Blackjack Tournament Strategy?
October 24th, 2012 at 1:00:11 AM
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A casino in my area occasionally hosts a blackjack tournament. I think they're fun, and I would like to learn how to play better.
In this particular tournament, the rules for the first round of qualification are different. In the first round, a player's chip total is compared to that of every other player, not just to those at that player's table. A certain number of players with the highest chip total advances to the next round. During this round, a player may reenter by paying the entry fee again.
The first round consists of h hands. Each player starts with c0 chips. The minimum bet limit is bmin and the maximum bet limit is bmax. The na players who finish with the highest chip total advance.
1. Suppose that I estimate that I will need cgoal or more chips to advance. How should I play to give myself the highest probability to advance? Assume bmax is all-in and bmin*h is negligible.
2. Now suppose that I can't estimate cgoal, but I estimate that the number of entries, including reentries, will be ne. How should I play then?
Thank you for reading.
In this particular tournament, the rules for the first round of qualification are different. In the first round, a player's chip total is compared to that of every other player, not just to those at that player's table. A certain number of players with the highest chip total advances to the next round. During this round, a player may reenter by paying the entry fee again.
The first round consists of h hands. Each player starts with c0 chips. The minimum bet limit is bmin and the maximum bet limit is bmax. The na players who finish with the highest chip total advance.
1. Suppose that I estimate that I will need cgoal or more chips to advance. How should I play to give myself the highest probability to advance? Assume bmax is all-in and bmin*h is negligible.
2. Now suppose that I can't estimate cgoal, but I estimate that the number of entries, including reentries, will be ne. How should I play then?
Thank you for reading.
October 24th, 2012 at 6:55:03 AM
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Sorry for the glib response, but considering the way you asked the question, you will get the most benefit from this answer: buy a book. Stanford Wong has a good one.
Wisdom is the quality that keeps you out of situations where you would otherwise need it
October 24th, 2012 at 11:37:54 AM
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Well, most tournaments pay 2-1 on BJ, making them a positive expectation. That just means that you should play as aggressive as you can get away with.
How many rounds of betting are there? I usually see 15-20, and that means that rebuys will be more useful if they are done earlier.
So my strategy would be to bet really big in the beginning to either rocket up immediately or burn out and rebuy while I still have time to climb back.
How many rounds of betting are there? I usually see 15-20, and that means that rebuys will be more useful if they are done earlier.
So my strategy would be to bet really big in the beginning to either rocket up immediately or burn out and rebuy while I still have time to climb back.
October 24th, 2012 at 12:37:43 PM
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Quote: dwheatleySorry for the glib response, but considering the way you asked the question, you will get the most benefit from this answer: buy a book. Stanford Wong has a good one.
Yeah, it's just tough to construct a strategy when you don't know what you need to do to win.
October 24th, 2012 at 5:30:25 PM
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I was hoping to not have to buy a book. This tournament is small and doesn't happen often.
Yes, this tournament pays 2:1 on blackjack.
I didn't clearly explain the tournament structure. The first round is split into several qualifying rounds. These rounds happen at different times, so the players in later rounds have a better idea of what chip total is needed to advance. A player can enter in an early round and finish with a certain chip total, then reenter in a later round to try to finish with a higher chip total.
If I know how many chips I need to advance, then I will try to reach that chip total. Busting is no worse than not reaching that chip total. My original question is how should I bet and/or play to give myself the best possible chance to advance? What if I don't know how many chips I need?
If this question cannot be answered without exact numbers, then assume:
h = 10
cgoal = 3*c0
Thank you for your replies.
Yes, this tournament pays 2:1 on blackjack.
I didn't clearly explain the tournament structure. The first round is split into several qualifying rounds. These rounds happen at different times, so the players in later rounds have a better idea of what chip total is needed to advance. A player can enter in an early round and finish with a certain chip total, then reenter in a later round to try to finish with a higher chip total.
Quote: unnaturalusrThe first round consists of h hands. Each player starts with c0 chips. The minimum bet limit is bmin and the maximum bet limit is bmax. The na players who finish with the highest chip total advance.
1. Suppose that I estimate that I will need cgoal or more chips to advance. How should I play to give myself the highest probability to advance? Assume bmax is all-in and bmin*h is negligible.
2. Now suppose that I can't estimate cgoal, but I estimate that the number of entries, including reentries, will be ne. How should I play then?
If I know how many chips I need to advance, then I will try to reach that chip total. Busting is no worse than not reaching that chip total. My original question is how should I bet and/or play to give myself the best possible chance to advance? What if I don't know how many chips I need?
If this question cannot be answered without exact numbers, then assume:
h = 10
cgoal = 3*c0
Thank you for your replies.
October 24th, 2012 at 6:38:30 PM
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You should only enter late rounds. I don't see the point of entering early.
October 27th, 2012 at 7:01:05 AM
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1. If you know the chips you need to advance, you are better to bet max until you reach that stage +~5% of that amount.
- Then if you are still forced to make some bets, just bet the minimum. With this strategy you have about 20% advance rate but is the best you can get since you play against the whole lot and not only against your table.
- Yes Stanford Wong really explain very well this strategy and how to calculate your needed chip target to advance in his "Casino Tournaments" book.
2. If you do not want to buy a book, you can scout and speak with the other players which have participated in this type of tournament before (you said it is held periodically at that respective casino) and ask them what was the minimum chip to advance in the past editions, and about their experiences.. be nice and make friends, other way they may lie you about the target.. they have an interest.
3. Yes, if you can watch what other guys did and see their score you can go there and play your chance on the last run before times up.
*Note: It is also very important to know if players are given any max number of hands they can play and if you can bet your entire bankroll at any given point ?
And .. last but not last - GOOD LUCK !!!
- Then if you are still forced to make some bets, just bet the minimum. With this strategy you have about 20% advance rate but is the best you can get since you play against the whole lot and not only against your table.
- Yes Stanford Wong really explain very well this strategy and how to calculate your needed chip target to advance in his "Casino Tournaments" book.
2. If you do not want to buy a book, you can scout and speak with the other players which have participated in this type of tournament before (you said it is held periodically at that respective casino) and ask them what was the minimum chip to advance in the past editions, and about their experiences.. be nice and make friends, other way they may lie you about the target.. they have an interest.
3. Yes, if you can watch what other guys did and see their score you can go there and play your chance on the last run before times up.
*Note: It is also very important to know if players are given any max number of hands they can play and if you can bet your entire bankroll at any given point ?
And .. last but not last - GOOD LUCK !!!
