Thoughts on Tournament Play

A local casino hosts a monthly BJ tournament:

https://northernquest.com/promotions/1-500-added-blackjack-tournament

I know that I'm a very solid basic strategy player--and this casino uses the same rules (6D, H17, DAS, NS, Double any 2 cards) as the strategy I've committed to memory. I've never played in a tournament, but I'm intrigued by the idea of trying it. And the buy-in is only $30. Everyone starts with the same bankroll (TBD by the casino) and only 25 hands per round are played. Just to be fair(?) I notice that first base rotates around the table for each hand. (I guess so that no one can complain about any particular position getting all the 'good hands.')

My question is: with a limited bankroll and only 25 hands to be played per round, how aggressive must one play with respect to bet size? What are some strategies/tips for playing in tournament BJ that one wouldn't use in casual playing? For instance, since only the top 1-2 players from each table advance, it seems to me that taking even money when I have the chance--and thus guaranteeing an increase in chips--is a smart move, even though normally one wouldn't (unless, of course, the TC was +3 or higher). By the way, in this tournament BJ pays 2:1 (!!). Is there a point at which one must throw caution to the wind in hopes of increasing one's pile of chips? Or, if one has had a lucky start, should one play conservatively toward the last few hands to avoid losing more chips?

I'm curious as to what others with some experience have to say. Thanks!

Tournament blackjack is 100% different from regular table cash game blackjack. In tournament blackjack you must constantly be aware of your opponents chip stack and make your bets quite often by what their chip stacks are. There's a lot of other information to learn that's too lengthy to explain here, because it's basically like learning a whole new game.

I'd recommend tournament strategy by Standford Wong if you're interested in tournament play. $20 on amazon...

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2/137-3206236-0329804?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=tournament+blackjack

Man o man,

Speak of the devil! I logged in this morning to ask this very same question and it looks like ya'll are on it already. As usual, Romes has got the 411. Thanks! I am actually going to play in two tournaments this weekend and have never done it before. I've been a counter for 3.5 years but entering a tournament just for the heck of it. I will clearly be unprepared from the strategy side of things, but will try to learn what I can. They are $15 and $20 buy-ins, so whatever.

Thanks, Romes, I'll look into it.

Edit: I just ordered a copy from AbeBooks.com--my go-to place for used books. It was only $3.81, including S & H! I've bought several BJ books from them.

Romes is correct in that Tourny BJ is completely different. But, Stanford's book is 20 years old. That doesn’t mean it cannot be useful in some arenæ. Problem is, in a serious tourny, as soon as you make a one-third bet, they'll know what your strategy is. Tourny strategy, has of course, radically changed since. Tourny BJ has faded in popularity, unfortunately, which means that discussions have faded.

I would say the best info in earlier days would be Tinker Bell/Steve Yama. But, I don’t think you will see anything public about these theories. Ken Smith's works are far more up-to-date and can be found. Personally, I think they are a touch conservative. They are designed for grinding as opposed to winning larger tournys. But, there’s nothing wrong with that and he did well by them. The most interesting reads are the arguments between Joe Pane and Hollywood Dave. I wouldn’t take either as an only source. But, the give and take provides much info.

Sorry, but of course these works are not easy to find as folks don’t like to give up stuff. Like everything else, you need to network to get the best info.

Curious where you guys find and see good BJ tournaments.

Reno has a few every weekend, but it's like $20 buy-in and maybe there's 12-20 players.

What kind of action can you get in Vegas? Maybe some with much larger entrance fees.

Ken Smith's BJ tournaments forum. Don't know if links are allowed here.

Quote: QFIT

Ken Smith's BJ tournaments forum. Don't know if links are allowed here.

Absolutely. I've never seen any issues with links to information to learn on these forums =).

Don't know if this is still kept up. Looks like it: https://www.blackjacktournaments.com/tournaments/

The only ones I've played in were the free tournaments Kewadin St. Ignace used to have. $300, $150, and $50 for 1st through 3rd plus free dinner for everyone at the final table. Not bad for free! A friend of mine who had never played live casino blackjack before scored 1st the very first time he played. And he almost didn't play had I let him sleep in.

If you are playing small games, you probably won’t be up against really stiff opposition. Just a few starters off the top of my head:

1. Don’t count cards. It’s essentially useless with a small number of rounds.
2. Count the other players’ chips instead That’s what matters.
3. Keep in mind that, unlike standard blackjack, the other players are your opponents; not the casino.
4. There are players that are aggressive at the start to get a jump on the opposition (and if they bust out early, stop wasting their time), that are conservative and hope to outlast players that bust early, or that play unpredictably to throw off opponents. These are all valid methods.
5. The last hand is the most important. The next to last, the second most important. Indeed, this is probably 90% of the game.
6. You may need to forget basic strategy in the last hand, and often in the next to last. You must be the winner in chips. In a tourney, generally chips are points – not money. That means you may double for less, double a BJ (if allowed), make absurd splits, double a hard-20, make seemingly insane plays if that is the only way to win.
7. Position, who bets and plays first (nearly all tournys rotate), is of ultimate importance in the end game. But, that’s difficult to explain in detail.
8. Make sure you know all the rules beforehand. Rules like secret bets are important.

Good luck

QFIT covers the basic points.

Be sure you understand the rules about how many people advance. Are there two playoff rounds? Does everyone at the final table get paid?

You will almost certainly have to bet your whole stack at some point and get lucky.

Playing basic strategy you are roughly 50/50 to win or lose a given hand. This helps decide what to do.

Position on the last round or two is probably the most important thing. When you get to the last 4-5 rounds count out where you will be on the last round and think about a strategy. If you are first to play on the last round you might as well bet your whole stack. This will force the action on the other players and you may get lucky.

I once doubled on hard 17. The only reason I remember it is because I drew a 4. Even I get lucky sometimes.

Simple strategy:
Bet your whole stack on the first hand. If you win just bet one chip until the end and then decide what to do. If you lose, buy into the next round and try again.

Your fellow players won't like it but it is a competition after all.

Update: So I won the tournament on Friday night. 30 people and it was winner-take-all. $20 entry. Walked out with $600.

Played another one this morning with 33 people and finished in the final round: 5th out of about 33. Made my entry fee back + like $12. Ha!

Had I won my last hand, I would have actually won the second tournament too. Rats! I had the 7-3 against the Dealer 9. I doubled with everything I had to try to win and pulled a 4. Dealer had a 10 in the hole. :)

Oh well. It was a shit-ton of fun and as someone who loves to play, you definitely get the hang of "tournament-style" really quickly.

QFIT's pointers up top are absolutely dead on.

Anyway, I'm buying a house next month, so this money was needed more than words can explain.