The game of blackjack remains a firm favorite of casino goers and online gamers. There are several reasons for this: the game is relatively easy to play and doesn’t require many rules to remember. It’s also fast-paced, so a hand can be resolved within minutes giving it an immediate and interesting edge.
When people think of tournaments, poker usually comes to mind, and many novice players could be forgiven for thinking that there aren’t major tournaments for blackjack. This assumption is however incorrect. The blackjack tournament scene is thriving in physical casinos and online gaming.
Blackjack Tournaments Overview
Whether you’re playing in a land-based casino or playing online blackjack at Betfair, playing in a tournament involves slightly different tactics and ways of playing than when you’re just playing one on one with the dealer.
The biggest difference with tournament play is that rather than playing against the dealer as in solo play, you are playing against the other players. Usually, each player is assigned a set number of chips and each round consists of a set number of hands. The player with the most chips at the end of a round advances to the next round. There are several formats for tournament play but the most common is an elimination tournament which leaves one winner at the end who gains a monetary prize.
Skills Required to be Successful
Basic Rules
Knowledge of the basic rules of blackjack is a must for success in tournament play. Players need to be knowledgeable of the odds and combinations that determine whether to play a hand or to stick with their original two cards and when it is advantageous to split their hand or double down.
Observation
Because you are competing against the other players, always keep a note of their number of chips, as discussed at Automatic Poker. This will enable you to make an informed choice of how much to bet and when against your nearest competitor.
Quick Thinking
When observing the other players’ decisions, you will need to be able to calculate the potential outcomes of your opponents’ bet and work out their potential winning amount if they are successful.
Betting Position
To determine which player receives the first card of the first round from the dealer and by extension who places the first bet is chosen at random before play commences. For the next round, the first card is dealt to the next player along. It is key that players determine what their betting position will be for the final hand of a round.
The final hand is the most crucial in blackjack tournaments and if you calculate that you will be in the first card position, you should make sure to bet dynamically enough in the preceding rounds to be in the lead coming into the final hand. Receiving the first card on a final hand generally puts the player at a disadvantage as the player does not know how much his opponents will bet.
With this basic guide, you have everything you need if you choose to step up to a blackjack tournament.
