would like to ask any of you out there who have tournament experience:

- Considering the prizes, at what number of participants would this be worth entering?
- Do you know of any good websites that discuss tournament strategy, baccarat in particular? (I haven't had much luck with google)
- Any general advice other than what I'll get from Wong's book?

When I do decide whether to participate or not, it will depend on 3 things: the number of participants, what I think about advantage playing in tourneys after reading Wong's book, and whether my currently BJ BR will allow me to blow $8000 on this a month from now. Thanks in advance for any advice!

[ScottH]

Originally Posted by ortango

Hey all,

I am considering entering a baccarat tourney next month, but am have not committed to it yet for the following reasons:

1. I have never played baccarat!
2. I have never played in a casino tournament (except slots, which doesn't count)
3. ... and the buy in is $8000!

Now one would wonder, with those reasons why I should even humor the idea? Well here are my counterarguments to the three reasons above:

1. Baccarat is essentially a flip of the coin game, with no strategy, even for an advanced player or card counter, meaning most of it is based on luck and betting strategy.
2. I live in Korea and baccarat is the only tourney they offer. Additionally, I plan to study hard for maximum strategy, and asian gamblers are notoriously bad at gambling (if watching them play blackjack for 3 months is any indication)
3. Depending the number of participants, I could glean a very positive expectation, though there are only 3 prizes: 1st - $200,000 2nd - 100,000 3rd - 40,000.

So there are the facts. Now, I have already ordered Wong's Casino Tournament Strategy, which many claim is the best and includes a baccarat section. What I would like to ask any of you out there who have tournament experience:

- Considering the prizes, at what number of participants would this be worth entering?
- Do you know of any good websites that discuss tournament strategy, baccarat in particular? (I haven't had much luck with google)
- Any general advice other than what I'll get from Wong's book?

When I do decide whether to participate or not, it will depend on 3 things: the number of participants, what I think about advantage playing in tourneys after reading Wong's book, and whether my currently BJ BR will allow me to blow $8000 on this a month from now. Thanks in advance for any advice!

8k sure is a lot to be risking on your first tournament! Or maybe it isn't a lot to you...

[sagefr0g]

Ort, having read your post it doesn't appear that you have much more than the barest minimun fundamental understanding of Bacarrat or tournament play.
the learning curve you would need to overcome in the limited amount of time would be tremendous.
imho you should not undertake this tournament especially considering the huge amount required for the entry fee.

best regards,
mr fr0g :D

[KenSmith]

I agree. Skip this one, and if these are regularly scheduled events, you may be able to play in the future with an advantage. In baccarat tournaments particularly, team play is common and very effective against solo players.

While I don't know of any specific baccarat tournament advice, we talk a lot about tournament strategy in general at my other site: http://www.blackjacktournaments.com

[nc-tom]

Originally Posted by ortango

Hey all,

I am considering entering a baccarat tourney next month, but am have not committed to it yet for the following reasons:

1. I have never played baccarat!
2. I have never played in a casino tournament (except slots, which doesn't count)
3. ... and the buy in is $8000!

Now one would wonder, with those reasons why I should even humor the idea? Well here are my counterarguments to the three reasons above:

1. Baccarat is essentially a flip of the coin game, with no strategy, even for an advanced player or card counter, meaning most of it is based on luck and betting strategy.
2. I live in Korea and baccarat is the only tourney they offer. Additionally, I plan to study hard for maximum strategy, and asian gamblers are notoriously bad at gambling (if watching them play blackjack for 3 months is any indication)
3. Depending the number of participants, I could glean a very positive expectation, though there are only 3 prizes: 1st - $200,000 2nd - 100,000 3rd - 40,000.

So there are the facts. Now, I have already ordered Wong's Casino Tournament Strategy, which many claim is the best and includes a baccarat section. What I would like to ask any of you out there who have tournament experience:

- Considering the prizes, at what number of participants would this be worth entering?
- Do you know of any good websites that discuss tournament strategy, baccarat in particular? (I haven't had much luck with google)
- Any general advice other than what I'll get from Wong's book?

When I do decide whether to participate or not, it will depend on 3 things: the number of participants, what I think about advantage playing in tourneys after reading Wong's book, and whether my currently BJ BR will allow me to blow $8000 on this a month from now. Thanks in advance for any advice!

Hey Ortango 8 grand on a game you barely know how to play. Does not sound like an AP move to me sounds likes a gamblers move. 8 grand buys alot of BJ which is a game you DO know how to play. The point about team play should be taken very seriously.

[ScottH]

Originally Posted by KenSmith

In baccarat tournaments particularly, team play is common and very effective against solo players.

Is team play allowed? Sounds like collusion to me.

[ortango]

Thank you all for your advice. I consider myself an Advantage Player and I take that title seriously. That means I do not play with negative expectation unless I am forced to (eg heads up). What that means is this tournament has to be to my advantage to play. The only way I can imagine this being the case, particularly with my lack of experience, is if there is an extremely low amount of participants, as the prizes are already set. I doubt this will be the case, and will heed y'alls advice about this one.

Good point about 8k buying a lot of Blackjack, as I have yet to ruin out my 5k trip BR yet. I will study up on it however, and go the night of the tournament, with 8k in case a strangely low number of players show up. In the unlikely case that only 20 people play, I would not be an AP if I DIDN"T play. Otherwise, I'll have fun bullying the casino with my 8k in blackjack.

Teams do play these a lot, as in a few articles I read. Say in the final hand, 3 players have $1800, 2k and 2k. On the final hand, if the two folks who are at 2k are on the same team, if they each put up more money that the first player on Banker and Player, they are guaranteed the jackpot.

[traynor]

Originally Posted by ortango

Thank you all for your advice. I consider myself an Advantage Player and I take that title seriously. That means I do not play with negative expectation unless I am forced to (eg heads up). What that means is this tournament has to be to my advantage to play. The only way I can imagine this being the case, particularly with my lack of experience, is if there is an extremely low amount of participants, as the prizes are already set. I doubt this will be the case, and will heed y'alls advice about this one.

Good point about 8k buying a lot of Blackjack, as I have yet to ruin out my 5k trip BR yet. I will study up on it however, and go the night of the tournament, with 8k in case a strangely low number of players show up. In the unlikely case that only 20 people play, I would not be an AP if I DIDN"T play. Otherwise, I'll have fun bullying the casino with my 8k in blackjack.

Teams do play these a lot, as in a few articles I read. Say in the final hand, 3 players have $1800, 2k and 2k. On the final hand, if the two folks who are at 2k are on the same team, if they each put up more money that the first player on Banker and Player, they are guaranteed the jackpot.

Get Lyle Stuart's books on baccarat and read them cover to cover before you start.
Good Luck