World Series of Blackjack Rules

Does anyone know the rules for the World Series of Blackjack? Thanks

Each of the initial 5 episodes has 5 players, playing 30 hands with betting limits of $100 to $5000 from a bankroll of $10K. The game is dealt from 6 decks, face up, except all double-down cards (including bustable hands) are dealt face down. Late surrender was allowed, the dealer stood on all 17s, and double after split was allowed.

I don't recall whether resplitting Aces was available or not.

First place pays $10K and a seat in the finals, to play for $100K first place. Second place wins a seat in the "Wild-Card" episode, where 5 players compete for no prize money, but one winner gets the sixth seat in the finals.

There was prize money for every competitor, down to $500 for 5th place at the table.

I went to watch it last night on ch 142 but I didn't subscribe to it yet. Who won last nights table?

"Did anyone watch? Anthony Curtis was the first to leave and the blind woman ended up winning at the table. She didn't win it all but is advancing. Her and +++++++, the guy who believes he can read what the dealer has by staring at her face, finished 1st and 2nd, respectively. The commentators were making fun of him. Grosjean finished 4th or 5th. All I have to say is, that girl is no Shana Hiatt."

from http://www.cardcounter.com/main.pl?noframes;read=7169

I believe the results were:

1st: Regina Guzior
2nd: Michael Konik
3rd: Connie Desimone
4th: James Grosjean
5th: Anthony Curtis

I might be wrong about 3rd and 4th place, but I'm positive about 1st, 2nd and 5th.

I had the same problem.

Set TIVO to record the thing, go to watch it, nothing but black.
Called CABLE, said "hey, what's up?" and they tell me the GSN is subscription only. Geez, $6 a month to watch a BJ tourney!!

So I look at my watch, it's 15 minutes till the next showing, CABLE says they can have me going in 10 minutes.

GREAT!

Of course they can't.
I lay in the floor for the next 20 minutes, on the phone with CABLE watching them remotely turn my box off/on .. off/on .. off/on.

I now get a sales pitch from CABLE for me to order THEIR video recorder and schedule a visit to review the problem on Wednesday.

I hate CABLE.

I had a friend remind me at the last minute and went to check it out. Saw that I had to call Cable, but since the kids are away for March break decided to go "play the bongo's" in the upper room instead! ;> I may get it for the next showing.

Can't get enuffa that sugar crisp!

did 1st base always get the first card or did that rotate too?

we would have seeen different results

I don't understand why Anthony Curtis made such radically large bets so early in the competition. Can anyone explain the logic? It looked to me like he was told in advance to do this, so that there would be extra "excitement" added to the game.

On this line, is this tournament for real, or is it another remake of a "reality TV show" in which there is a script for an unscripted show?

I realize that they can't script actual hands. But I'm certain that, if they wanted, they could "encourage" various players to play certain ways.

Just my feeling. But I enjoyed it anyway.

but it took forever to get through each round. They had to replay some hands because the cameras did't catch they play & the exit of each busted player took forever to tape. They taped all day Saturday & late into Sunday night. I had to leave just when the wild card round was starting, so I did not get to see the finals. I met some of the contestants & it was fun to watch.

The "1st bet" did alternate around the table as is typical of blackjack tournament formats. I did notice what you mention about 1st base always being dealt the 1st card. This is differant that I have seen in most tournaments, but theoretically the order in which everyone gets their first 2 cards doesn't matter. Decision to hit/stand/split/double/surr went to the "1st bet" button first, following the same order as the betting.

10Splitter

is likely to have tournament skills betting big early to get to BR1 ahead of everyone else is what I would do. You've got to bet big and keep on betting big until your lead is big enough to force the action....then you can size your bets to defend your positon from above.

If a larger percentage of players were unskilled you could simply bet small and let the house wipe most of them out or wait to start betting bigger when someone started to get too far in front.

In a tourney such as this one, where EVERYONE "knows more than the next guy" -- standard tourney 'wait-and-see' strategy is just too passive. it is IMPERATIVE to get ahead & stay there by whatever means necessary -- and really it poses no more risk to you because you know the other pros @ the Table will need to take similar risks to try & 'catch up' once your lead becomes too great. BR1 is the ONLY position in an event like this one --

-hollywood dave.

"playing the bongos".

I always liked referring to that particular action as "fighting w/ Mr. One-eye".

.. describes exactly what bigplayer stated as a strategy.

Do you know how many hands they received for a round of play. It is probably either 20 or 40. 40 should be better for the pros.

'toonces' has posted a very nice analysis of the first episode, at the link provided.

Since you have a lot of tourney experience, answer this for me.
It would seem that as a television show (entertainment value only for the average person), this was a little "slow".

As a fan of BJ, I enjoyed it, but I don't think the average person would. It just didn't have the suspense and action of poker.

Do you think it would be advantageous for them to use Super Fun 21 as the rules format for future tourneys? More action, more betting and more chances to win. The 3:2 BJ payoff would remain the same.

I know this would confuse the average player using these rules, but it would give everyone a chance to make comments on how dis-advantageous these rules are without the 3:2 Bj payoff.

Just a thought.

Kool