I would imagine that teh key is to play perfect BJ strategy as far as your play. Would imagine it comes down to that and some luck. Would get a feel of the table as well. If you got some wild players, keep your bets conservative and let them bow out. if the table is playing it tight, maybe make some bigger bets. Personally i would play mostly basic strategy and take some shots here and there with some unconventional play. Try to make it in the money and then adjust from there....i have no experience so just giving my opinion on how i would go about it. need the fishhead around to give some pointers!
Tournament strategy is totally different from playing "perfect BJ strategy."
Bet sizing becomes way more of an issue. I'd suggest getting this book by Stanford Wong. It deals with general casino tournament strategies, but has
a section specific to blackjack.
http://www.amazon.com/Casino-Tournament-Strategy-Stanford-Wong/dp/0935926224
the tournament is tomorrow. I am a VIP player there and my entry is free. Thanks for the replies. I found some strategy tips online. What i'll be doing is this :
"In mid-round, I'll usually wait until the button has passed my spot, so that I can see the bets of all my competitors before choosing my bet size. This gives me the ability to bet precisely enough to take the lead, without risking any extra chips. The idea is simple: Betting just enough to get the job done maximizes the value of the chips you're risking. Anytime you're choosing to make a substantial move, remember the key second concept, that all players' results are usually similar. If you bet enough to reach your target even if your opponent also wins his bet, your bet is probably sized appropriately. There are exceptions, particularly when you're substantially trailing the chip leaders. Usually though, betting enough to take the lead if the dealer pays the entire table is your best plan. Once in the lead, you should still remember that similar outcomes are the rule. Making minimum bets as the leader just gives all your opponents free chances to pass you. Instead, see if you can margin their bets by betting a similar amount. Though you'll often be the victim of poor cards, and see them pass you as a result, risking a medium sized bet to match your trailing players is the stronger strategy.
Choosing your battles means not placing a large bet unless you have a reason. Players who habitually bet medium-size amounts on most hands are severely handicapping their chance of success. Those bets individually can't accomplish much, yet the cumulative effect on risk of ruin is considerable. I tend to be a player of extremes. You'll usually see me making very small bets or very large bets. If I place a medium sized bet, it's for one of two reasons: Either I'm in the lead and margining my opponent's bets, or a medium-sized bet is large enough to accomplish my immediate goal, and thus it's really a large bet of sorts."
"In mid-round, I'll usually wait until the button has passed my spot, so that I can see the bets of all my competitors before choosing my bet size. This gives me the ability to bet precisely enough to take the lead, without risking any extra chips. The idea is simple: Betting just enough to get the job done maximizes the value of the chips you're risking. Anytime you're choosing to make a substantial move, remember the key second concept, that all players' results are usually similar. If you bet enough to reach your target even if your opponent also wins his bet, your bet is probably sized appropriately. There are exceptions, particularly when you're substantially trailing the chip leaders. Usually though, betting enough to take the lead if the dealer pays the entire table is your best plan. Once in the lead, you should still remember that similar outcomes are the rule. Making minimum bets as the leader just gives all your opponents free chances to pass you. Instead, see if you can margin their bets by betting a similar amount. Though you'll often be the victim of poor cards, and see them pass you as a result, risking a medium sized bet to match your trailing players is the stronger strategy.
Choosing your battles means not placing a large bet unless you have a reason. Players who habitually bet medium-size amounts on most hands are severely handicapping their chance of success. Those bets individually can't accomplish much, yet the cumulative effect on risk of ruin is considerable. I tend to be a player of extremes. You'll usually see me making very small bets or very large bets. If I place a medium sized bet, it's for one of two reasons: Either I'm in the lead and margining my opponent's bets, or a medium-sized bet is large enough to accomplish my immediate goal, and thus it's really a large bet of sorts."
