I played my first (entry fee) online tournament (of any kind) yesterday. It was the Global multiplayer blackjack that was listed here. I can now understand what everybody is talking about as far as getting started. You have to open an account with someone like Netteller or prepaid ATM so that you can then fund the online casino account, (can't just use a credit card). Plan on taking at least an hour to open this account just so you can fund your casino account. Once that is done it is not to bad, I have been told. Now for the tournament it's self. There were a few bugs, but over all I would give it 6 on a 1-10 scale, much better then the accumlative tournaments I have seen. I had one big problem in the 1st round when I jumped to a big lead after hand 17 only to have a pop-up saying that an error had occured. All play was stopped and we had to start over. What fun, this was one of my concerns about online play. Many players are scared and question online play already and when I was told "Opp's Sorry", I was more then a little concern myself. I tried to call Global, but couldn't find a number posted on the site so I called Ken. He told me that several of the players were frozen out and couldn't make their plays, that is why they had to re-start the tournament. Once they re-started the round I fired big from the start, (1) thinking I would either get my big lead back, (2) the game would mess-up again or (3) I would bust out and have a valid arguement to get a refund. Well it was number 3, an by this time I was getting mad not just at them, but myself as well for playing. I posted on the chat room my concerns and asked what Global was going to do about it. At first they just told me I would have a chance at the Wild Card drawing for the semifinals. This went over big, here I am wondering if this is some kind of a scam and now they tell me hang around for a wild card drawing that no one can see, Yea right. When talking to Ken he made the comment that they might refund everyones money and just bite the bullet on this one and let everyone play for free since they are just getting started. I agree that would have been the best way to handle it. No mention of a refund was ever brought up, but I ended up getting drawn in (maybe bitching helped after all...LOL), but what about everyone else that played? I won my semifinal table and advance to the finals. I had decided if I made it I was going to martengale it in the finals. I just wasn't in the mood to play a grind it out style I normally play. Well I started with $2 bets since I could surrender. I won a DD on hand #1 and then lost hand #2 - #15, YEP'S! Yea it was pretty nasty, I ended up 5th, but won my entry back plus a little extra. Would I play it again? Yes, it was only $30 entry and I want these tournaments to work. Would I play again had I not been picked for a wild card? Good question, but I think so. Just think, If they can workout all the problems we can play online satellite tournaments to win entry into the LV Hiltons Million Dollar Tournament and or other events for only a small fee without leaving the house. This is how poker has become so large (online satellite tournaments). You get to play at home for $10 - $50 to win a $500 to $5,000 entry into a blackjack tournament. More players will be able to afford it, plus no travel expence and new players will try since the cost is so low. With about 3-4 more online companies about to start tournaments within the next six months I can see some big tournaments (Land based) within the next couple of years if they get on board with these online companies and work together like they do for poker. More options offered, I would like to see the online tournaments payouts to more players (pay semifinals entry back at least) VS. top heavy prizes for winners only (let more players win money). I would also like the option of chopping the pot in the finals like in poker if all players are in agreement.
Global Contact Information I sent an email to Global during the crash and received a reply this morning with the following information. Keep it for future reference in case you need to contact them. Global Player support@global-player.com Phone: +1 268 481 4111 Fax: +1 268 481 4100 Toll Free from USA & Canada: +1-888-664-3171 Toll Free from U.K., Germany & Switzerland: 00-800-4262-4262
Brain Dead 101 I was in great position to come in at least 2nd and I mis-bet. No luck in the wild card drawing for me. Glad to see you in the finals.
Thanks again You didn't have much time to be to glad, they killed me in the finals. I have never been beat that bad before...LOL. What a time to change from a turtle to a rabbitt betting style...LOL. Well if nothing else I got a refresher on why I normally start off slow...LOL. I am still hurting from that beating...LOL.
You got killed when you lost the $60 bet. You were to my left, I hit a hard 15 against a dealer 6, I caught a 10 breaking me and the next card was a 4 to go with your hard 11, you took another hit and busted. What if I stood on my hard 16, you would have made 21 winning $60 giving you a total of $130+. A total different ball game.
Who knows Woulda, coulda, shoulda, if I am not betting big I don't have to worry about it. I don't remember hitting a bust hand against a dealers 5, I think I just DD and lost. If I hit a 15 VS. dealers 5 up just shoot me now for not paying attention. What if you don't hit your hard 16 and I still catch a low card, I still lose or by hitting your 16 I catch the ten and win. It worked out for you on that play, but we can't control the cards so that why I always say we are not "PROS". In BJ tournaments we are at the mercy of the cards. If we don't catch them we lose it is pretty simple.
Thanks pokernut I was about to give up online play after only one tournament if I was hitting hard 15's against the dealers 5...LOL That is one thing I need to work on if I am going to start playing online, "PAY ATTENTION". I found myself watching football games and reading and writing while playing. Those buttoms are small and easy to hit the wrong one if your not awake.
You are right I think there is some skill in BJ tourneys but unlike poker you can not bluff with bad cards, in BJ you either get the cards you need or you walk away. Last night at Sam's Town BJ tourney I couldn't catch a cold let alone good cards. I walked away saying oh well next week.
