Going To Aruba!!!!

Hey All!
I just found these forums when looking up the Aruba classic BJ tournament and I thought I would post and see if anyone responds lol. I am one of the people who won the online qualifier, and I'm being flown out to Aruba this Thursday, and playing in one of the 2 final tables on Friday! AHHHHH! =D Be sure to look for me- Carly!! (I'll probably be one of the first people out seeing as how I'm a complete novice to the game). I didn't quite realize how big this whole ordeal was until reading everyone's posts, and hearing everyone talk about the professionals and the numbers of people who were expected to show. Now I'm more nervous than anything! This whole thing is incredible, it's like a dream that i feel I'm going to wake up from any second.... I just started to play bj like 2 weeks ago when my boyfriend introduced me to the game, and now suddenly, somehow, I'm being flown out to compete for money all the while being filmed by CBS! If anyone has any helpful hints, I'd greatly appreciate it! So far I think I need to focus on how to measure other people's chip stacks, and since I've never played at a real table before, I'm a bit concerned.... Also, if anyone knows how much the prize pool is and what the structure of payout is, I'd greatly appreciate it. I spoke with Kenny Einiger about the trip since he was the one coordinating my flight and everything, but unfortunately, I didn't get too much information about the whole event. All I know is when I'm flying out... I don't even know where I'm staying! Lol. I guess this whole trip will be a pretty big surprise. Anyways, hopefully someone will respond to my message, and if anyone's interested, I'll keep posting and let you all know how it goes! =D Wish me luck!

 

Best advice: don't end up on my table, and you'll have a better chance of winning! lol...

Good luck & make sure you come to one of the UBT seminars when you get in town, that'll give you a rough overview of everything you need to know...plus keep playing online for free @ playubt.com!

rock on --

-hollywood dave.

 

Thanks Dave

LOL Trust me, I'm hoping I'm not at your table.... I'm scared of playing against any professional! How many of the satellite thingys have you won already? Anyways, best of luck to you too and I'll be seeing you in Aruba!
-Carly

 

Good luck

Well done douchekitty and I have to say I very envious! In fact your are maybe the 2nd or 3rd self-proclaimed noobie who's won a place at Aruba and quite frankly I getting sick of it ! I sit at home plugging away and get no where. I'm not saying I deserve it or that I'm any good but come on, give a guy a break

Seriously dk, congratulations (I'm only joking above :joker and if you do happen to get on a table with hollywood watch his hands, especially if they are under the table, he has a habit which is quite frankly anti-social and he probably needs therapy or something!

Cheers

Reachy

 

Thank you for your support... I still can't believe I made it! I'm terrified of playing against all the professionals though because I only am just learning the game now... which I guess unfortunately leaves me with playing based on luck and very little skill....I guess the optimistic view would be that I've made it to the final table and received a free trip to Aruba! Can't ask for more than that I suppose! =D As for future freerolls, I'm sure if you just keep playing, you'll eventually get a chance like I did! =D I'll be rooting for you if I see you online! Best wishes!!!

 

basic advice

- Figure out what betting position you are likely to be in on the elimination hands. The later you bet on these hands the more advantage you have. If you have to bet early or 1st you really need to be in one of the top BR positions to give yourself the best chance.

- Bet smallish initially and if you need to make a move it's good idea to wait until the button passes.

- You are more likely to lose a hand than win. What that means is if somebody with a bigger BR bets ahead of you an amount that if lost would take them below your current BR by a minimum bet or two, you could bet small enough to be ahead if they lose regardless of your outcome. It's called taking the "low".

- Taking the "high" is when you bet enough to beat an opponent if you both win. If you can take the high and the low you are in a very powerful position.

- Buy some casino chips and practice counting them quickly at home. From what I understand this is THE most important TBJ skill as it is the foundation of betting correctly. If you don't know what your opponents BRs are you can't possibly bet with confidence.

- Buy "Casino Tournament Strategy" by Stanford Wong and "Play to Win" by Kenny Einegger and study them closely. Then study them again.

- Play lots of online TBJ for money. The freerolls give a false impression of how TBJ should be and will be played at Aruba.

- Review the startegy articles here and at blackjackinfo.com. Go through the archive of this forum paying attention to the Tournament Teasers section.

- Ask questions on this forum. When you play you will encounter situations that you may not know how to deal with or if you did the right thing after the fact. Make a note of critical hands (i.e. opponents cards, BRs, plays and outcomes; dealers cards and outcome; your cards, BR, plays and outcomes) and if you want expert opinions post them here, or more specifically in the "Strategy" section.

- Hope that Lady Luck is standing behind you

- Don't engage Hollywood Dave in conversation or even look at him. It'll only encourage him. If he starts "smack" talking you are entirely justified in actually smacking him. In fact that's what he wants you to do.

Cheers

Reachy

 

Thank you for your help, I will definitely take your tips and hopefully that'll help me in the tournament! How do you know so much about hollywood dave? I'm just praying I'm not at his table for numerous reasons... the first and foremost being that he's a really good bj player, and the second being that I'm worried I'll get distracted by all his talking lol. But, we'll see how it goes. I will definitely have to buy some chips and practice "counting" them, since I have no idea how to do that lol. I'm so incredibly nervous, I'm just hoping to not make a complete idiot out of myself! But, we'll see how that goes.... Anyways, k.i.t and I'll let you know how those tips work out =D

 

Reachy covered most of the bases. If you have a local tournament you can go to before you go, do it! Don't let the "pros" scare you. You made it this far, you CAN win! Most importantly, have fun. You've won a tremendous opportunity, so take some attitude with you, read strategy books on the plane and kick some bootAy!

And if you can find Ken Smith, chat him up for advice over umbrella beverages.

 

Huge Row to Hoe

Well...first thing is...you learn blackjack basic strategy.

After that you can tackle Reachy's list.

Good luck, I think you'll need at least as much as what got you there!

--jr

 

Thanks to everyone who's posting their advice on strategies etc... I wish I had more time to study up on the game, but unfortunately I only have 2 days left til I arrive in Aruba. I guess it's lucky that I have an 8 hour plane ride with a 4 hour layover... that'll give me some good reading time to attempt to be prepared lol. I'm just hoping my luck will hold up, but if not, at least I got the chance to do this, because it probably won't happen to me again! Lol. Anyways, thanks again to everyone!

 

Ok douche bag kitty...hey I wanted to win Aruba...lol

Practice every minute you can at Bet 21 etc....BUT...dont play the practice games...most of these are being played by novices too and you will get the wrong impression as to how to properly play.

Best advice...spend a few dollars and join some $5 , $10 or higher sit and goes...also play some $5 tournaments...you will get a better idea of how to play here...if you can get in on the midnight 1 dollar for 1000 dollar guarantee tournament and if you can make it past the first round then you will get some realistic playing experience...you are very lucky to be able to paly and learn at these sites...most of us never had this venue to practice at.

spend a few bucks to play the better games...remember you are playing against the table...not the house....

If you dont know what to do... say ...should I bet a hundred or 1000 on the last hand...there is a kinda of basic primer that says When in doubt ....put it out.

Good luck...although you have already won a free trip, etc...also the California guy too...I dont mean to leave you out...I hate you too for winning my prize..

Good luck you two...practice on line until you cant stand it anymore...then practice some more...there are some real sharpies down there...but dont be intimidated...good luck can overcome some bad plays and great skill cannot over come bad cards...so play your best and have fun....hey you won the free rolls...Im sure there were some good players there...I didnt hear about it in time even though I was signed up to be notified 6 months before ...had I been there ...you would be writting this to me..

Ok enough of me...good luck ....I will be watching for you both on TV... and dont worry Hollyweird Dave is out already... out of the running..so you will be safe from him.

Hunt down Joe Pain..opps I mean Joe Pane and beg him for a quick lesson...hes a card shark..;-)

Best wishes really!!!

Randy

PS...Ken...can we get spill Sheckk on hiar so I can spill bitter??? A little more better anyway...Im dsyleck and can not spell..

 

congrats and good luck, plus..

congrats on making it to Aruba. To be fair and honest, please direct your Aruba specific questions to Ken or Joep via email or private message. I'm saying this because your coming off, in my opinion, as displaying your success a little too open and not holding anything back. Being humble is a nice trait for any tourney player, begineer, intermediate or Pro level.

We all should balance our successes and failures in tourney blackjack. Kenny Smith does an outstanding job of this on this board along with Joe. Both of them have had hundred of successes but they rarely speak about them or gloat. We learn not directly from them but from people who were there at the event.

Just my two cents my friend as you begin this new adventure into our world.

Sidekick

 

Me too!

I'm sure the people who failed today in semi's would feel along "side" myself also.

Sidekick

 

Thanks Ken for the support, sorry sidekick if my messages came off giving the wrong impression. I am not here to make anyone feel bad, I simply was hoping for seasoned players advice seeing as how I am a complete novice.

 

No problem

I rarely post my personal feelings on this board. After Saturday, your going to be a winner no matter what place your in. My advice is to take it in stride.

sidekick

 

Sounds like Sidekick is being a poor loser to me.

I knew you were upset about being an alternate for Aruba, but to tell the winner (who is new to the site btw) that she needs to stop throwing her win in our faces (or however you put it) is ridiculous.

I'm sure that if you had won the spot you would be cheering it up too. I'm sure she didn't know one of the people she beat out would be a member of this site, and I'm sure she's not trying to gloat. It's excitement, and I don't blame her in the least. I'm excited for her and I don't even know her.

 

Dont tell me sorry douche, im in the same boat as you. At least you got a responce from people here when you asked for advice. I had to go to your post to learn a bit about tournament blackjack. The only advice I got was bring sun block It reminds of a bar scene where a bunch a guys are standing around bullshitting with each other for a few hours cause theres no women there. Then all of a sudden one walks through the door and everyone pounches.:laugh: I mean that in a good way guys , not trying to run anyone down here. Shit... id do the same.

 

Aruba = sore subject for some

I'm not speaking for Sidekick, but I can say not to take too much too seriously on the Aruba thing...I think it's a sore subject with a lot of people here because most people here didn't even know the qualifier existed and they feel they got the shaft on it.

Again, those thoughts aren't me speaking for anyone else, I just know a lot of people were bitter about the Aruba qualifiers.

Take it for what it's worth and I wish you both luck.

 

LOL well I'm probably much younger than a lot of people going... I'm only 22 lol. Although I guess I can't say for sure since I don't know anyone else's age, but just an estimated guess...I figure I'll probably be one of the youngest there. However, I've been wrong before