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Written by Chris Wassel | 29 September 2010

Online Blackjack Tournaments

The game of blackjack is loved by just about everyone. You can find blackjack players in every corner of the world. The game is easy to play and people are quick to learn. However, online blackjack has evolved just as online poker and now you can play blackjack tournaments. Online blackjack tournaments deliver the same excitement as other tournament card games. Blackjack tournaments allow each player to compete against each other and ultimately make the final table and play for some pretty big prize pools.

Most online casinos have low stakes tournaments for pennies all the way up to hundreds of dollars in buy-ins. It all depends on what you feel comfortable with and where your bankroll is. Tournament blackjack can also be a very strategic game involving not only basic blackjack strategy but also chip management skills as well. Without understanding the impact of how your bets will affect your play both long and short-term you will find it very difficult to win an online blackjack tournament.

Know the Rules

Just as I recommend for any game you happen to be playing that same rule applies to online blackjack tournaments. You must know exactly what the house rules are at your online casino By knowing this information ahead of time it makes allows you to play optimal strategy for that rule set. Remember, every online casino is different and may apply some rules but not others. Take the time and know how the room you are playing in operates for your own benefit.

Pace Yourself

Much like Texas Hold em poker tournaments, online blackjack tournaments are as much about survival than anything. This is particularly true in the early levels of the blackjack tournament. You need to get a feel for your table and the players you are up against. Sure, you can bet all your chips on one hand but that would be a very foolish approach to take early on with even chip counts. The first few hands you want to profile your opponents and how they are betting. Once you have them pegged you can then begin to open up your game according to that knowledge. The blackjack tournament cannot be won in the first couple of hands but it sure can be lost.

Element of Luck

I don’t care how well you play the game you still have to get lucky to win an online blackjack tournament. You are going to need to win a couple of hands you probably should not have won here and there It happens in Texas Hold em poker tournaments and it happens in blackjack tournaments just the same. Conversely, you are going to take a bad card when mathematically you probably should not have. It’s just the nature of the game. However, how you handle that luck when it swings for or against you will ultimately help you take advantage of the swings.

Play to Win

Far too often I see blackjack players play to get to the money but not to get to the Prize. The “prize” being First Place. What is the point of participating in any competition if you are not willing to give everything you have to win it? There would be no good reason to compete. Well, sometimes you see players that are just happy to get to the money but missed opportunities to win big chips to position themselves to win the blackjack tournament. The nature of online blackjack tournaments is that at many points in the tournament you will have to risk your chips and the possibility of advancing or not. Most skilled tournament blackjack players will tell you that they throw caution to the wind when they have an opportunity to position themselves for a big pay day. You have to have that exact same mindset. Sure, cashing in an online blackjack tournament with a $500 buy-in would increase most anyone’s bankroll but winning that same tournament can put your bankroll in another stratosphere.

You only get so many chances to win blackjack tournaments. So when you do have the opportunity to put yourself into a winning position take advantage of it.