The Ins and Outs of Tournament Blackjack
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The Ins and Outs of Tournament Blackjack
Blackjack
Mar 21, 2001, 15:45
By Carl Van Eton http://www.gamblingonlinemagazine.com

Contrary to popular opinion, being a terrific blackjack player and being a successful tournament player are not necessarily one and the same.  Under normal circumstances, only a neophyte player would never consider doubling down on a hard seventeen versus a dealer ten up, with a three hundred dollar bet on the line.  Yet that is precisely what a seasoned tournament player will do without hesitation, if such a tactic held the only probability of victory.

In fact, when it comes to tournament play, experienced contenders can be thwarted by novices with appalling regularity, given the fact that only the top money maker moves onto the next round, as well as the fact that most tournament rounds only consist of twenty to thirty hands.  However, that is not to say that skill is of no help, as proficient players will always enjoy better odds of prevailing . Unlike the pro, the tyro will always run the risk of self-destucting due to overbetting, underbetting, or just plain forgetting to wager sufficient funds at the correct time and place needed to wind up in contention.

What with various casinos offering everything from FREE Buy-In Tournaments to Mega-Buck Buy-Ins with guaranteed first prize purses in the five figure range, choosing a tournament in which to participate can seem more difficult than the tournament play itself.  To help pare the choices down to size, allow me to point out the fact that with few exceptions, most tournaments only offer prize money to those lucky enough to make it to the final table.  That's right sports fans, the odds are literally stacked hundreds to one against even the most accomplished tournament player being in the money, due to simple arithmetic. (Generally, you are required to prevail not once, but twice in succession to gain entry to the final round.)  That's why I advise avoiding tournaments that require entry fees of a hundred dollars or more.

I'd also recommend that you steer clear of tournaments that require you to play with "real" money.  Sure, the $25,000 prize looks enticing, but the chances of losing your shirt far outweigh the odds of breaking even, let alone breaking the bank.

Don't lose heart, because there are many low stakes and even the occasional "no-stakes" tournaments to be had, offering first prizes of $1,000 or more.  A quick scan of the Sunday paper, a little sniffing of the yellow pages or online is all it takes to turn up a bargain.

Once you find an affordable tournament, you need a good plan of attack.  I have designed a working tournament strategy that is based on a 30-hand blackjack tournament with limits from $5 to $300.

First 20 Hands

Whether card counter or basic strategy player, during the early going it is always wise to conserve your ammo.  There is no reason to come charging out of the gate with $100 bets only to tap out long before any serious jockeying for position is merited.  In fact, unless you are a card counter, or the dealer is busting his or her brains out, one of the best bets you can make during the first twenty hands is $5. Don't worry about the player who takes the early lead.  It has has been my experience that 99% of plungers don't know when to quit.  Usually, these players are the first to tap out.

Hands 21-25

If, through sheer atrition, you find yourself within a one table maximum, wager $300 of the lead, it is best at this stage to practice restraint.  However, if you should find yourself more than one table maximum wager behind the leader, then I recommend taking no less than one third and no more than one half of you remaining stake (up to the table max of $300) and laying it down on the next hand.  If you win the hand, and are still behind, repeat the process.  If you are now ahead of the leader, back your bet off to the table limit until the lead is taken from you again.

Hands 26-29

If you are in the lead, counter bet, betting the minimum until the second place player overtakes you and then bet the table max until you overtake the leader.  If you are anywhere but first place, take as much as you need to reclaim the lead and bet it or one third of your bankroll up to the maximum bet of $300, whichever is more.  If you are behind, take advantage of gonzo double downs and splits; for instance, splitting fours against a dealer's 4, 5 or 6, doubling down on a 9 against anything except for a dealer's ten or ace, and so on.

The Final Hand

I have seen many a player lose the game in the final hand because of over or under-betting.  Unless you are in the lead by more than a $1,000, I strongly recommend that you bet the maximum wager.  You don't want to be knocked out of the box by some neopyhte who doubles down on a stiff and catches the card he needs to beat you.  I myself have lost tournaments on the final hand with a max bet and blackjack, when one player doubled down on a hard seventeen and caught a four, beating me by less than $50.  Wagering the table max in such a situation puts you in the driver's seat, especially if you have the final wager.  This way if it looks as though a competitor will overtake you, you can do something about it, like maybe splitting those tens.

The only exception to the rule is if you are in first place by less than $300.  If you are ahead by say $250, you don't want to bet $300 and lose the hand only to shoot yourself out of the saddle by your opponent who bet $5 hoping that everybody else would lose.  In that situation wager $245, so in the event that everybody including yourself loses, you will still end up in first place.

Just Remember

You can't make it to the final table unless you wind up in a seat where you simply can't lose, the best betting strategy is to conserve your chips until the final five rounds.   Even being a couple grand down with two hands to go doesn't necessarily put you out of the running.  Not, that is if you are prepared to split those tens and double down on hard seventeens.  You'll quickly find out that the two tricks to winning tournaments are to remember that you're not playing with real money...and may the fours be with you.




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