Resources for learning blackjack tournament strategy

[dalmatian]

Hi,

I am playing a blackjack tournament in a few days, and I have never played one before. I found a few articles on Ken Smith's blackjackinfo.com website that cover the basics. Further, I am considering purchasing Kindle version of Stanford Wong's "Casino Tournament Strategy". Am I missing any links or useful resources on this topic?

Any pointers for a first time tournament player?

Thanks for any advice!!

Dalmatian

[Gronbog]

Lots of threads on blackjacktournaments.com (also originally run by Ken Smith). In addition to Wong's book, Ken Smith also has two very good e-books which you can find on the site. However, with only a few days to prepare, you won't be able to truly dig in to all of the ins and outs of tournament blackjack strategy. As a first time player it will be difficult for you to read so much and apply it in the heat of the action.

In general, the strategy is to win/advance or bust out trying but the details of how to do that depend on the format, the starting bankroll, the betting limits, the number of rounds played, etc.

Occasionally people have posted the specific details of the event they are about to play and I have given basic advice on how to approach that particular event. I can try to do the same for you if you post the details. Please be as specific and complete as you can.

[dalmatian]

Lots of threads on blackjacktournaments.com (also originally run by Ken Smith). In addition to Wong's book, Ken Smith also has two very good e-books which you can find on the site. However, with only a few days to prepare, you won't be able to truly dig in to all of the ins and outs of tournament blackjack strategy. As a first time player it will be difficult for you to read so much and apply it in the heat of the action.

In general, the strategy is to win/advance or bust out trying but the details of how to do that depend on the format, the starting bankroll, the betting limits, the number of rounds played, etc.

Occasionally people have posted the specific details of the event they are about to play and I have given basic advice on how to approach that particular event. I can try to do the same for you if you post the details. Please be as specific and complete as you can.

I thought, by constitutional law, every blackjack tournament had to have EXACTLY the same rules. You're telling me they can be different?? Oh boy, what am i getting myself into.

All I know is, its a "head to head blackjack challenge" with prizes to be paid in promotional chips. This is a free tournament, so no buy-in.

1st place is 25,000$
2nd 15,000$
3rd 10,000$
4th 7500$
5th 5000$
6th 2500$
7th-24th 600$

[aceside]

Blackjack tournaments are mostly a gambling. Gronbog is an expert because he won big ones. In the tournaments I played, however, the winners were mostly those who did not know basic strategies.

[dalmatian]

Blackjack tournaments are mostly a gambling. Gronbog is an expert because he won big ones. In the tournaments I played, however, the winners were mostly those who did not know basic strategies.

Aceside.......arnt you a troll?

[Midwest Player]

Blackjack tournaments are mostly a gambling. Gronbog is an expert because he won big ones. In the tournaments I played, however, the winners were mostly those who did not know basic strategies.

Basic strategy is often not used in a tournament. You might double down on a breaking hand.

[aceside]

Aceside.......arnt you a troll?

I am just a beginner AP, occasionally posting to bring up the heat. 21forme is a troll.

[aceside]

Basic strategy is often not used in a tournament. You might double down on a breaking hand.

Casinos keep track of players’ table game hours so that they can invite these dedicated players into a blackjack tournament. This actually means that tournament players are elite players.

[21forme]

I am just a beginner AP

Then STFU, you asshole.

[Gronbog]

I thought, by constitutional law, every blackjack tournament had to have EXACTLY the same rules. You're telling me they can be different?? Oh boy, what am i getting myself into.

Don't know where you got this. It's the opposite. No two tournaments are the same.

All I know is, its a "head to head blackjack challenge" with prizes to be paid in promotional chips. This is a free tournament, so no buy-in.

1st place is 25,000$
2nd 15,000$
3rd 10,000$
4th 7500$
5th 5000$
6th 2500$
7th-24th 600$

If that's all you know, I can't help you. If you contact the casino, they should be able to provide you with at least a summary of the format and the rules.

[Al Rogers]

Another good resource:

Casino Tournament Strategy by Stanford Wong. Paper edition available from Las Vegas Advisor; available in e-book format from Amazon.

[dalmatian]

Does anyone know where I can obtain the ebooks by Ken Smith? Are they available to download for free since they're so old by now?

[iCountNTrack]

Does anyone know where I can obtain the ebooks by Ken Smith? Are they available to download for free since they're so old by now?

Unless the author himself makes them free, the books remain copyrighted. Please don't ask for links to download copyrighted material