Just watched WSOB on GSN

No wonder TV BJ never really gets off the ground. I was not impressed at all with the play and betting decisions made by the players other than Hollywood Dave. At least Hollywood didn't make stupid decisions like the rest. Where do they get such amateurs to play for a half mill? What's the deal with Tony and his Lucky Buda? He also hit a 13 against a 2 in a plus count. The lady was afraid to double soft 18 against a 6. The black guy was afraid to hit his 12 against 3. John on 3 B did something stupid too, but I can't remember what it was. I saw a number of betting errors too.

They said these players were some of the best in the world. Huh, what a joke! Need to get some real pros to play on TV next time. I'm embarrassed to even call myself a BJ player now. What a real joke.

Hollywood, did you choose those people to play against you? I'd love to play against them also. :-))))))

No wonder TV BJ never really gets off the ground. I was not impressed at all with the play and betting decisions made by the players other than Hollywood Dave. At least Hollywood didn't make stupid decisions like the rest. Where do they get such amateurs to play for a half mill? What's the deal with Tony and his Lucky Buda? He also hit a 13 against a 2 in a plus count. The lady was afraid to double soft 18 against a 6. The black guy was afraid to hit his 12 against 3. John on 3 B did something stupid too, but I can't remember what it was. I saw a number of betting errors too.

I am unable to view the tournament, but the fact that players deviated from the count or basic strategy does not make them bad players. Particulary towards the end of a tourney, radical deviations from normal play are often advisable. In fact, against an expert, a card counter is at a bigger disadvantage than a hunch bettor, because his play is entirely predictable, making it fairly easy to come up with a strategy to finish with more chips.

You aren't trying to win money in a tournament, just beat the other players. A whole different approach is required to maximize your expectation.
Of course, the players might have been making bad decisions in the context of a tourney, I don't know.

If these were great players, they would still count. It does make a difference mainly for play decisions. These people were making dumb plays at the beginning of the round.

Have you had good success with tournament play? Since you've played in 100+, I assume it's worth the effort. Is it tough to find tournies with good prize money? Any idea of the odds for a skilled player to make it to the final table in the biggest tournaments?

Given the class of the field, the minor gain from play decisions could easily be outweighed by the informational advantage you give your opponents.
If I am playing against Wong or Curtis or somebody, I want them to discount me and concentrate on some other guy's play.

Also, even at the start of round, there are play departures which would technically be adviseable. What we actually mean by card counting is redefined by the fact you are not playing the standard game of blackjack with its normal payoffs.

I played mostly small tournies twice per week. I was so successful that I was known by all regulars that it was not good to be on the same table as I. There were some players that whinned about me being a pro and did not want to compete with me.

Most tournaments I played were 6D. The swings in the count are often very large and that is the main reason 6D counting is so important especially prior to the end of a round.

Due to my tourney success, I believe it was part of the reason for my dimise at that casino.

Tournies are always worth the cost and effort if your better at the game than most of the entries.

I played very few large tournies. In those I always made it to the semi-final but did not advance.

The small tourneys I played had extra $ put in the pot to help bring more people to the casino. Sometimes you can find the prize pool beefed up by the casino. This is really golden when you find it.

S.B. is correct, except for H.D. they played that bad. If their intention was to be discounted, it worked.

They introduced this group with high praise as if they were all-stars, but then they played like rank ametures.

I thought I was watching a skit from MAD TV. Their play sucked while H.D. wouldn't shut his mouth.

For me the game was too slow and boring to watch. Maybe somethings just don't come across well on t.v.

What's next, "The World Checkers Tour"?

Frenchman

Most tournaments I played were 6D. The swings in the count are often very large and that is the main reason 6D counting is so important especially prior to the end of a round.

Counting is going to be worth, at absolute most, a couple of units. I find it very difficult to believe that is going to be a decisive factor in a tournament.
I don't have the luxury of playing offline tourneys, but I've played well over a thousand online and trust me, there at least, counting won't help much.

I think he has good intent but his style works best with poker. His style is appears to try and cause excitement among ploppy players. The problem is there is nothing in the players that would make a viewer want to learn and be like them.

I think we should come up with suggestions on how to draw viewer interest in BJ on TV. Those who come up with ideas that actually work, should get a spot on the table and a crack at the prize. I personally think I have great ideas on creating consistent multitudes of viewers much like that which is created in the poker industry.

I know that they are trying to best each other, but every hand is still played against a robot (dealer).

B.J. doesn't seem to have the intensity of poker, watching 2 or more players facing each other down with instant elimination a real possibility.

If you have some ideas to spice things up that would be great. The t.v. version needs something.

How about making the players stand while playing naked? Now that would be different, ugly too.

Frenchman

...on how to obtain loads of viewers, mainly because they see the game through their own ploppy eyes.

BJ is the best and most played card game in the word but yet all the TV promoters are in such a quandary as to how to get the viewers. Very sad!

There are at least 10 necessary elements to make TV BJ interesting, none of which are usually seen on past showings. Here is just one:
You must have players who are great at the game. Not just the fortunate ones who won big, but players who consistently beat the game at free-style play and/or win tournaments. They must be the kind of players who grind out wins in the trenches. They must also be well rounded with all aspects of play and cover.

Blackjack as dealer vs player.

Tournament play is mathematical and if you know PERFECT Basic Strategy for any number of decks and sets of rules that will make you one of the WORST player at the table in most tournaments.

Incidentally I have yet to meet anyone here on the Free Pages of BJ21 who knows Perfect Basic Strategy. Here, for example are a couple of questions for you:

You are playing Single Deck and your Buddy at the next table is playing double deck. You both get identical hands of 8 vs. the dealer's 6. Should either of you double?

You and your buddy move to another casino where one of you is playing 6 deck and the other is playing 8 deck shoes. Once again you are dealt identical hands of 12 (10,2) vs. dealer's 4. Should either of you hit?

You are playing Blackjack at a nondescript single deck game and have A-2 vs. a dealer's 5 Do you double? Does it matter?

"You are playing Single Deck and your Buddy at the next table is playing double deck. You both get identical hands of 8 vs. the dealer's 6. Should either of you double?"

I'd think the double down is waranted on the single deck, my deck, only.

"You and your buddy move to another casino where one of you is playing 6 deck and the other is playing 8 deck shoes. Once again you are dealt identical hands of 12 (10,2) vs. dealer's 4. Should either of you hit?"

This is a composition dependent question which I don't know. Since the 8 deck is generally worse, I say stay on the 6 deck, hit the 8.

"You are playing Blackjack at a nondescript single deck game and have A-2 vs. a dealer's 5 Do you double? Does it matter?"

The key word here is "nondescript". I really don't know what you mean by this. But, logic tells me that you are trying to not make me double here, but even the most hardcore table rules should allow such antics. I believe you are referring to our flip of the coin Stanford. IT doesn't matter! (unless your GBV)

Dave