[bigwilly]

Can someone post a link or general info on how to run a blackjack tournament. Thanks.

[Stocktrader]

I was in one on a cruise ship (and won) that was run like this:

• Determine # of hands to be delt (30)
• Determine MIN and MAX bet (usually increases every 10 hands)
• Rotate First Bet - With this common rule, players must bet in order and the first player to bet rotates clockwise each hand. This removes the seat advantage which otherwise would have existed if one player could always see the bets of the other players before making a bet.
• 30 Rounds
• At the final table, each player starts with $100,000. Min bet is $1,000, max bet is $100,000.
• Acton starts at the button and rotates clockwise each hand.
• There are forced eliminations on hands 8, 16 and 25 where the player with the least chips is eliminated.

It's pretty basic. Let me know if you have any questions.

[CK15c]

That sounds like a good structure. The one at my local casino runs like this:

Players start with 300 chips
Min bet 5, max bet 300
No surrender or Insurance allowed
Blackjack pays 2 to 1 (as they only have 5, 25, and 100 chips, a 3 to 2 payout could be difficult)
Play 14 hands with the button moving around the table every hand (this is structured to have 7 rounds of qualifying on four tables, a semifinal round, and a finals round in a less than four hour time period, it works good for that, but for a single table one, I'd say add more hands, and maybe even more chips).
Before the final hand, make sure you count everyone's chips so everyone knows where they are at.
If there's a tie after the final hand, use a secret bet and play one more hand amongst those tied. No double downs or splitting allowed. Reveal bets after the hand is done.

Something like that is what my local casino does. I think it's okay, but I've never played anything else, only seen it on TV. Good luck!

[bigwilly]

Thanks for the info!

Is the button just to determine what order the bets are placed?

[Stocktrader]

Originally Posted by CK15c

No double downs or splitting allowed.

Really? I think that makes it MORE interesting.
I've seen people DOUBLE on Hard 18 (Late in tourny, betting max, and looking to make up ground FAST)

[sunderB]

Originally Posted by CK15c

No surrender or Insurance allowed

That is a shame because surrender and insurance are both very important pasrts of tournament blackjack strategy. I think I am one of the few that actually enjoys watching BJ tournies on TV. I did win one on our honeymoon cruise 8 years ago, but don't remember the structure. I do remember the prize though. It was a $5 buyin and I won $200, a watch, bottle of Dom, and a cheap plastic trophy which I still proudly display in my poker/game room.

[sunderB]

Originally Posted by bigwilly

Thanks for the info!

Is the button just to determine what order the bets are placed?

That is correct. Make sure you do a random draw for the seats as the last to act is huge in Tourney BJ

[sunderB]

Originally Posted by Stocktrader

Really? I think that makes it MORE interesting.
I've seen people DOUBLE on Hard 18 (Late in tourny, betting max, and looking to make up ground FAST)

I believe he was only reffering to a tiebreaker hand, and not the whole tourney (I hope).

[bigwilly]

so order of hitting does NOT follow the button???

[sunderB]

No the person on the button is the first to act with regards to every aspect of that hand including being dealt the first card. Sorry, I should have been more concise.