World Series of Blackjack III, Week Four

Ken Smith usually starts off this thread but I don't see him on line so I'm taking the liberty.

The June 26th players are: Henry Tran, Ted Cousins (Seneca Niagara), Jennifer Ortega, Randy Driggers (LV Hilton), Tommy Connor (AC Resorts)

Go to it boys and girls.

 

First Bonehead Play

The award for this week's FIRST BONEHEAD PLAY goes toooooo TOMMY.:bomb:

Doubling down on a 15 (and using his "Berger King") early in the game with a $35,000 bet. I hope they have a "Celebrity Blackjack" game after this so I can see how tournaments are played!:laugh:

 

Week 4

I saw quite a few mistakes by all the players, including Henry. The $35,000 bet on the last hand was completely unnecessary.

I actually thought Jennifer was the strongest player, but she had bad luck with the cards.

 

Don't hurry

Take your time. If you think you missed anything, you're sadly mistaken.

 

Simply Amazing

That last hand was … what? Words fail me. These guys acted as if they were oblivious to each other’s chip stack. Were they even aware of who was ahead? Apparently not. Randy must think he still is and bets the 5k minimum, I think not to take the low (what’s that?) but to make him beat me.

Then Henry, betting after Randy, starts counting his own chips saying he forgot what he has and puts out a bet which he says is 45 [thousand] but Deanna corrects him—it is 35 thousand. No matter, the size of the mistake is irrelevant.

On the next-to-last hand Henry is behind 223,000 to Randy’s 300,250. Henry bets 50k; Randy the 5k minimum. Henry gets one of those beautiful max bet BJs while Randy stands stiff with 16 vs 2 and loses as Deanna draws to 21. This puts Henry ahead by a mere 2750. And he gets to bet last on the final hand.

Even without having a good chip count on Randy, Henry, if he at least knew he was ahead should have just matched the bet, thus going in with both the high and the low and take the chance of the last-hand BJ. As it happened his slim lead was just enough to give him cover with a matching bet. Henry doesn’t appreciate what good fortune he had received and gives away the low.

Dame fortune continued to smile on Henry. Both catch a pat hand 20, Deanna shows a 4 and busts, Henry wins.

It will be interesting to watch Randy in the wild card round.

--jr

 

worse than bad

There is a level of ... strange ... which goes far beyond bad - this table acheived it - from the double on 15 to the last hand betting to whatever you want to look at - it was almost purely random play - and at times inexplicitly strange play - I agree with UTVolfan - that Jennifer was the best player at the table - I would also like to upgrade my opinion of the level of play in week three - by comparison - week three play qualifies as downright brilliant - has anyone noticed that each week - so far - the best players have not won their tables - all winners to date getting through on pure luck???

 

Don't Ask For Something You Just Might Get It

This is what you guys asked for a non invitational TV tournament .So why complain now about the lack luster play.

If you like what you see come to Las Vegas and sit at any live blackjack table . 99.9 % of the players don't even know basic strategy. Sad but true. :joker:

Maybe looking at the same faces isn't that bad after all. At least you will see some real tournament play and bets that have some sort of meaning almost all of the time .

Even if its strictly invitational its still open to all that can prove their knowledge of tournament play and have the results to back it up.

Then these post will contain comments of how well played the hands were and how slick surrender traps were lay ed out.

Go back and look at the post following WSOB 1 & WSOB 2 if you don't believe there is a difference in the quality of play.

Is this what we really want the general public to believe is how the top players play.

I know I don't


Joep

 

Whats the best way?

It's damned if you do, damned if you don't situation for selecting players for these TV shows.

This year the WSOB offered open qualifying to everybody, but now we're complaining about the quality of play this year.

The first two seasons when it was 100% selected players for the show the other players (not on the shows) complained about not getting selected and about who did.

What would be the fairest way to book players for upcoming shows?

Should the WSOB make up a selected team of "Top players" to play against the winners of these open qualifiers? Would that be fair to the other players? Would it make for better TV?

Personaly I think you should have to win your way onto a show or into championship event. How about hosting a selected players tournament for qualifying?

Get all the selected players and let them play for a certain number of selected seats, at least this way they won their way onto the show.

It is nice getting selected for these shows and I didn't, nor would I turn down an invite, (I'm such a selfest bastard...lol), but honestly I think we would all agree anyone of us would do the same.

Back to the question, what is the fairest way to select players for these shows? What selection would make for the best TV?

Remember the final say for who gets on comes from the producer, director, production company, and networks, except for the winners of open qualifiers.

 

This is where a BJ league is needed

If you had a BJ league or series of 12 tourneys those who score the most points at the end of the season get to go on the WSOB. That way only those players who are consistently good will play.

Cheers

Reachy

 

Production problems

Getting away from the quality of play for a moment, I have noticed several production problems in the show.

Last night for example, on hand #14 the players' totals are listed:

Henry BR1 with $149,000 and bets $6,000

Jennifer BR3 with $111,000 and bets $8,000

Randy BR2 with $124,000 and bets $50,000

Now here are the results;

Henry surrenders his $6,000 so he drops $3,000

Jennifer pushes so she reminds the same and

Randy lost $50,000, dropping $50,000 for the hand.

The new totals are as follows:

Henry should have $146,000 after his surrender.

Jennifer should have $111,000 after her push.

Randy should have $74,000 after his $50,000 loss.

But at the start of hand #15

Henry still has his $149,000 (no change in his total)

Jennifer now has $131,000 (plus $20,000 somehow)

Randy now has $77,750 (plus 3,500 more than he should have).

Now, I am sure the game and totals during the game were correct, but for TV the stats were way off for the viewers.

Ken had mentioned a possible stat error during Kami's show a few weeks ago because one of her bets didn't seem right. After catching the errors last night I think Ken was right.

Overall, I am not as crazy about the production this year as in the past two years, it just seems to be missing something.

I also like to see the dealer and their expressions and this year we only get to see her from a distant side shot or from behind. Hell I didn't even realize it was Deanna (our dealer from last year's show) until last week's show.

As far as the play, they're not "Pros", but then again they're kicking the "Pros" asses so far, so who's to say this isn't the best thing for future BJ shows and land based tournaments.

Hell look what Moneymaker and Raymer have done for poker. I think letting players know they can have as good of a chance winning a BJ tournament as the "Pros" may be just what the doctor ordered!

 

If I owned GSN or another network that would be the way I would do it, but I don't.

We can only hope that GSN (WSOB) and any other network wanting to host a gaming show (such as KOV) might use our Tour rankings as a guide for selecting contestants for future shows.

When we get actual player rankings it should make it easier to get the top ranked players on TV or I hope so anyway.

 

Poker Syndrome...

I think both Randy and Henry thought they were playing poker last night, rather than Blackjack. Forget strategy, let's just go "all in." And Joep is right. Average BJ players go with luck, not strategy.

But did you notice the crowd reaction last night? I thought they were much more engaged than previous weeks, simply because there was some outrageous betting going on, no knockout card needed.

 

Here's the catch - this is for TV and the "best players" may/may not be TV material. It's about TV ratings and in order to get those ratings you need personalities and unfortunately gimmicks - sorry but that's the world of TV.

I know this is a stretch but look at American Idol. Do the best singers always win? NO. Are there some people who get farther than they should because they have the "look"? You betcha.

Jeopardy is another example. I went to the tryout and we all took a test. Those who scored 90% and above went for a screen test. Trust me there are VERY SMART people out there who will NEVER be allowed in front of the cameras

So what do you want? A "professional" BJ serious tournament that interests oh I don't know <0.001% of the TV population or do you want excitement, gimmicks and something that lets the average "Joe"

[Not YOU Joep - I know you're not the average Joe ]

think that they too can do in BJ what Moneymaker did for WSOP.

As a newbie to the BJT world I prefer having it open to people. Selected individuals, especially when there isn't even a ratings system, just isn't fair. Give ME a chance to win a spot and you've got me hooked.

Just my opinion.

 

Deserving

I know many here might want to show brotherhood/nepotism to LV and other everyday tournament players, but during week one and two the players winning deserved to win. Paul outwitted and out bet his opponents. Charlie out bet and outwitted with a late surrender and a Burger King move while the "pros" made big mistakes. The other two shows were so lame I cant remember what happened. But, to not be an every day tourney player doesnt mean you didnt play well if you won. And just like in poker if you play well and play smart you will have a good chance of success.

JMO,

Barney

 

Production Problems Indeed

TX, the mistake is in the graphic labeling the hand as the 15th. Replay the hands and check the button position and you see that there was hand between the two shown.

You’re right about that! What’s missing is appropriate and informative commentary such as we had with Matt and Max in the prior two years.

This year there is no set # of hands known in advance. Apparently it is whatever it comes to with 5 more after knockout card #2 appears. What is the time to act? Is there pressure put on by the dealer? We don’t see any. Is there a countdown before the end, and if so, where?

Perhaps one of the participants who post here could clue us in. How about it Ken, Hollywood, Angie, Stacks?

--jr

 

Whats up Barney

Thanks Barney for sticking up for me. I think all the people bitching about not being on the show should have found out which casinos where holding a tournament to get to the wsob. If you want something bad enough go out and take it dont wait for someone to give you the oppurtunity. Truly if you are a proffesional you should have no promblem winning one of these tournaments. Because all I have heard over and over again is that the people that won there right the to play in the wsob are garbage. Also another thing all the people that hated my show how entertaning has the last 3 weeks been. Its been boring. And as far as my play is concerned I havent seen anything out of anybody that is impressive in this tournament. Also as far as the pros go in this tourney they havent showm me anything.

 

A joke right?

So the "Pros" haven't shown you anything? You woud have us believe your play was SO skillfull and well thought out, that people like Kami haven't shown you anything??? Well damn her making it to the final table last year and coming up second after a GREAT surrender trap were pretty damn good to me. Yes some of the play is horrid, but if you really think you cannot learn anything than you are WAY too full of yourself and you grossly overestimate your skill level. Oh and a side note, how many tournaments have you played? Not many I have to assume, or you would never make an assinine comment like "Truly if you are a proffesional you should have no promblem winning one of these tournaments". Skill will onlly take you so far. Good old luck will also factor in. Smart play can put you in winning situations, but a little luck is still needed. Anyone can win on any given day. Hell you did, I rest my case....


Maria

 

Here's An Idea!

I say we Tar and Feather and run out of the country... on a rail, or the back of a pack mule, or Elk or snowmobile....diablomn. or Paul, or Mark, or Hortense, or whatever the current nom de plume may be.

 

You better run nomad

You know your jealousy only takes you so far. The only reason you 2 and others are hating because you have never been in the spotlight and never will. So what you want to do is run me down when all you are is a bunch of wanna be card players. For all the pros all I am saying is I havent seen anything great that I dont see at any ordinary tournament. For all the books they read and all the expierence they have im not impressed. Im not that expierenced on the world of tbj. But as the days go by I am a thousand times better than I was when I started. Not good for you other players. Im coming to put the scare in you. You will fear me when its all said and done. I will be the greatest at tournament blackjack. Nobody will be able to stop me. Then justice will be served because you will have to bow down to your master.