Have no clue about playing in a tournament . I do know how to play bj and have played many hrs . 32 hrs straight at same table is my record . But I know is a complete different than planning In a tournament ...but is free entry and figured might as well start somewhere ...love the game and hope to enjoy the tournaments as much . Playing at the IP in Biloxi . Just wanted to throw it out there and see what is best to do to not look completly crazy playing .
Quickie training 1. Start off with low bets to see if the dealer is hot or cold. You could get lucky and take the lead early if the dealer is hot. 2. Don't split 10's unless you need the extra chips and only late in the round. (a) Late in the round split anything "IF" you need the extra chips to advance, even DD after the split if needed. It doesn't matter if you have an 18 if you have to get more bets out to win. 3. You don't always have to double down. Pay attention to what your situation will be should you lose the DD, will it close you out of the tournament? (a) You don't always have to split aces either, just figure out what you need to advance and where you will be should you lose both bets. 4. Late in the round the rule of thumb is "Go all in or max. bet if your not sure what to bet. It is always better to bet more then less when unsure. 5. If you should have the last bet on the last hand, simply keep more chips back then everyone else and bet the rest. This is the best advise I can give you for a quickie how to play tournaments lesson. Good luck.
tournament play Read Wong's Casino Tournament Strategy, it covers Blackjack Tournaments. If you have enough time before the tournament, after reading Wong's book, read Ken Smith's eBook. Remember that tournaments aren't about maximizing expected value, they're about finishing the table with enough chips to advance. Basic Strategy is a guide to playing hands, but only a guide, you can expect to have to vary from BS in tournament play, particularly in the late and final hands. Remember that a 1 out of 13 chance of advancing is infinitely better than a 0 out of 13 chance of advancing. Betting and tracking players' bankrolls are what tournaments are about.
1 of 13 That was a reference to the fact that sometimes the only chance you have of advancing is to make a very bad play. Every experienced tournament player has doubled a hard 20 or similar move at some time, simply because it offered the only chance they had of advancing the table. Maybe only one card (of the thirteen ranks) in the deck will work for you, but if standing, or playing by basic strategy, absolutely will lose for you, then you take the one of thirteen chance and make the crazy play that might just work.
