It's a year old now, but I suspect many here will find this article interesting: Table Game Tournament Innovations by Max Rubin and Michael Patterson
I guess one of their innovations is holding closed tournaments. Does anyone know what playing level gets you in a Barona tourney? I like the style presented in the article, too bad they dont offer open games. At least I have never seen one offered and the calander history backs that up.
I just love #5, #4, & #2 in his Top Ten list. Restated, it means Barona only wants clueless donks in their tournaments. Hooray for them . The irony is that if they ran a big $$$ poker tournament they'd be begging Hellmuth, Duke, Raymer, Hachem, etc. to show up, probably with an appearance fee to boot. Shining evidence that our game is broken.
I would not use the word "broken". The real situation is that the casinos have no reason to change because the type of changes that many BJTers want would be a financially incorrect move for a profit orientated company. Like tournaments in Pai Gow, 3 Card Poker, Baccarat, Slots, etc., Blackjack Tournaments are only used to draw in players who will give the casino action. In other words, the casino treats BJTs as a carnival game. They do not want the pros playing because they do not want them beating the casino in the live games. Poker on the other hand is different. As I said many times in the past, poker tables are making about the same amount of money - per table - whether it's a live game or a tournament. Casinos do not have to be concerned with allowing the pros to play because when these pros play live poker the casino always makes money regardless of who wins. Two completely different games with completely different objectives from the casinos point of view, so naturally they are handled differently. Yes indeed, comparing Blackjack and Poker is like comparing Blackjack and Reel Slot Machines or shall I say apples and oranges.
