Blackjack tounament thoughts

Two or four sessions of 30 hands. All following basic betting rules won't win it so how can I give myself an edge? I know it is mostly money management and I assume porgressively aggressive betting and play may be needed. Thanks for any thoughts. Yours Jim

Wizard can do a better simulation than I can, but I've been playing with Hoyle Casino on my PC and with Strip rules I've been reasonably successful with flat bets until I win twice in a row, then raising 50% on the 3rd bet then the same amount on successive bets as long as I win. If I lose I drop my bet by 50% and start over. For example:

$100 win
$100 win
$150 win
$200 win
$250 win
$300 lose
$150 lose
$100....

In effect I'm pressing my good luck streaks. I "walk away" after losing $1000 from my high point (e.g. If I've made $4000+ I'll stop if I retreat to a net $3000 from a losing streak). I doubt its scientific and I'm sure Wizard is laughing at me, but it works for me (at least in simulation. I'll be trying it for real in a couple weeks!).

In a blackjack tournament, you are playing against two entities: the dealer and the other players. Because of this, I find it useful to be play a contrarian strategy. If the other players bet big, I bet small. If they go small, I go big. Obviously, you can't play like this in a vacuum. If you have a big lead, you should try to protect it, which might mean betting with the pack, especially near the end. If you are way behind, you are going to have make big bets, even if everyone else is betting big. But in general, using a contrarian strategy is a good choice.

Why does it make sense to do the opposite of everyone else? Because we are all playing against the same dealer. If you bet the same as everyone else and the dealer busts, you have done nothing to separate yourself from the pack. Same if the dealer makes a 21.

On a side note, sometimes you are first to act and its really tough to predict how the rest of the table will bet after you. If its the first few hands and I have to bet first, I go big since most people tend to bet small at the beginning.

Another thing I wanted to add. In a tournament, you need to consider ALL options when playing your hand. Often players stick too closely to basic strategy. They see hard hands of 17 and up and figure that's their hand and they are stuck with it.

Sometimes, your best option is to double your hard 18. Sometimes, surrendering your 20 can guarantee you a win. Be open minded and consider every option available for every hand.

Quote: cardshark

Sometimes, your best option is to double your hard 18. Sometimes, surrendering your 20 can guarantee you a win. Be open minded and consider every option available for every hand.

Good ideas.

Also consider splitting tens. After all, that gives you an extra hand.

So I should just play different than the other players with some sort of gut feeling about when I should violate basic betting rules till I get up or down on the field then react accordingly?

I think the tournament play has to reflect strategy changes based on what other players are betting and have in your reserves vs your reserves.

Once a hand is dealt as well, especially when you are behind, you will have to alter basic strategy in order to have the change to secure the most amount of money -- this would include doubling and splitting in situations where you normally wouldn't. You just have to manage the risk with the reward.