I hope I am posting this in the right place - I just joined here - and my computer skills are not great. Thankfully my gambling skills are a little better! Anyway, I have just found out that I will be in another televised BJ tournament, one being filmed in Aruba in last September. (Previously I was in - and bombed out of - the World Series of BJ but I think they invite me as the "gambling grandma" just for color - they like people who are "characters.") I am looking to get in some practice before that time so I might at least make a little better showing - and I thought it might save time if I could do some online tournaments. (Running around Vegas is so time-consuming with all the traffic - and I am trying to finish my next book and my "free" time is limited.) However, I have never done any gambling online so don't know just how to get started. Does someone have some advice for me, especially specific sites you recommend that aren't big-money events. In fact, are there some free games that would be helpful just for practice?
Some suggestions Jean Welcome to the premier BJ tournament site on the web! Like you, I hardly played any tournament BJ before the World Series last November, but there are a couple of ways to quickly increase your skills. One is to practice on BJ software, such as Norm Wattenberg's Casino Verite program. It simulates tournaments and will help give you a better feel for end play. Working on that and reading tips from Ken's other website (blackjackinfo.com) or Wong's book should make a big difference. The online casino where most of us converge is Global Player Casino. They have a weekly multi-table tournament on Wednesdays at 1 PM which is both cheap to play and well attended. Also, they have recently added some sit and go one table tournaments that draw many of the top pros (such as Ken Smith and Joe Pane). So either of those options should help sharpen your game before September. And I think they invited you back to the show because of how well you presented yourself on TV. You projected very well at the WSOBJ and I wish you good luck this fall.
Welcome aboard! Hi Jean, this is Rick Jensen, I play on your table in the WSOB II. I was sitting next to you. I will be out in Vegas tomorrow night for the Las Vegas Hilton 3-card poker tournament. Call me over their Tuesday and we can go over somethings that might help you out. I just talked to your WSOB coach earlier tonight (Henry T.). I will be intown through next Sunday, call me Tuesday and I'll give you my schedule so we can get together. And like Kevin posted earlier, try Global-Player casino online tournaments only $16 for a 15 hand sit and go tournament. They are good practice and they host a bigger weekly tournament every Wed. afternoon. If you sign-up use the code "Cruise" for extra chip bonus, I know you like bonuses...LOL.
New to BJ Tournaments If Blackjack tournaments ever challenges Poker on TV it will not be due to interesting personalitys but rather skilled players in my opinion, we already have Celebrity Blackjack to entertain the uninformed for an evening. If personalities were the drawing card Ben Affleck would have received more air time on the WSOP. I may be in the minority but I think skilled players not personalities are the future for blackjack tournaments on TV. I get all the personalities I want watching Password reruns on GSN.
Celebrity I think what really drives the WPT is that it is character driven. Certainly the people who make the final tables are typically the most skilled, but it is the individual personalities and their back story that makes the show intriguing. The viewing audience likes to follow well known players like Gus Hansen or Phil Ivey. Blackjack needs to be the same way and will have to have "stars" if it wants to be successful on TV. Viewers need to connect with the players and have some one to root for or villains to root against. Skillful play is important, but ultimately BJ on TV will be character driven if it succeeds, IMHO. That is why colorful people like our favorite Texan Rick Jensen and perky personalities like Jean Scott are important to include in future shows.
My two cents Without any exception that I can think of, all the tournament poker players that we see winning televised poker events made their names actually winning at poker before becoming TV personalities. There is certainly a place for "celebrity TV" BJ or Poker but GSN sank to a new low level when their "serious" BJ tournament included a gentleman whose qualification for participation was that he had gone through breast implantation. Give me a break! It's the chicken or egg first dilemma. Start with seasoned BJ tournament players who have actually won a tournament or who would qualify their way to the main event by winning qualifying events. GSN would be quite surprised to find out that these gentlemen/ladies actually do have interesting personalities along with real BJ tournament experience. Don't get me wrong. A number of GSN participants were genuine BJ tournament players. It was very fitting that Ken Eineiger won the event over a number of participants with dubious BJ tournament credentials. :joker: :joker: :joker:
Criticizing the "Holy Grail" of BJ? How refreshing, we actually have some genuine criticism of the "Holy Grail" of blackjack tournaments - WSOBJ. Rookie789 may be in the minority inthat his comments are honest and he is not afraid to air them. But I think the majority of people (althought they are afraid to say so - don't want to rattle Max Rubin) agree with him. After all, if you are not on the good side of Max Rubin then you will not be invited. Now what can be more fair? Sorry guys and girls. If Max reads these comments your out!
Clarification Perhaps my initial post didn't clearly state my opinion, I agree colorful personalities and interesting backgrounds add to the entertainment value of televised blackjack tournaments but I also believe there are enough players that are both skilled and colorful to produce successfull televised tournaments. You stated the WPT viewing audience likes to follow "well known" players like Gus Hansen and Phil Ivey, they are skilled players and that is exactly my point. I also agree Rick (cow tipping) Jensen should be included in future shows but primarily for the tournament skills he spent years developing, his personality is a welcome bonus. I don't agree participants should be included primarily for personality and certainly don't agree that Rick and Jean should be mentioned in the same sentence determining qualification for future events. I think the tournament blackjack community has "Stars" within it's ranks the public can identify with without lowering the bar. The table you played in the first round was the most entertaining of the series in my opinion, contained both heros and villains and all as I recall all were skilled players.
skill i've been gone for awhile and have just caught up on the above posts. Jean congratulations on your invite to Aruba. However, i agree that skill is important and that many wpt stars became famous over their tournaments wins and developed tv personalities later on. Not all skill players have been invited to aAruba. I do believe that they are missing a skill woman player. Of course it's ME. I'm considered one of the best bj tournament players in the country. So not all skilled players have been invited to the aruba game. They must be only looking for characters and not skill
WSOBJ on tv Hey rookie. right on you goat monger. It's up to the commentators to make the play interesting. and the editing. everyone here knows what kin d of editing they do on the poker shows, or else its so boring no one would watch. With all do respect to one of the great masters, Ken smith, He didn't come off all that effervescent on the first black jack show. but his knowledge and skill and advice to many of us has been monumental. If Carol bernstein at Gsn would get a commentator like those on poker, wouldn't matter who the playas were. Maybe even some better skilled folkes, rather than locals to fill the tables. I mean, I'm not lobbying, or anything, but I can take direction as good as Hollywood, it's just that I'm older and not as photogentic, maybe more a durning or boyle, or the corpse on thetable, but I've told berstein, I can play, but it don't matter, they want the pscyhic from new england and the montra people for a storyline. Hell, I've lived long enough, I've got yards of stories and probably as usualythis will get misinterpreded. But oh well
IMHO, TV BJ can only survive with experts. They are what makes it interesting. Good play makes it so. In addition, they'll have to get an expert commentator that can tell the audience why a bet was made and the reason for strategy. Granted, Max's job would be a little easier, if the players themselves knew why they made a particular bet. Ken would be the ultimate commentator for these events (though I'm sure he'd rather be playing). Barring a knowledgeable commentator, perhaps the player can make his bet, then explain why. This is what the viewer would like to know. Possibly "Match Play" is the answer. At least in this format, the pretenders would be exposed for the bad players they are. It would be extremely interesting watching Ken and Kevin butt heads at one table and Stanford and Anthony at the next. Let's be honest. As it stands, the WSOBJ is a farce. The strong players know this, but are unwilling to try to change it as long as they are getting the free invites and weak competition. In their place, I'd probably be silent too.
Thanx to everyone for the help and advice. I'm going to go to Global-Player and sign up so maybe I'll "see" some of you in those tournaments. By the way, I am not a total BJ tournament dummy - I have studied the writings of the experts and have played in BJ tournaments off and on for 20 years - but I have never "specialized" in them. Our first 6 years gambling in casinos were spent in BJ card-counting, but in 1989 Brad and I switched to VP, which has been our main game ever since although we play BJ occasionally. Last summer, when I was invited to be in the WSOB on GSN, I decided I better get in some serious tournament practice. Did a few small ones. Then in June I entered the invitational BJ tournament at the Rio - and, to my amazement, took the $20,000 first-place prize. I know that win depended on a lot of luck and I realize I am not a highly skilled tournament player - so I am looking forward to getting more experience before the late September Aruba tournament. My goal is to at least nudge a little bit closer to the skill category and not just be looked at as the token "grandma character." Again, thanx to all who took the time to help me. And I welcome any private advice at queenofcomps@frugalgambler.biz.
I would like more info myself about on-line tournaments. Could someone tell me exactly what "sit and go" means? Also, how about weekend tournaments for those of us who still have to work during the week?
You just missed a nice money-added event online this Sunday. I'm sure we'll be doing that again in the future. As for Sit and Go tournaments, they are single table tournaments. 5 players, either 15 or 20 hands. First 2 places get prize money. You can read more at Global Player.
