Blackjack Tournament Advice

Hello. I am entering my first blackjack tournament, and in preparation, I bought and read Wong's book called Casino Tournament Strategy. However, there are some questions I had that were unfortunately not in the book. Hopefully, someone with experience can help me.

1) It is a re-buy format. One re-buy allowed for losers in the first round is allowed, and it is not expensive in relation to the prize pool. Re-buy automatically advances to the second (re-buy) round. Re-buy positions are limited to available seats (first come first served), so are not guaranteed for those who lose late. Table winners bypass the re-buy round. Max bet is large in relation to bankroll. Is it to my advantage to go all-in on the first hand of the first round of the tournament until I either double-up or bust out?

2) If I make it to the final table where all are paid, but 1st place receives dramatically more than any other finishers, is it to my advantage to agree to chop the pot? Is any type of partial chop more advantageous than a full chop?

3) When is a push as bad as a loss? Does this only apply to the last hand or two of the tournament? Can it apply at any other time?

I'm certainly not a tournament expert, like at all... but given what I do know and just trying to formulate a few strategies I'd consider the following:

1) Your seat draw will determine a lot. If you get to bet last (near last) then what you should depend on what the others do. If you're at a 6 person table and the 5 ppl in a row in front of you go all in first hand, you should bet the minimum and hope for a dealer win because then you win the table. Likewise if a couple people go all in first hand I'd again wait to see if they bust out or not as this will dramatically increase your opportunity of winning your table (and thus skipping the re-buy round too).

2) If a few people win their double ups then yes I would consider betting very hard and very fast. Might want to leave yourself enough to split/double FYI. If your plan is to re-buy if you must, then I would wait until you 'need' to bet hard (i.e. give the other players a chance to bust - because once you're out, you're out).

3) The final table pot really depends on you. If you feel you're not that skilled, or maybe that other players are very skilled, then it might be in your best interest to chop the pot if you all have an even number of chips and 1st place pays considerably more than the rest. It's really about odds. With your skill level and chip level where do you expect to finish? 5th? 4th? Then find out how much money that is and compare it to the amount you'd get for "chopping." If a > b, then chop =).

Do note here that I 'think' you all start the final table with the same amount of chips, right? Or do you carry your chips forward? If you have a huge chip lead (for one reason or another) then you should a) not chop, or b) petition to receive a larger piece of the pie because you have more of the chips.

Lastly, a push is as bad as a loss when you need a win lol. In your example you pointed out just once scenario... The last hand of the tournament... You need $5k to take 1st place and he busted so you just need to win your hand... and you push. Well, then you've lost your table. In this scenario your push is just as bad as a loss because you end up losing the tournament.

Thanks for your reply, Romes. I appreciate the advice. I'm surprised Wong didn't cover any of this in his book. He mentioned the push as bad as a loss, but didn't really know if that was self-explanatory or what. Just wanted to follow-up with the other two questions and see if you have any more insight.

1) So what I'm getting is that I SHOULD go all-in if I bet towards the beginning. And if near the end, I should bet contrary to anyone betting large to see if they bust out...then go all in my second hand or the first-time no one is betting large? Essentially, is this what you are saying?

2) I feel like I will be more skilled than the average player, but obviously less skilled than a tournament expert. So for all intents and purposes, if I make it to the final table, for this hypothetical exercise, I rate myself as middle of the pack. It's 6 players and there is no chip carry-over; everyone starts with the same. An even chop is better than the 3rd place prize. I would expect to place 3rd or 4th. On the other hand, I think it significantly more likely that I'd place 2nd than 6th--which is a dismal prize. So I think an even chop is higher EV than trying to place. But is there a way to increase EV, since I estimate I will come in 3rd or 4th? Can we cut out last place from the chop? Or play through and give the lowest chip amount or first to bust a lower percentage?

Quote: Kneegrows

Thanks for your reply, Romes. I appreciate the advice. I'm surprised Wong didn't cover any of this in his book. He mentioned the push as bad as a loss, but didn't really know if that was self-explanatory or what. Just wanted to follow-up with the other two questions and see if you have any more insight.

1) So what I'm getting is that I SHOULD go all-in if I bet towards the beginning. And if near the end, I should bet contrary to anyone betting large to see if they bust out...then go all in my second hand or the first-time no one is betting large? Essentially, is this what you are saying?

Yes and no. Yes, usually the earlier position better want to put pressure on the late betters, but think about your strategy. If you're in late position you're HOPING the guys in early position go all in so they have a chance to get knocked out. With that info I might not go all in the first round or two simply to a) Not let them 100% sit back and watch me and b) Other players behind you may just choose to go all in on their own, so even with early position you may still see 2-3 people go all in after you and you can again watch to see if they get eliminated. This is the strategy I'd use for a low level tournament where I don't think the other players are going to be exactly tournament masters. Your call though. In early position I could see both being possible strategies, I guess from my original poker background (mainly BJ for the last 10 years though) I constantly like to see what others are going to do first which would make me take the more patient approach =P.

Quote: Kneegrows

2) I feel like I will be more skilled than the average player, but obviously less skilled than a tournament expert. So for all intents and purposes, if I make it to the final table, for this hypothetical exercise, I rate myself as middle of the pack. It's 6 players and there is no chip carry-over; everyone starts with the same. An even chop is better than the 3rd place prize. I would expect to place 3rd or 4th. On the other hand, I think it significantly more likely that I'd place 2nd than 6th--which is a dismal prize. So I think an even chop is higher EV than trying to place. But is there a way to increase EV, since I estimate I will come in 3rd or 4th? Can we cut out last place from the chop? Or play through and give the lowest chip amount or first to bust a lower percentage?

When players agree to a chop it's at a certain point and all must agree. If you are very confident you're not getting 6th, then I'd suggest when they offer to chop saying something like "Let's wait until someone gets knocked out and then chop perhaps?" This will let them know you don't want to chop with 6 people, and make sure you add the "perhaps!" This way if 1 person goes out and you happen to have a big chip lead you can again barter for more of the chop/continue playing because you have a lead. Be careful though, someone else may have the lead and do the same thing back. If a 6 way chop is better than 3rd place, I say take the chop, but again this comes down to your skill level, how strong you feel the final table is, etc, etc.