Strategy for Baccarat Tournament?

Well, all the tournaments I participate in are free, invitational ones. Of course, simply to qualify one must play at a certain level, not necessarily at a ridiculous level, but I assume at least at a few hundred a hand / average. Some of the tournaments I play in are smaller (maybe only 40 players or so), with much higher prizes, and for these I assume an average of at least a thousand a hand would be needed for the invitation.

Sometimes they do give us some kind of "door prize" when registering, sometimes not.

You're right I haven't seen the catered dinners in some time, but they do often have a decent buffet (sealed individually packaged food) going on. Keep in mind that these are COVID times so most casinos are not going to have open served food from trays.


I wonder if the catered dinners will return for New Year's Events this year?

Quote: MDawg

I have been in two more blackjack tournaments since mid August, and there are more BJack and Baccarat tournaments coming up.

At least I have resisted the impulse to re-buy into the lower rounds - I have played for free only.

But what I have come up against is players who randomly bet bigger and through sheer luck amass a ton of chips early, thereby negating the effectiveness of the Wizard's proposed strategy of just betting the minimum until the final five hands. For example on one of the recent BlackJack tournaments this player bet the minimum on the first hand, and then half of all of his chips on the second hand, and got two aces. He had split his bankroll exactly so that he could split - if it he had been just a tad shy he would not have been allowed to "split for less." The player got an 8 on one of his aces and a 10 on the other, and dealer busted anyway, so that quadrupled the player's bankroll. I watched and counted the cards closely and I put half of my chips out there on a subsequent hand and got a blackjack, but I still couldn't catch up by the end, because I was dealt losing hand after losing hand for some time after that. Probably if I had put ALL of my chips out on that blackjack hand I could have advanced, but not otherwise.

Anyway, bottom line being that unconventional strategies by tournament players who just bet a lot early and win by luck is winning the day lately, at least in the earlier tournament rounds.

I do agree with the below strategy, especially as far as if behind, bet opposite of your enemy, if in the lead, mimic your enemy, but you have to get to the final rounds and not be severely behind in order to even be a contender, and these players tossing it out there early and winning big early make it hard to even make it to the final hands and still be a contender.

Quote: MDawg

Thanks to the Wizard for giving tournament strategy advice pursuant to my question at his 8/5/2021 Live Stream.

What was discussed more specifically was Blackjack tournament strategy and:
Essentially, betting small for most of the initial rounds - bide your time, and then powering up perhaps in the last 5 hands of a round, mostly on the basis of what your enemies are doing:
-Keep in mind that the dealer is not the enemy - the other players are. If the dealer is running hot, that's bad for everyone not just for you.
-If behind bet opposite of your enemy, if your enemy bets big, you bet small, if your enemy bets small, you bet big.
If you are in the lead, mimic your enemies, bet the same way as the people trying to catch you.
-Sometimes will need to bet big. Don't be afraid to throw out some big wagers.
-Don't wait until the very last hand to catch up. Make the move when there are about 5 hands left.

NOOOOOOO that did not quadruple his bankroll wth are you talking about. It doubled his bankroll.

It's interesting, given that Blackjack insurance is being discussed in some threads here today - I notice more tournament players insuring - even, crappy hands - in tournaments than would see at the regular casino tables.

If I'm working on a progression and I have a BJ, I'll buy insurance against a dealer Ace, so I get a sure win and advance on my progression.

Quote: MDawg

It's interesting, given that Blackjack insurance is being discussed in some threads here today - I notice more tournament players insuring - even, crappy hands - in tournaments than would see at the regular casino tables.

Isn’t there a count that insurance is the right play?

I know when insurance is appropriate, both by the book and by the count, I am just saying that in tournaments I notice players frequently opt for insurance when completely inappropriate.

Quote: FinsRule

Isn’t there a count that insurance is the right play?

Yes there is. There are many different ways to count but every method I know has a point where you insure.

Is counting allowed in tournaments? Like, could I literally bring paper and write down a count?

That's too short term. I'd bring a betting strategy on a card.

Baccarat tournaments we are given pen and paper and may write down whatever we like.

Some tournaments, Blackjack or Baccarat, they hand out a little piece of paper (and pen, if needed) before the final hand of each round to write down the chip counts going into the last hand.

I have also been in a Blackjack tournament or two where no paper or pen was handed out, and it was unclear whether we were allowed to write anything or not.

Typically there are 15 hands played in each round of a tournament. In a Blackjack tournament there are usually 5 players at the table, sometimes as few as 2, depending on which round is being played. Earlier rounds tend to have less players, later rounds max out at 5 or 6 players.