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).
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.
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.
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.
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