Im headed to Laughlin this weekend. Going to give this accum tourney a try while the snowbirds are still away.. Maybe Ill see some of yot there. https://www.blackjacktournaments.com/oldtourn/viewtourn.php?infoID=1062
Good Luck Hello Barney Stone. I don't know how long it's been since you've been to Laughlin. However, The Aquarius is really nice on the inside now. I was there about three or four months ago when the ownership was changing. At least, I knew the casino floor was in a transitional phase. Don't know too much about if the rooms have been updated. Good luck bro.
Hi Kemba, this is the type of tourney you have been looking for. Its a promo event with very low buy in and good pay out. I called yesterday to confirm the prize is 25K guarantee. Keep an eye on the calendar for more events at the Aqua, which is indeed greatly improved since the Pink has been removed by new ownership. ....I hear they have planed 4 more events. It might be best to visit before the snowbirds arrive because at that point the attendance will skyrocket. Also, if anyone is planning to attend go to ACE Rewards Booth to buy in...
Details...details... Please, Barney share any details about this tourney. I have seen these $49 entry deals for several various table game tourneys listed in the Laughlin Entertainer magazine. This Aquarius casino floor is now a delight to visit. Roomy aisles now. New machines to play. Some fine VP from quarters to high limits. I stop by in my northern end-river walk-abouts at the Zodiac Bar to quiz the bartenders. They keep putting rum in my tall orange juice playing Bonus 8/5, The ACE card is used here and at AZ-Charlies/Strat. But Carl Ichan just sold out...so the transition will begin again.
How did you fair? How did you do in the tournament Barney Stone? I'm really anxious to know what took shape in this tournament. In addition, did you like the floor layout there? I really enjoyed the entire Aqua color theme. Take care.
Well.... I arrived at the Aquarius and had an easy time buying in at the players club booth, quick and friendly. I proceeded to the registration line which had a short line and received my players packet which included the rules and a free buffet ticket along with a theme oriented T shirt. I then walked around and noticed a lot of good video poker machines and slipped a 100$ into a .25¢ 10/7 machine with a bunch of 4 of a kind bonus chances, grabbed a 4 of a kind and played for an hour cashing out even and going back to the players club to collect my free t shirt, a very nice one, off points. Walked back to my room at Don Laughlins to read the rules. Opened the rules and read starting BR was 1000$. That didnt jive with what I was told by marketing on the phone, looked at the heading and it was a roulette tourney packet. Had to walk back and get a BJ rules sheet. The rule sheet was actually detailed in terms of disclaimers but had no format info. I was scheduled for second round but came early to track the accumulations as I was told via phone call it was an accumulation tourney. A local tourney player friend in Laughlin told me it was table advance. I walked up to the director and asked what was up, I got a cold reception and was told it was 11 hands 1/6 advance. I was actually happy about this. My first round had a lady wild cat to 14700 from a starting BR of 2100. I rebuy Barneyed. total investment now 98$. Rebuy round I played smartly and won the table to advance to semis on Sunday, this locked in 100$ for me. During another visit to the snarling tourney director I was lead to believe it was going to be table advance on Sunday semi game but when I arrived Tulsa Bob, he had also semi finaled, told me it was accumulation. I asked the director and he told me to wait for the announcement. That coming when we were sitting. He then announced it was top 5 of 32 players, I think there were about 250 players in all, would final table on accumulation with one wild card. The hands played would be 21 in the semis. He also announced the prize structure and said first was 10K which was a change from what was in the rules packet that said 15K. I was mad. BTW, the phone calls also lead me to believe top 50 were paid and a layer near top 6 would get 500$, instead the semi tables got 100$. Tulsa Bob and I had a good first 2/3 of game accumulating nicely. We could see a lady at another able with several thousand in chips which, for me anyway, made me feel a need to lunge. Bob and I busted out. Turned out 3300 was needed to get 5th spot and 4th spot wasnt much more. In other words we were looking good with our totals but killed ourselves with over bets. Thats accumulation pain I guess. Then guess what, the head lady director then announced the first prize was 15K. I was mad. So in conclusion, the tourney had its problems. Reflecting on the entire event I think it has potential as they are planning offering tournaments not only BJ but roulette and craps as well. There was a point I was giving it a grade of a D but have upgraded it to a C just because Im a nice guy. It has potential tho. Low investment. Shaky organization. Good pay out. If they can iron out the little problems it could be a good event. Question is, do they really care to improve? It was nicer to see The Legend, Skip, and Tulsa Bob. We had a nice visit after our play on Saturday.
Not Good Thank you for the detailed description of this tournament, as I visit Laughlin more than Vegas. I would say the back-and-fourth with winning payout I'm seeing a great deal in many of these tournaments. I'm beginning to think that the Casino, as what someone else said in these forums, are just trying to tally up how much they can get and they will decide the pay-out in the last few moments. This is rather dissapointing in my opinion. Can any of these casinos just stick with the original payouts from the onset of the tournaments? I don't know. I was also upset that you didn't receive a warm and friendly introduction from the director. Here we go again. An establishment that might not really want to hold the tournament anyway. It was just given probably to get other people to visit the casino. :flame: The best part of your trip to me was that you had fun with the other players. That is the best feeling to share your likes, dislikes, and suggestions as to how we as players can make these tournaments run as smoothly as possible. I really am partial to the accumulation style, however, I won that cruise tournament like that. Thank you so much for the detailed information Barney. Peace.....
One thing I forgot to mention. The tourney used a secret bet on hand 10 for the qualifier and hand 20 for semi and final tables. You wrote bet total on card and placed it in box. Dealer then read each card and made the bet for you. Then hand actions were finished.
