I have a shot at $1,000,000!!

I played the Harrah's Millionaire Maker qualifier at Grand Casino Tunica this past Saturday. I finished fourth which get me a spot in the national MM tournament in August. The top 7 finishers qualified for the finals as well as two wild cards. (9 total) The tournament was full (280 players) and had a number of people on a waiting list if they had any no-shows. It was an accumulation event. Each player played two rounds of 25 hands with a starting bankroll of 5K. Standard Grand rules were in effect with no added gimmick features like 2-1 blackjack or jokers.
First place had over 50K (40K came in one round) but there was a big dropoff to second (38 or 39K). My fourth place score was 35,225. (paid $800 & the trip)

Of course I thought the tournament was a lot of fun but I think everyone there would agree that it was well run and that the people at the Grand tried to make it as nice an event as they could. The tournament gift was decent and the welcome reception was well stocked with good food, free drinks, and lively people. I didn't see any glaring organizational or procedural errors. Registration was a breeze. The only thing I might have changed is that they did not post any scores at all so you had to gather what info you could on your own.

So I guess I will be at Caesers the second week in August. Hope to see some of you there. Good Luck.

They are playing the Sheraton qualifier this coming weekend. The invite for it was on the same mailout as the one for the Grand. (at least mine was)

 

Agree

I agree with everything Blackjack Rebel Too said and I congratulate him on his win.

I needed a dealer bust when I had a triple $2,500 bet out there but of course the dealer made his hand then it was all down hill.

I'll be trying again on June 24, 2006 at the Sheraton. I was told they have a max of 240 players for this event and the Grand Group of hotels are near full. Is anyone else planning on playing at the Sheraton?

 

millionaire maker

Good Luck Rebel And Congradulations On Your Win I Tried In Shreveport But Failed To Make The Final Table If I Am Not Mistaken Did I Play You Iat Pearl River For The Wsob Qualifyer I Was Towards Your Left And We Went To Finall Table No Semi Only 13 Players This Was In Dec I Think And Ken Smith Was There Also:d :d

 

Congrats Rebel

I will be there too - just sent you a PM. I posted what I learned of the Finals rules if you were not aware - they will have the bonus hands to which you refer though!

Chips

 

Congrats to all MM qualifiers!!

Yes, Kudos to all of the qualifiers for the Millionaire Maker final tournament in August!! Husband, Frank, came in third at the Grand, after making a remarkable comeback with $30,000 the second round. First round he posted $6,700.
I will miss his high school reunion this week-end to play at the Sheraton

Does anyone know the format for the MM Final Tournament ...accumulation/elimination ....how many players/rounds, bankroll, max/min bet?? Please let us hear from you if you have any knowledge about the BIG EVENT! Thanks, Lee

 

MM finals at Caesars

Yes, I was fortunate enought to "acquire" a copy of the Finals rules and Posted them a while back. Please see link:

https://www.blackjacktournaments.com/oldtourn/viewtourn.php?infoID=626

What say all of us from BJT try to get together before during and/or after the event. I will be in LAS from 08-24 AUG to attend other events besides the finals. Although I don't live there, I am out there quite often if I can be of assistance to any who are not so familiar.

Chips

 

MM Finals

Thanks a bunch, Chips..

Getting together sounds like a winner to us. We don't get to Vegas very often so you might have to give guidance. Keep us posted prior to lift-off! Lee/Frank Elder

 

MAX: I played the WSOB at PRR but it wasn't the week that they had 13 entries. I went the next week after reading here on the board about the micro-small number of entries. Unfortunately, the qualifier I played was either the day before or the day after a big invitational tournament and there were like 60 people there the week I played. Ken was there, as were several others from this board.

Counselorlee: Did your husband split a pair out to four hands with max bets in his last round? If so, he and I talked several times while trying to keep up with scores. I am coming back up to play the Sheraton since I registered for both back when I got the invite.

If anyone is still making arrangements, I just made my reservations for Saturday night at the Grand through the Harrah's website. So they still had rooms about this time yesterday.

 

MM finals

I am new here and trying to understand all the different formats for blackjack tournaments. I am reading Stanford Wong's book and trying to understand its principals as they apply to the various tournament regulations. So using the data provided for the MM finals I calculated you would need something in excess of $60k to move to the semi-finals and that did not take into consideration any of the strange payouts for blackjack or 5 card 21s. Is this possible in only 18 hands? I must be missing something.

Please help.:

Thanks,

 

Best Guess

Wong's formula is intended as a guide only. He eluted to this when he said there "seems" to be a relationship etc.. He also said the formula breaks down when only a few advance from a large field - which is what you had in this tournament. Keep in mind also that the formula is intended to find a goal to reach for in order to "advance" or "get in the money". It is not intended to get you first place.

What you have to do is use the formula as a starting point and make adjustments as a given tournament demands. Try to play in later sessions and observe what had happened in the early sessions. Take unusual rules into account. Consider that the more populated the field is with seasoned players (they are also using this method), the higher your goal must be. After taking all this into account, then arrive at your goal. Does this sound like guess work? Absolutely!!! However, as you gain more experience you will find that your goal estimates will improve. Your chances of winning (or being in the money) in an accumulation format tournament will be much greater than the average person who goes in with no idea of what he/she is doing.

 

Thanks

Thanks toolman1. I will try and do all that.
One more question
Does the number of hands have any impact on calculating how much of a bankroll you will need if all other factors are constant?

 

Number Of Hands

I suppose the number of hands may have an effect if it is unusually high or low. However, your seasoned players will bet on the larger side right out the gate and then just nickle out once they achieve their goal. If they don't achieve their goal, they'll generally bust out trying since not achieving the goal will generally result in a chip total too small to advance with. I've never given the number of hands much thought but my best guess is that overall, the number of hands will not matter much. I'd like to hear other opinions on this, anyone else listening in, please jump in.

 

Very rarely a factor. One usually reaches goal or busts out before playing that many number of hands.

 

No, Rebel...he didn't split 10's 4 x's

Sorry, Rebel...I just got back to BJT.com after being gone for awhile. Read your post and my husband said he was NOT the person who split 10's on the last hand....he said that guy beat him by 300 .... I think I remember him...he stood behind me during my last round and was rather distracting.

I wish I could be as complimentary about the Sheraton MM Tournament as you. Several of us we VERY disappointed in the format...only one round and the top 36 moving on to the final round where our dealer allowed very few hands to be won.....(I won only 2). I noticed the winner(s) came from one table where the dealer who was generous to the majority. I felt sorry for those who flew in for only one round ....but then again, it was free. So, maybe it's not nice to complain after the fact. Hope to meet you in Vegas... L & F

 

Who's first?

Does anyone know who came in first at the Grand on June 17, 2006?

 

TUNICA Grand Casino $1,000,000 Qualifier

I was very fortunate and won the first (I guess) tournament back in March.

140 participants and I tied with a nice guy from Arkansas ($34,600). We had a 4 hand playoff. Man was I nervous.I was lucky and drew a pair of 8"s doubled down and won. We split the prize money and I won the trip to Vegas. I havenbt heard from the casino as of yet other than to fill out an information form and fax it back.

I have tried to locate someone so I can schedule my vacation to go.
I have read on here it will be the 2nd week of August at Ceasars Palace?
Does anyone have any additional info that I am unaware of I would appreciate it!!!

I would like to hook up with some others if possible.

Thanks,
John
Arab, Alabama

 

Congratulations LuckyOne. They told us at the tournament a couple of weeks ago that the Harrah's travel division would contact us a month or so before the MM tournament. Since that tournament is scheduled Aug. 13-16, I would look for some contact in two or three weeks. The people at the Grand didn't know a lot of details other than we would be contacted.

Lee: I found that out when I saw the guy in question at the Sheraton tournament. He goes by Stoney and I think his last name is Stone.
I agree that I think the Sheraton could have been improved by having two rounds. That evens out the influence of one extremely hot (or cold ) table on who does or doesn't advance. I am sure I would feel a little different if I had played my finals table in the first round.

 

Thanks a bunch SWOG !!

I really appreciate it. My son will be out of college (summer session) and hopefully go with me !!! This helps with our planning.

This was the first tournament I ever played in.

It was just my day with the cards..I am a terrible player !!!

Luckyone!!!

 

luckyone

I Won My First Tournament For 20k And Have Been Hooked Ever Since-that Was The First Time I Had Played A Tournament It Was Pure Luck For Me Since I Did Not Know What I Was Doing-i Watched Wsob On Tv And Told My Wife I Could Do That She Just Sneered And Said Yea Right-i Was At The Casino And Asked The Pit Boss If They Any Tournaments Just As Luck Would Have It They Had One Two Weeks And The Rest Is History-my Hat Sizw Swelled Two Sizes But Has Since Become Normal Again-i Have Been To The Final Table 3 Out Of 6 Times And Feel Good About That But Need To Improve-good Luck To You And Have Fun Doing Tournaments:d :d