Blackjack tournaments are common today at most online casinos and although the game is basically the same, there is a big difference between participating in a blackjack tournament compared to just playing against the dealer.
Before you sign up for a tournament, it is therefore good to know how they work and which strategies work best.
There are two different tournament formats – knockout competitions and non-knockout competitions:
Elimination Competition
This is the most popular form, and consists of a number of tables where you play a certain number of hands or for a certain period of time. At the end of each period, the player or players who have collected the most chips at each table may advance to the next level and the other players must leave the tournament.
Non-knockout Competition
The competition differs from the above because the goal is to collect the most chips of all participants at all tables during the time you have.
Tips for Blackjack Tournament
It is customary for the player or players who win the competition to be rewarded with the amount of money that the entry fees constitute, minus the rake for the casino. At each event, as well as at each round within each event, all participants start with the same number of chips or the same amount of money.
Some casinos allow the qualifying rounds to take place early in the day and then wait to open the final tables until later, in the meantime you can have fun refining your blackjack strategy or trying to take one of the jackpots on the slot machines.
When you start playing blackjack tournaments, there are a wide range of useful tips you will probably want to know. To begin with, do not worry about opponents who bet aggressively in the beginning. Even if they take the lead at the table, you have the opportunity to increase your bets later when you know what you have to aim for.
If you take the lead yourself, it is best to invest as much as the others at the table. This way you keep the lead regardless of whether both win or both lose.
The most decisive hand is the last. How you bet depends on whether you are the first or last to bet and whether you lead or lag behind. If you have to bet first and one of your opponents can catch up with you by betting the maximum amount allowed, you should also bet the maximum amount allowed.
Most players after you will think all-or-nothing. However, if you are so much ahead of other players that they can not catch up with you, there is no reason to risk your place by betting more than the minimum.
Many online casinos offer tournaments with a low entry fee, which is a great opportunity to try out tournament games and see if you are ready to play with higher stakes.
