If they bust out, you're fine sitting where you are. Either way you're going to have to bet big eventually, so why not let them try to bust themselves out first? It's almost like a free roll. I would still play slower out of the gate. The first piece of real advice I'd give you is to get Wong's tournament strategy book it's only $20, or $9 to download to a kindle.Īfter that, to throw my semi-educated guesses in to the mix. While I do consider myself very knowledgeable about blackjack, tournament play is one area I've never really gotten too in depth in. I hate to participate in a tournament that seems 90% luck and 10% skill but honestly can't pass up a free seat potentially worth $100,000!!!! Thank you again for your insight! I am thinking that running the first 2 hands at medium bets (15-20% max initial bank each) then adjusting as necessary. When I was running the numbers that's what I figured was to be more aggressive since if you take an early lead in a 7 hand game I cant imagine anyone catching you. I hope you've started a good conversation with your comments!Īny advice is good advice! I appreciate you gong out of your way to shed a little light on the subject and I hope others join in. I enjoy tournaments much more than just playing at a regular table, but we don't discuss them much on here. Probably so obvious as to be worthless suggestions, but you never know. So if you have any say on where you sit, I'd try to go last (but I'm guessing it's like most and you draw seat numbers, can't claim a particular spot). Also, when people bust out, those who went first get stuck going first again on the last hand or two. It's huge to get to go last or next-to-last and gauge your approach on how the others have bet on the first couple of hands, IMO I think it's worth betting opposite the trend if you can. I think those tournaments depend even more on luck when considering your seat draw. (betting 1/2 my stack rather than table min from hand 1 if I'm in the first or second position, then pressing). So I've changed how I play to mirror that more, and it's worked a couple of times, mostly by luck in catching a good hand to start. By the time I and others holding back want to risk it, those others are too far ahead to catch.

I have played in 7 hand tournaments maybe 20 times, and you are much more skilled at BJ than I am, but I will say that I usually see people betting much more aggressively/recklessly on the initial 2-3 hands of a short tournament than in a longer one, and the winner usually comes from within those who go for broke rather than those who are initially passive. Hi, avenged! Good luck in your tournament!

Strategy playing blackjack tournament