Guide to Blackjack Tournaments (Part II)
Read through some simple tips and tricks which can improve the chances of winning at online and land-based blackjack tournaments.
If the player has found the most fitting blackjack tournament there are some smart strategies which can radically improve his or her chances. In the second part of Guide to Blackjack tournaments we’ll collect some simple tips and tricks that may give a considerable edge over the opponents. All tournament participants should keep in mind that in this setting some things are different from classic blackjack gameplay.
One alternation is that the first base position is constantly changing. At the blackjack table, the first betting position is on the dealers left. The player at this position will receive the cards first and act on her or his hand first. During tourneys this position is changed from hand to hand to smooth out the benefits. The final position has the biggest advantage because they see the bet of the competitors and have more time to make decisions.
Keep it simple
Since the rules are changed the basic blackjack strategy needs to be improved, too. The basic goal is extended because the winner has to collect more chips than the other competitors. When it comes to risk, it is usually recommended to make a major bankroll-risk at some point of the game. Every choice should be considered based on its possible dangers and rewards. These two aspects should be constantly running through the mind of the player and the strategy must be based on these.
If somebody loses all chips the tournament is over for him. At the dawn of blackjack tourneys the most common strategy was to make smaller bets at the beginning and one large during the final ten hands. With this humble approach the main objective was to catch the big rollers. The problem is that when everybody chooses this minimum bet strategy its effectiveness decreases.
Observing the opponents
It is always profitable to adjust the strategy based on the opponents’ decisions. If the majority of the players are betting small it’s profitable to make a quick large bet. But when the opponents are betting high the minimalistic strategy is still the best choice. The mixed approach involves keeping the bets at minimum while looking for chances to place large bets. This way players can take the lead without risking too much. At tournaments the most important thing is to stay in game and overcome all the different opponents, the wild and reserved bettors as well.
The key to blackjack tournament success is to understand that players tend to have very similar outcomes when it comes to winning or losing hands. This means that hands where the dealer defeats nearly all participants are more common than hands where a few players win while a few loose. Following this idea, usually all players will acquire chips when the others and the dealer strikes most players will face the same condition. The chances increase just by being aware of this phenomenon while considering blackjack betting systems.
Understanding the differences
It is clear now that balancing is the best approach to win. Players must look for chances where they can do the opposite like the others. This is when the luck factor of the Blackjack Tournament increases. In this setting players will have to leave their usual playing habits behind that they would use in simple gameplay. An effective strategy involves estimating the chip count of the others. If the guess is right than the bet sizing can be fine-tuned and leading to victory.
In blackjack tournaments the casinos separate some tables for the event. To each table there are a specific number of players assigned. The amount of tournament chips is equal for each player and it is given after the buy-in. At land-based casinos these are usable only for the tournament without real monetary value. There are a specific number of hand at all events and when they are over the chips are counted to proclaim the winner.
Also read: Blackjack Tournaments Guide (Part I)