Here are all the comments posted on the site, with the most recent discussions listed first. To participate in any of these discussions, you can reply on the article page.
Whether WSOB will return for a fifth season is currently up in the air. Unlike previous years, no qualifying tournaments for 2008 have been announced so far. Frankly, it doesn’t look promising.
GSN is now the home of the World Poker Tour on TV, and may be shifting their focus towards poker at the expense of blackjack. I hope not, but we’ll see.
Meanwhile, if any information becomes available about how to qualify for future WSOB events, it will be widely discussed over at my tournament site BlackjackTournaments.com
Actually rob, ALL the entry fee money is paid out in prize money and the casinos sometimes add their own money into the pot. I think this is probably how the Grand tourneys are as they based them on our old tourney from Ballys.
The host these tourneys with the thought that their gaming revenue on the slots and tables will increase with the influx of tournament players that come to their properties. Some of the tournament players do not make a single bet during their stay. So, when you add in gift, meals, rooms, food for tournament players there is potential that the host casino could take a big bath on the whole deal.
You and WRX above need to get some of the paranoia out of your heads that the casinos are crooks and cheats and are out to “get you”. They have a built in edge (outside of tournaments) and just want the games to be run within guidelines. When mistakes are made they try to rectify them as best they can without “hurting” either the house or the players. Obviuosly some situations are handled better than others. It is not always easy to make the very best decision when it has to be made very quickly and of coarse some of the employees are more experienced and/or sharper than others.
Of coarse the players ALWAYS subscribe to “you should pay the table” every time a mistake is made. That is just not going to happen. They try to come up with equitable decisions as best they can.
Hi Ken, great site. UBT rocks also. Great to see our favourite game hitting prime time. All the action, all the excitement, all in one place! Stay lucky!
I am scheduled for a hearing with Mississippi Gaming where because Island View in a 3 card poker tournament wild card for the finals did not check the ID for the one who claimed to be the person called. A participant even noticed the person looked suspicious and told the tournament director to check the ID but was ignored. After the wild card person wins 2nd place he admits he is not the person called and the real wild card person was standing behind the player during the finals and admits he is the person. Obviously the person was disqualified but the tournament manager has no clue on what to do and asks the other 6 players. I told him we should replay the finals with the correct players. His response was “I am not going to let adamantlyperson does not
…to make a long story short are the Mississippi Gaming Commission hearing decisions published anywhere publicly or is this Stacy Gall decision just word of mouth?
This is what Harrah’s New Orleans did to me and they will do the same to you as well… My name is Louis Smith and I live about 100 mile north of New Orleans, in a city called Hattiesburg, MS. I’m a PLATINUM Card Holder and my brother is a GOLD card Holder. We both booked a room on Harrash’s New Orleans for a Sat night stary in July 2008 using both of you players cards. If I were to use just my Platinum card I would have paid $129 for the room and by using a guest players card the room would be comp at no cost. My brother and I book a room using both of you players cards two week before arriveing into New Orleans. Harrah’s even emailed me comfermations the the room reservation would be comp at no cost.
Well, when my brother and I arrived by train Sat morning we check into the room at the front desk and later got a phone call from VIP services. A Harrah’s Guest Service Agent told me that all of my Room Reservation that were book using my brothers players card would be cancel. I told the Agent to the reservation was booked online and there was a place to add another guest and their players card and the room rate charnged. She tried to make like my brother did even come with me. What a bunch of crack heads. My broher is in the same room with me and sign into the room with me. They went as far as getting the front desk to check our bags in our room. Which is really against the law. Okay, they cancel all my reservation that I make though Dec and plus charged my visa $115 deposit on some of the room reservations.
When I got back to Hattiesburg I call Jim the GM of Harrahs Casino in New Orleans and told him to check into it. He is rude to me on the phone and said that I should go back to Mississippi and play at the Grand Casino. He also told me that I’ve already used up all my comp for New Orleans. So why did the online Reservations let me book with using my brother as a guest. If they dont want people to add another guest then they should take that feature off their website.
The GM at the Harrahs Casino in New Orleans was a Jerk and would do nothing to help me. He even told me that the Slot Tournment that was book months ago would even be taken away from me. Now, that takes the cake. These people DO NOT give a cracks ass about their guest. I’ve alway gave high raves on this casino but not anymore after being treated like I’m a dirt under their feet. I’ve spent lot of money at this casino and have never win one red cent!!! I will never spend another dime at this casino and will find another casino that will treat me better.
Beware of Harrah’s Entertainment they are not all they are cracked up to be!!!!
Card counting can get very advanced, especially when you start to side count the aces. But just by following basic blackjack strategy and adding the simple techniques of counting cards you can bring your advantage way up.
Similar situation in the United Kingdom, had a grosvenor weekend booked with ten friends, the tourney included a room and en suite facilities including a breakfast and bar area all laid on.
Knocked out of a tournament and went on to find serious problems as our package was reduced, saying that we needed to reach the latter stages of the pay offs to qualify.
Found this out just after we were elimated, bags in hand and 300 miles from home.
I feel for anyone who may feel the pinch from the big guys at some point in the casino industry.
Just wanted to stop in and say that this is such a useful tool. I’ve used it numerous times to try and tweak the systems I use. It would never be possible without this site and qfit’s site.
Hi mate! I love love your Blackjack Basic Strategy Engine chart and I’m going to use it on my next trip to the casinos!!!! Great work you have going on here ! Thumbs up! Why didn’t I “stumbled” on your blog sooner!!!? Keep writing mate, don’t stop!
Dear Ken This is interesting information. I started playing our favorite game back in 2000 and have developed a strategy that allows me to win about 80% of my sessions. I am NOT card counting. I am using a 5 tier sequence and bet ranging strategy that works very well with 6 and 8 deck shoes, CSM, random number generators such as used on the internet. I will avoid single and double deck tables like the plague.
Hi Haiko…your comment interested me as I found keeping the count and adjusting accordingly very difficult when you don’t play that often. I am playing basic strategy six deck and would be interested in knowing about your 5 tier sequence and bet ranging strategy. I currently ramp up my bets when winning and drop back to a basic unit on a loss or ramp down depending on how well I am doing. It would be appreciated if you would share your strategy so I may consider a more manageable playing and betting arrangement. Thank you.
Hello, I have been studying card counting and basic strategy for 6 months. I have read the books that are recommended and practiced every day for about an hour or so. After recently reading a few posts online,pros have been saying that card counting is no longer what it used to be and that it’s nearly impossible to maintain a healthy living off of the game let alone making it worth your time playing. Is this all true? Should I even continue thinking of card counting as a part time job on the weekends to make some money?
How does on get invited to WSOB?? Also the one deck at Ceasers AC has been terrific,,,,,,,,,,,,u can overcome the odds,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Jan
Whether WSOB will return for a fifth season is currently up in the air. Unlike previous years, no qualifying tournaments for 2008 have been announced so far. Frankly, it doesn’t look promising.
GSN is now the home of the World Poker Tour on TV, and may be shifting their focus towards poker at the expense of blackjack. I hope not, but we’ll see.
Meanwhile, if any information becomes available about how to qualify for future WSOB events, it will be widely discussed over at my tournament site BlackjackTournaments.com
Actually rob, ALL the entry fee money is paid out in prize money and the casinos sometimes add their own money into the pot. I think this is probably how the Grand tourneys are as they based them on our old tourney from Ballys.
The host these tourneys with the thought that their gaming revenue on the slots and tables will increase with the influx of tournament players that come to their properties. Some of the tournament players do not make a single bet during their stay. So, when you add in gift, meals, rooms, food for tournament players there is potential that the host casino could take a big bath on the whole deal.
You and WRX above need to get some of the paranoia out of your heads that the casinos are crooks and cheats and are out to “get you”. They have a built in edge (outside of tournaments) and just want the games to be run within guidelines. When mistakes are made they try to rectify them as best they can without “hurting” either the house or the players. Obviuosly some situations are handled better than others. It is not always easy to make the very best decision when it has to be made very quickly and of coarse some of the employees are more experienced and/or sharper than others.
Of coarse the players ALWAYS subscribe to “you should pay the table” every time a mistake is made. That is just not going to happen. They try to come up with equitable decisions as best they can.
CBS?
can i watch it out of the US?
Hi Ken, great site. UBT rocks also. Great to see our favourite game hitting prime time. All the action, all the excitement, all in one place! Stay lucky!
Glad I didn’t get involved in that tournment I had to work that weekend.
I am scheduled for a hearing with Mississippi Gaming where because Island View in a 3 card poker tournament wild card for the finals did not check the ID for the one who claimed to be the person called. A participant even noticed the person looked suspicious and told the tournament director to check the ID but was ignored. After the wild card person wins 2nd place he admits he is not the person called and the real wild card person was standing behind the player during the finals and admits he is the person. Obviously the person was disqualified but the tournament manager has no clue on what to do and asks the other 6 players. I told him we should replay the finals with the correct players. His response was “I am not going to let adamantlyperson does not
…to make a long story short are the Mississippi Gaming Commission hearing decisions published anywhere publicly or is this Stacy Gall decision just word of mouth?
This is what Harrah’s New Orleans did to me and they will do the same to you as well…
My name is Louis Smith and I live about 100 mile north of New Orleans, in a city called Hattiesburg, MS. I’m a PLATINUM Card Holder and my brother is a GOLD card Holder. We both booked a room on Harrash’s New Orleans for a Sat night stary in July 2008 using both of you players cards. If I were to use just my Platinum card I would have paid $129 for the room and by using a guest players card the room would be comp at no cost. My brother and I book a room using both of you players cards two week before arriveing into New Orleans. Harrah’s even emailed me comfermations the the room reservation would be comp at no cost.
Well, when my brother and I arrived by train Sat morning we check into the room at the front desk and later got a phone call from VIP services. A Harrah’s Guest Service Agent told me that all of my Room Reservation that were book using my brothers players card would be cancel. I told the Agent to the reservation was booked online and there was a place to add another guest and their players card and the room rate charnged. She tried to make like my brother did even come with me. What a bunch of crack heads. My broher is in the same room with me and sign into the room with me. They went as far as getting the front desk to check our bags in our room. Which is really against the law. Okay, they cancel all my reservation that I make though Dec and plus charged my visa $115 deposit on some of the room reservations.
When I got back to Hattiesburg I call Jim the GM of Harrahs Casino in New Orleans and told him to check into it. He is rude to me on the phone and said that I should go back to Mississippi and play at the Grand Casino. He also told me that I’ve already used up all my comp for New Orleans. So why did the online Reservations let me book with using my brother as a guest. If they dont want people to add another guest then they should take that feature off their website.
The GM at the Harrahs Casino in New Orleans was a Jerk and would do nothing to help me. He even told me that the Slot Tournment that was book months ago would even be taken away from me. Now, that takes the cake. These people DO NOT give a cracks ass about their guest. I’ve alway gave high raves on this casino but not anymore after being treated like I’m a dirt under their feet. I’ve spent lot of money at this casino and have never win one red cent!!! I will never spend another dime at this casino and will find another casino that will treat me better.
Beware of Harrah’s Entertainment they are not all they are cracked up to be!!!!
That’s great! Card counting is pretty easy, but this is still a cool and useful calculator for blackjack. Nice work!
Hey I love the site. Very informative! I am a rather new visitor though. I was curious how did you do in the world series of blackjack?
Blackjackinfo.com is a very useful website for the casino player.I got the information about casino blackjack sites. Really its a nice web site.
Sounds pretty exciting! will this be shown also outside the country?
Card counting can get very advanced, especially when you start to side count the aces. But just by following basic blackjack strategy and adding the simple techniques of counting cards you can bring your advantage way up.
Similar situation in the United Kingdom, had a grosvenor weekend booked with ten friends, the tourney included a room and en suite facilities including a breakfast and bar area all laid on.
Knocked out of a tournament and went on to find serious problems as our package was reduced, saying that we needed to reach the latter stages of the pay offs to qualify.
Found this out just after we were elimated, bags in hand and 300 miles from home.
I feel for anyone who may feel the pinch from the big guys at some point in the casino industry.
Just wanted to stop in and say that this is such a useful tool. I’ve used it numerous times to try and tweak the systems I use. It would never be possible without this site and qfit’s site.
Hi mate!
I love love your Blackjack Basic Strategy Engine chart and I’m going to use it on my next trip to the casinos!!!! Great work you have going on here ! Thumbs up! Why didn’t I “stumbled” on your blog sooner!!!? Keep writing mate, don’t stop!
Cheers Pat
Dear Ken
This is interesting information. I started playing our favorite game back in 2000 and have developed a strategy that allows me to win about 80% of my sessions. I am NOT card counting. I am using a 5 tier sequence and bet ranging strategy that works very well with 6 and 8 deck shoes, CSM, random number generators such as used on the internet. I will avoid single and double deck tables like the plague.
Hi Haiko…your comment interested me as I found keeping the count and adjusting accordingly very difficult when you don’t play that often. I am playing basic strategy six deck and would be interested in knowing about your 5 tier sequence and bet ranging strategy. I currently ramp up my bets when winning and drop back to a basic unit on a loss or ramp down depending on how well I am doing. It would be appreciated if you would share your strategy so I may consider a more manageable playing and betting arrangement. Thank you.
Hello, I have been studying card counting and basic strategy for 6 months. I have read the books that are recommended and practiced every day for about an hour or so. After recently reading a few posts online,pros have been saying that card counting is no longer what it used to be and that it’s nearly impossible to maintain a healthy living off of the game let alone making it worth your time playing. Is this all true? Should I even continue thinking of card counting as a part time job on the weekends to make some money?