So I'm living in Guam for the next couple of years, which sort of minimizes my opportunities to get some playtime in a BJT. The only casino around here is on an island called Tinian, and they have two BJT's a year for $1000 entry. As you can imagine, getting some practice time in twice a year at a cost of $2000 is not very apealing to some one who is totally new to tournament blackjack. Can anyone suggest any free online tournaments or something to help me practice? I know UBT has a free tournament all the time, but from what I understand the rules are new and crazy and I didn't know if that would throw me off. I also have the Casino Verite software to help me practice KO for the occasional live games I play (not for tournament, of course since 30 hands doesn't seem enough to get a helpful count going) but I have to wonder how helpful a software simulation of a tournament could really be compared to playing against actual people. ANy ideas or information would be greatly appreciated.
Simulators Stanford Wong's Tournament Blackjack Software and Casino Verite are the only two simulators I know of. The AI opponents are predictable, but you can get some exposure to final hand strategy elements. Also, these simulators gave me a feel for how the bankrolls can go up and down during a tournament game. They were a useful learning tool when I was first starting out. In Casino Verite if you click and hold your chips you can stop the AI's from taking their turns ahead of you. UBT and Bet21 won't screw you up for learning traditional blackjack tournaments, though the you can ignore anything you see in the TEC freerolls. I was on a TDY in Guam in '98. Is the Onyx still in business?
Thanks for the reply, Monkeysystem, it was very helpful. I guess I'll just stick with CVBJ and play on UBT and Bet21. To answer your question, sorry but the Onyx is no longer in business. Thanks again.
Mike, When you are looking for something specific....go to the top and click on search....you may find many answers already discussed in depth ...
Mike for more traditional blackjack tournaments - try blackjack21.com - they do 15 hand traditional tourneys and sitngos - I think the minimum buy-in is $10 now - $20 for the multi-table tourneys - UB/Bet21 will give you some good practice - lots of 'final hand play' on the elim hands - for sure - but don't start thinking that you have to win traditional tourneys in eight hands - I always am careful to 'reorient' when playing a traditional tourney after playing UB/Bet21 online - do not use the freerolls and TEC games on UB, Bet21, and UBT for practice - they are insane explosions of really bad play - and you won't learn anything from them - same with the aol free games - if they are still running them - even the $1 buy-in games on UB/Bet21 are better - and the tourneys are better than the sitngos - when you get up to the $20 sitngos or the $10 tourneys - you start seeing something that vaguely resembles real play - the play level in the $5+$0.50 qualifiers for the $25,000 tourney on UB/Bet21 was actually better than expected at that level - some serious players in them - look for those if they run a big tourney with satellites again
Thanks for all the info. One thing though, I am a U.S. player (Guam anyway, but I believe the Law applies to territories too) so I'm not sure how I can go about playing in any of the real money games. It's too bad that the freerolls are so lame, since unless you guys know a way for me to finance a real money tourney I think I'm stuck with the freebies. From what it sounds like, there aren't too many ways for me to get money to a place like Bet21. Thanks for all the help you guys are offering, though.
funding if you know someone who has an account, give them the $ and they can transfer to you. otherwise, send them a check.
