On the issue of tournaments and counting.

[BigJer]

Just to blow my own horn I've won two tournaments. First prize in the first was $220. In the second tournament it was $1500. They were at the same place.

Anyways, I have to get Ken Smith's book(s).

[Gronbog]

I also did a quick study of Wong's book on tournaments, but don't know if it helped all that much.

It did if you remembered and used any of the key concepts.

Funny thing I did real good in the qualifying rounds, but not so good on the final table.

Perhaps not a coincidence.

[Gronbog]

I will start by saying that counting can sometimes give you a minuscule extra advantage in certain situations depending on the format of the tournament.

ETA: What situations are those?

Basically in accumulation tournament situations where you need to go all-in and winning a blackjack will reach your goal. For example: An accumulation tournament with no maximum bet where the goal is to win 1.5 times your bankroll with blackjack paying 3:2 or 2 times your bankroll with blackjack paying 2:1.

In this situation you're all-in so if you lose you're out. If you get a blackjack, you've reached your goal. If you win your hand, you can bet to reach your goal on the next hand. There is less chance of getting stuck in a win/lose cycle and running out of time. So you can afford to wait for a while to make your move for a couple of reasons.

• If you are successful with your all-in bet and reach your goal, other less experienced players who see you do this will copy the strategy, thus increasing their chances of beating you and pushing you down a spot in the rankings. By waiting, you can make the move toward the end of mid-session. Some players at your table may have busted out and it is less likely for other players to be watching your table at that point in the round. I can't tell you how many times folks have come up to me saying "I saw what you did and I'm going to do that too" after the session.
• If you catch a high count you have a marginally increased probability of hitting the magic blackjack which takes you to your goal right away.

[Three]

I have made some money in BJ tournaments, but I usually bomb out pretty quick in most because for the format you have to bet in a manor that gets that kind of results most of the time.

I have done much better in Craps and Baccarat tournaments. I love Craps tournaments because there is so much more strategy to them, but they are really hard to find.

[zbest1966]

Is there a strategy to Craps if so what do suggest as learning books etc..

[ZenMaster_Flash]

Is there a strategy to Craps if so what do suggest as learning books etc..

Tournament Craps is covered rather nicely in Stanford Wong's fine book on Casino Tournaments.

[Three]

PM me about craps tournaments. Like most tournaments the key to the strategy is the format of the tournament and how the tournament rounds' ends are defined. I am not sure my strategy is best but I finished in the money in almost every craps tournament I have played in. That is an admittedly small number as these tournaments are hard to find.I have played in 4 craps tournaments, I came in second place in two, won one, and finished just outside the bubble in the fourth.

[RCJH]

I have advanced to the money round and placed in every single blackjack tournament I have played in.

Before you ask my secret let me clarify… I have played in one tournament. Just one.

[Hsiaodi]

I have advanced to the money round and placed in every single blackjack tournament I have played in.

Before you ask my secret let me clarify… I have played in one tournament. Just one.

“I have 100% success rate,” said RCJH.