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Blackjack Tournaments
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Nothing can beat the excitement of playing in a tournament. There's the
competition, the pressure, and of course, the money! All of these factors can
add up to a fun and highly rewarding experience. However, for those of you
considering a jump into the blackjack tournament arena, there are some things
you need to know. In this article, we will take a look at some inherent
differences between tournament style and regular blackjack, as well as some
playing strategies that will help guide you into the winner's circle.
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"Hey, Bartender!"
The card game known as blackjack is quite simple. Be closer to 21 than the
dealer without going over . If you can do this consistently, you will make
money at this table game. Think of it as a martini on the rocks.
Straight-forward and to the point. But to make money in a blackjack tournament,
now that is an entirely different creation. Whereas a regular blackjack game is
what it is, tournament play can be likened to an appletini or a chocolatini. A
little bit different, and a lot more exciting. Think of tournament blackjack as
21....with a twist!
Blackjack Tournaments - Dare To Be Different
The first major difference between the two forms of blackjack is the play
itself. In regular blackjack, you are playing against the dealer and the dealer
alone, but in tournament play you are up against all of your fellow
competitors. This makes all of your decisions crucial, and you have to take
many things into consideration. In a tournament, all players "buy-in" for a set
amount (this can range from anywhere between $25 and $1,000) and everyone is
given the same amount of starting chips.
These chips will be used to place bets in the tournament round (the length of
rounds can also vary, but they usually last 30 hands), at which point the field
is cut down to a pre-determined number of players. The players who have
accumulated the highest chip counts advance to the next round. Play continues
like this until a winner is crowned. This is where strategy plays a huge role.
Knowing how to correctly bet in a tournament, as well as gauging your
opponent's chip stacks, can often times be the difference between going home
and going to the final table.
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Out Of The Gates Sloooooooow
A fundamental mistake many blackjack tournament players make is risking a large
amount (or even all) of their chips on the first few hands. There is no need to
be this aggressive. 30 hands, although not a huge amount, is still enough to
pick your spots without going crazy right off the bat. In some situations, the
other players and their chip stacks may force you into re-thinking your game
plan, but for the most part you want to play your own game. This can be done by
breaking the tournament up into 3 increments. In the first increment, which we
will call the first 14 hands, you want to focus on steadily increasing your
chip stack. This is done not by making bold and silly bets, but by making bets
that represent 5% - 10% of your stack. If you like, you can make one strong bet
(15% - 20%) somewhere in between the 7th and 11th hand.
Position Play
In the second increment (hands 15 - 23), you want to make a slightly more
aggressive push. The goal here is to put yourself in position to contend come
the final seven hands. Hopefully, by being patient in hands 1-14, you are able
to build a solid stack, and can then push a little harder in this second series
of hands. Atleast two big bets should be made within these hands, and one bet
should represent 25% - 30% of your stack. This may sound scary, but if you are
patient, and win 9 or 10 of your first 14 hands, you should be in a solid
position to take this hit, even if Lady Luck doesn't side with you.
Down The Stretch
In the third, and final increment of hands (24-30), you will have to play as
much against your opponents stacks as you do your own. This is where it is
critical to have practiced looking at chip stacks, and estimating approximately
how many there are. This will make it easier for you to make a pressure filled
decision (most tournaments give you only 30 seconds to bet). Most times, it is
always correct to be aggressive in the last few hands, unless you have a
comfortable chip advantage. If this is the case, bet small and let your
opponents try to play catch up. Believe me, they will be gunning for you! One
final note on betting situations as they arise. It is always more beneficial to
make your biggest bets when you are last, or near last to act. Other players
will be unable to counterpunch, and hopefully you can gain some ground (or add
some distance) in these situations.
The Thrill Of Victory
By offering players a unique challenge, solid competition, and life changing
prize pools, blackjack tournaments are sure to continue growing in the future.
With mindful play, and just a little bit of luck, maybe you can one day lay
claim to a title! Good luck at the tables!
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