First Black Jack Tournament: Impressions
February 8th, 2012 at 1:32:17 PM
permalink
I played in a black jack tournament this weekend. Here are my impressions:
The casino I went to was doing "sit-n-go" tournaments. They would wait until five people wandered up to the table, and then they would start a tournament. The buy-in was $100 + a $5 dealer option which got you $2400 in tournament chips. Everybody always took the dealer option. They didn't seem to care how many times you played, and some people played every time. One guy who was playing in the high limit and would take a break and play the tournament.
The rules of the game were normal BJ rules except black jack paid 2:1. They dealt exactly twenty-one hands. Winner takes all (i.e., 100% equity to the player). I figured it was a fair 1:5 chance to win $400 (minus the tokes) assuming equal skill levels, so I planned to play as many times as they would let me. I ended up only playing in three. The first to act button rotated around the table and was determined by the first ace out of the shoe. (They reshuffled after the ace was dealt).
The first time I played I used the Wizard's method of betting the minimum each time. This worked well in the beginning as the high-roller and his wife were extremely agressive bettors and knocked themselves out early. However, a younger gentleman at third base was betting big and getting an incredible run of luck. It soon became clear I could not catch him no matter how much I bet. I was done by about the 16th hand. He won, and believe it or not, stuck around for the next tournament and won that too. (I didn't play that one). He left $800 richer.
I decided my strategy wasn't working and I switched my mindset to play the other players more than play the game. I entered another round with the high-roller and his wife, and two older guys. I decided to make medium bets of $100-$200 each round. As I had hoped, the high-roller and spouse busted out early again. But the other two guys were more prudent bettors and would not play crazy. They were betting big, and once again, first base was getting very lucky on double downs and BJs. I was done by about the 18th hand here, but at least I had progessed farther than before.
I figured my bankroll would allow one more shot. I hung around the tournament area, scouting the other players. I finally found a tournament pool to my liking. *WARNING* Misogyny ahead. There were two women in this tournament pool. Women are not known to be great wagerers in certain situations; this is just a gender difference. Empirically, they are not as successful in poker tournaments, etc.. Feel free to argue that point, but I liked my chances in this pool.
This time around I planned to vary my bets wildly and hope for a streak of luck. I would say for the first 15 hands I won exactly half of my hands. So I did not vary much from my starting bankroll. The two women did not bet very much at all, and also had not deviated far from their starting stack. I don't remember what the other two guys had; one busted out around hand 16.
On hand 17 I bet half my stack and got a 9 against a dealer 7. I doubled down and got a 10. Everybody else had stiffs. For some reason most people stood. Some hit and busted. Dealer turned over a 17, which was the best possible outcome for me, and a HUGE swing in my favor. I now had a commanding chip lead. The next hand (or maybe it was the one before), I got a blackjack on a medium-sized bet and that 2:1 payout also helped my stack.
We made it to hand 21 and I got to act last. I didn't even realize I had that position, and it turned out to be an enormous advantage. The women at first and second base both went all in. I had enough to cover First's doubled bet so I wasn't worried about her. Second base I did not have enough to cover. I bet enough so that if we both won, I would beat her by one chip. The other player was inconsequential.
The dealer dealt out the hands. Everybody had stiffs, and the dealer had an ace up. I made a comment that I'd never wanted to see a dealer blackjack so much in my life. The pit found that funny. Unfortunately, she did not have blackjack. First base busted. Second base hit to eighteen off a 12. I busted my 15. I figured I had to hit and give myself a chance because even though the dealer might have busted (and I would have won), she was most likely to make a hand and I didn't want to lose on the chance she made 17 or 18. I suppose the odds favored standing, now that I look at it, but it was very close, and anyway, I was looking good. Bottom line: Dealer turned over an 8 for a pat 19, I collected my $500 in chips, and left with a $185 net profit on the day's play. I enjoyed the tournament experience, and would like to play more in the future.
The casino I went to was doing "sit-n-go" tournaments. They would wait until five people wandered up to the table, and then they would start a tournament. The buy-in was $100 + a $5 dealer option which got you $2400 in tournament chips. Everybody always took the dealer option. They didn't seem to care how many times you played, and some people played every time. One guy who was playing in the high limit and would take a break and play the tournament.
The rules of the game were normal BJ rules except black jack paid 2:1. They dealt exactly twenty-one hands. Winner takes all (i.e., 100% equity to the player). I figured it was a fair 1:5 chance to win $400 (minus the tokes) assuming equal skill levels, so I planned to play as many times as they would let me. I ended up only playing in three. The first to act button rotated around the table and was determined by the first ace out of the shoe. (They reshuffled after the ace was dealt).
The first time I played I used the Wizard's method of betting the minimum each time. This worked well in the beginning as the high-roller and his wife were extremely agressive bettors and knocked themselves out early. However, a younger gentleman at third base was betting big and getting an incredible run of luck. It soon became clear I could not catch him no matter how much I bet. I was done by about the 16th hand. He won, and believe it or not, stuck around for the next tournament and won that too. (I didn't play that one). He left $800 richer.
I decided my strategy wasn't working and I switched my mindset to play the other players more than play the game. I entered another round with the high-roller and his wife, and two older guys. I decided to make medium bets of $100-$200 each round. As I had hoped, the high-roller and spouse busted out early again. But the other two guys were more prudent bettors and would not play crazy. They were betting big, and once again, first base was getting very lucky on double downs and BJs. I was done by about the 18th hand here, but at least I had progessed farther than before.
I figured my bankroll would allow one more shot. I hung around the tournament area, scouting the other players. I finally found a tournament pool to my liking. *WARNING* Misogyny ahead. There were two women in this tournament pool. Women are not known to be great wagerers in certain situations; this is just a gender difference. Empirically, they are not as successful in poker tournaments, etc.. Feel free to argue that point, but I liked my chances in this pool.
This time around I planned to vary my bets wildly and hope for a streak of luck. I would say for the first 15 hands I won exactly half of my hands. So I did not vary much from my starting bankroll. The two women did not bet very much at all, and also had not deviated far from their starting stack. I don't remember what the other two guys had; one busted out around hand 16.
On hand 17 I bet half my stack and got a 9 against a dealer 7. I doubled down and got a 10. Everybody else had stiffs. For some reason most people stood. Some hit and busted. Dealer turned over a 17, which was the best possible outcome for me, and a HUGE swing in my favor. I now had a commanding chip lead. The next hand (or maybe it was the one before), I got a blackjack on a medium-sized bet and that 2:1 payout also helped my stack.
We made it to hand 21 and I got to act last. I didn't even realize I had that position, and it turned out to be an enormous advantage. The women at first and second base both went all in. I had enough to cover First's doubled bet so I wasn't worried about her. Second base I did not have enough to cover. I bet enough so that if we both won, I would beat her by one chip. The other player was inconsequential.
The dealer dealt out the hands. Everybody had stiffs, and the dealer had an ace up. I made a comment that I'd never wanted to see a dealer blackjack so much in my life. The pit found that funny. Unfortunately, she did not have blackjack. First base busted. Second base hit to eighteen off a 12. I busted my 15. I figured I had to hit and give myself a chance because even though the dealer might have busted (and I would have won), she was most likely to make a hand and I didn't want to lose on the chance she made 17 or 18. I suppose the odds favored standing, now that I look at it, but it was very close, and anyway, I was looking good. Bottom line: Dealer turned over an 8 for a pat 19, I collected my $500 in chips, and left with a $185 net profit on the day's play. I enjoyed the tournament experience, and would like to play more in the future.
"Dice, verily, are armed with goads and driving-hooks, deceiving and tormenting, causing grievous woe." -Rig Veda 10.34.4
February 8th, 2012 at 2:00:41 PM
permalink
Which Casino?
Vote for Nobody 2020!
February 8th, 2012 at 2:41:47 PM
permalink
There was no entry fee? Why was the casino doing this if they weren't making any money off it?
February 8th, 2012 at 2:43:44 PM
permalink
The wizards strategy, if I recall correctly, is built around multi-table tournaments. I am not sure if that would change much.
The blackjack tournaments I play in all have normal rules EXCEPT blackjacks pay 2 to 1. That makes each bet EV positive. Due to the effect of the dealers hand, most players at the table are going to have similar outcomes on each hand. Thus, the goal is differentiation. I follow the conservative strategy up front because you might get lucky and everyone gets pounded at the beginning. You win right there. If the opposite happens and everyone goes up fast, then you can just do crazy aggressive betting later.
My events go- conservative bets -> aggressive bets -> bets based on other players. If literally everyone plays conservative at the beginning I switch and play aggressive.
The blackjack tournaments I play in all have normal rules EXCEPT blackjacks pay 2 to 1. That makes each bet EV positive. Due to the effect of the dealers hand, most players at the table are going to have similar outcomes on each hand. Thus, the goal is differentiation. I follow the conservative strategy up front because you might get lucky and everyone gets pounded at the beginning. You win right there. If the opposite happens and everyone goes up fast, then you can just do crazy aggressive betting later.
My events go- conservative bets -> aggressive bets -> bets based on other players. If literally everyone plays conservative at the beginning I switch and play aggressive.
February 8th, 2012 at 2:50:52 PM
permalink
Quote: teddysThe rules of the game were normal BJ rules except black jack paid 2:1.
The first to act button rotated around the table and was determined by the first ace out of the shoe. (They reshuffled after the ace was dealt).
How many decks were in the shoe? Was it reshuffled ever again in the game?
Resist ANFO Boston PRISM Stormfront IRA Freedom CIA Obama
February 9th, 2012 at 9:45:34 AM
permalink
I agree. For the later rounds I sat at third base and just watched everyone elses betting patterns and stack. I barely even looked at the cards. The goal is differentiation -- right. Interesting stuff. By the way, I did not bother to count.
There were six decks. They shuffled at the normal shuffle point. So it usually took two shoes to run the tournament.
There were six decks. They shuffled at the normal shuffle point. So it usually took two shoes to run the tournament.
"Dice, verily, are armed with goads and driving-hooks, deceiving and tormenting, causing grievous woe." -Rig Veda 10.34.4
