Casino Tournament questions

In Stanford Wong's Casino Tournament Strategy, Table 5 p133 provides final play deviation from normal hit/stand strategy if you are BR1 and you win if you and BR2 have the same outcome. BR1 stands on certain totals versus dealer upcard depending on what BR2 has. Can someone tell me please if these totals include pairs that would under normal circumstances be split, e.g. 7's v 6 or 8's v A or do the totals in this table only apply to pairs that would normally be hit, e.g. 6's v 8. If it does apply to normally split pairs, for example 8's v A, and BR2 has 18, is the alternative play to hit, or risk more money with a split?

Just one other question for clarification: Am I to assume that numbers appearing in the table refer to BR1's total AND higher, e.g. if 12, then refers to BR1 has 12 OR MORE?

Thanks guys.

You have to do what is your best chance or sometimes your only chance to win regardless of the count. In most tournaments they advance two players from each table each round, so you're playing for one of two spots until the finals. To try and answer your question, you do what ever it takes to be one of the top two and advance. Example: your down by two hundred, the max. Bet is one hundred, you are dealt a Blackjack against the dealers face, normal BJ you take your winnings, but tournament play your playing to advance against the other players at your table and if two players have more chips than you, you lose already so double down the BJ (it's the only way you could win). On the other side you have the lead by $205.00, the count is favorable, you catch a total 11 against the dealers 5 with a $100 bet. The only way you can lose is if you lose $110.00 or more so "Don't double". What I'm telling you is that you can't play by "THE BOOK" or normal rules all the time in tournament play, you have to play according to the situation. So to answer your question about splitting, let the situation decide for you.

But you haven't answered my question at all.

I need advice specifically about the application and interpretation of Table 5 in Mr Wong's book on p133, as per my original question, which is regarding playing situations and outcomes based on what particular hands you (as BR1) and BR2 have vs dealer upcard. It is not a bankroll question, as it is taken as a given in this situation that you will win only if you both win the hand, or both lose the hand.

I appreciate what you are saying and agree with everything you have said, including not always playing by the book, but I need to understand the book before I can make an educated departure from its advice. After all, Mr Wong knows what he's talking about, and admits in his book that he has not covered every scenario, and that he continues to fine tune his strategies.

Alan

what he is talking about; but the fact that he plays rarely speaks
louder.