Once you've played blackjack for awhile you may want to consider the idea of competing in a casino's blackjack tournament. I know that's what I did. I started out competing in smaller tournaments which would be held during the week. If you visit a casino during the week your odds of finding a small blackjack tournament should be pretty good. If you decide to enter one of the smaller tournaments you can expect to pay a small entry fee which is common for the most part. Once I had a chance to play in a few tournaments and become a regular in a casino or two, I eventually began receiving invites to special tournaments. These invitational tournaments were usually held as a type of award for players that have shown their loyalty to the casino. These tournaments are only for players who are invited, will include a free room, and usually last for a weekend or a few days time.
If you're going to enter a tournament there's probably a lot you're curious about. I know that when I entered my first tournament there was a lot I wish I would have known. With that in mind I have compiled a few things I was most curious about in order to help you as you enter your first set of tournaments.
What kind of prizes will I be eligible to win?
It is sort of hard to answer this question because it's really going to depend on the type of tournament you are entering. Each casino is going to give you different prizes and some casinos will have a better selection of prizes you can win. Obviously you're going to want to know which tournaments are worth entering and which are not. You are probably going to have to use your best judgment because each will be different.The majority of casinos will offer a tournament where you receive the majority of your entry fee back in prizes. This is definitely a good deal on your end. It is something you want to look for when signing up for a tournament. Before you sign up you should be able to find a list of prizes and information about the tournament. It'll be in your best interest to read the information and decide for yourself, whether the tournament is worth entering.
Does each tournament have special rules?
The answer to this question is yes and no. Each tournament is going to have its own rules based on the casino that you're playing at. You should arm yourself with knowledge by reading all the information before you enter the tournament. You need to know things like how much the minimum and maximum bets are going to need to be, how many rounds will be played, and whether you're competing against those that are at your table or everyone in the tournament. If for some reason you are not able to get the rules to the tournament before hand I would highly suggest you not enter because you will have no idea what the rules are and what prizes will be given. This will make it hard to determine whether the tournament is worth entering or not.
How much time and money needs to be involved?
In my experience this really depends on the tournament that you're entering. Some won't cost very much money at all and will be finished the same day you start them while others may cost a little bit more and last for days. Generally, the casino will inform you of how much time the tournament is going to take. Depending on the tournament you may play a starter round which leads to final rounds. Ultimately, this just depends on the casino.As for money, you will either be using chips or money. If you're going to use chips the casino will give you a certain amount of starting chips in most cases. These are the tournaments where everyone pays a fixed price and works through their chips as they advance to the finals. However, there are some tournaments that have players using their own money. Obviously, it will be in your best interest to find out the time and cost before you enter.
When do I have to register to play?
Depending on the tournament you may be able to sign up the same day just a few hours before the action starts. The majority of the other tournaments will let you sign up 24 hours before the tournament begins. You'll be able to locate a registration table at the casino. At the table you'll be able to pay your fee and they let you know the time the tournament will begin and the table you will be playing at. The most important thing to remember at this point is that if you have any questions you should ask them now. You cannot wait until the tournament has begun and things are not going your way to ask something that you should already know.
Some things you will learn at registration will be that you have to be at your designated table 15 minutes prior to the start of play. If you're late expect to be disqualified because most casinos will disqualify you. Think of it like this. If you're a few minutes early you will have a chance to check out your competition and get comfortable in your element of play. One last thing to keep in mind is that you are not playing against the dealer in these games of blackjack. The house advantage will be low and you'll need to watch out for the other players. If you stick to your steady strategy and play with a cool head on your shoulders you'll be fine. I know this strategy always works for me!