A thrilling clash of strategies and guts awaits at professional blackjack tournaments. Unlike traditional blackjack, which you can find at Laimz casino, where players go up against the dealer, every participant races for the top game spot.
Like single-table and multi-table poker tournaments, blackjack tournaments require players to pay a buy-in fee and receive a set of chips. The standard blackjack rules found in most online and land-based casinos apply, with participants aiming to form a better hand than the dealer. However, in blackjack tournaments, the goal is accumulating more chips than other players and qualifying for a share of the prize pool.
Professional blackjack tournaments take the game to the next level with high stakes and advanced moves to build up chip stacks. Below, we’ll explore a mix of professional and “all-around” blackjack tournaments worldwide, offering the thrill and suspense of competitive gambling.
LAS VEGAS BLACKJACK TOURNAMENTS
The Tropicana Laughlin hosts one of the top professional-level events – The Blackjack Tournament of Champions – daily throughout July. One champion is awarded each Wednesday, Thursday, and Monday, while three champions are celebrated each Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The 2022 tournament boasted a guaranteed cash prize of $199,000 for the 1st place winner and $1,000 in free slot play prizes for the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th place winners.
Another notable Las Vegas blackjack tournament, open to players of all skill levels, occurs at the Island Resort & Casino. With a $200 buy-in and seven rounds lasting 45 minutes or 28 hands, the total number of buy-ins determines the prize pool. During the tournament, players are given two power buttons: a Yellow “Ace” Button and a Purple “No Bust” Button. The Yellow Button can turn any card into an ace card, while the Purple Button allows players to remove a drawn card from play after going bust to avoid losing that round.
MONTE CARLO BLACKJACK TOURNAMENTS
Featured in James Bond movies Golden Eye and Casino Royale, the Monte Carlo Casino hosts prestigious gambling tournaments in its opulent halls. One such event is the Monte-Carlo Blackjack Battle, held in November 2019. With a buy-in of €50 per head, the tournament guarantees a minimum prize pool of €1,000.
Participants in the Monte-Carlo Blackjack Battle have one hour and a half to accumulate as many chips as possible. Each table can accommodate up to five players, with a minimum bet of €2 and a maximum bet of €500. The tournament follows standard Monte Carlo blackjack rules, including the option to double down after splitting cards and natural blackjacks paying 3 to 2.
WORLD SERIES OF BLACKJACK
Produced by the Game Show Network in 2004, The World Series of Blackjack is a highly anticipated televised tournament that brings together elite players who are either invited or winners of satellite tournaments held in various renowned casinos. In the later seasons, 40 skilled participants are given a lifeline of $100,000 chips, fiercely competing for a staggering $1 million prize pool.
With a minimum bet of $1,000 per game and a maximum chance of $50,000, the stakes are undeniably high in The World Series of Blackjack. Players who cannot cover the minimum bet are swiftly eliminated, adding an element of pressure and excitement to the tournament. In season four, Alice Walker emerged victorious, taking home a jaw-dropping $500,000 after a thrilling final table showdown.
What makes The World Series of Blackjack even more electrifying are the unique rules introduced in season four, including the infamous Burger King Power Chip. This particular chip allows players to swap one of their hole cards with the next card in the shoe, adding a strategic twist to the game. Additionally, two Knockout Cards are placed within the six-deck shoe, which can eliminate the player with the lowest chip on the table if the dealer draws one of them, intensifying the competition.
Blackjack tournaments undoubtedly inject a fresh thrill and urgency into the traditional casino table game. Participants push their limits and take calculated risks to amass as many chips as possible within the limited time or number of hands. The high stakes and competitive atmosphere make these tournaments an exhilarating experience for avid blackjack players seeking the ultimate challenge.