Aces of any face will be something that addicted Blackjack players would always look for. It is something that is rare. It must be remembered that there are only four aces in a set of dealt cards. Hence it would be best to play the game analytically, since the number of Blackjacks is only 4 times a possibility in every session.

Outside of this, a player needs to work and approach the game to reach the maximum total of 21 per card. Knowing when to Hit and Stand is something that they have to be very careful off. There should be no pressure at all, but considering the wagers and bets placed, people would do well to play in their minds the remaining possible combinations and cards they can get from each deal.

Simple as it may seem, Blackjack is something that is easier to understand than other games such as Poker. It does not need specific combinations which may be overlooked at some point. Just get a total of 21 from any card combination without going over and that is all there is to the game of Blackjack. Simple but also relying on chances as well since dealt cards can never be assessed primarily.

There are good Blackjack players in the world who have mastered this art as well. Kevin Blackwood, Andy Bloch and Erica Schoenberg are among the notable names in this professionally taken card game that has taken a backseat from world poker tournaments. However, these players also trace their routes from being good poker players. Hence they are considered used to such tournaments and the pressure included therein.

Together they are part of the world renowned professional card players. While they can be seen in the usual Poker tournaments, this should not be used as a means of considering them from doing badly in Blackjack tournaments. Chances are they are at an advantage since they know what winning is already all about.

Now that you know the cool blackjack games Global Player has to offer it’s time for the casino and other blackjack game features.

Joining Rules
Signing up for Global Player Casino means having access to all the games they currently offer. This means that aside from blackjack you can also play roulette, slots, and video poker. Right now Global Casino doesn’t offer poker but their website indicates that they’ll be offering it pretty soon.

You do not really have to join or sign up at Global Player Casino to play any of its games. All you need to do is download their software, install it, and play to your hearts content FOR FREE. Unlike most casinos where free plays are limited to several games Global Player allows guests to play ALL of its games. All you need to do is click on the GUEST GAMES and press play. If you want to play for real money that is the only time you will need to sign up and open an account. Opening an account is just the usual easy process of filling out a form. Deposits can be made also the usual way by clicking the CASHIER button and choosing your payment method as well as filling out required details.

Fees
Unlike Get21 there are no joining fees for playing blackjack in Global Player since most of the blackjack games played here are not tournaments. Hence the casino makes money from your losses. Of course even if Global Casino needs you to lose to make a profit you can be sure of the fairness of the software even if they are a proprietary casino and do not use the software of one of the big software providers. They are one of the really good quality casinos that care about their customers and their own reputation as well.

Global Player Casino offers Multi-player Blackjack Tournaments from time-to-time. Entry Fees vary depending on the tournament type. For Sit and Go Duel Tournaments entry fees can be $10.50, $21, or $52. Since this is a duel type tournament you leave with the pot minus the house’s take, which is the actually equal to the leftover when you round of the figures. For their 1 on 1 tournaments Entry fee is $5 and the first place winner gets the entire prize pool less $20. The $20 is distributed among the 2nd to 4th place winners. Of course since the tournaments are special events the tournament type and rules vary and so do the entry fees.

Withdrawals
Global Player Casino is known for good service, which of course includes prompt cash outs. You won’t have any problems withdrawing money from your account. Note that just like in all online casinos all your winnings from the different games are pooled into just one account. You don’t have to worry about keeping track of all your winnings and losses though because you can always check your account statement online.

Technorati Tags: Global Player Casino,   Online Blackjack Casino,   Blackjack Casino, Multi-Player Blackjack Tournament, Roulette, Video Poker, Slots

Now that you know just how much (in terms of game variety) Get21 has to offer I’m going to focus on the other features.

Joining Rules

New Players
Joining a tournament is very easy whether playing in Play Money Mode or Real Money Mode. You will need to give a bit more personal information if you register for Real Money Mode and would of course need to deposit to your account. After the registering joining a tournament is as breeze. You just need to pick whether you want a Quick Game, Sit and Go, or a Scheduled Game. You also choose whether you want play in a Single Table or Multi-Table Tournament. Choose the table you want to join in the list and click on Join a Table then on the Register Button. If playing in Real Money Mode you will need to check the amount box to finally join the game and wait for it to start.

Old Players
All you need to do is log-in go to the lobby choose your table and you know the rest.

Fees
The amount you need to pay will be determined by the joining fee which includes the Buy-In and the Entry Fee. The Buy-In goes to the pot. The Buy-In ranges from $0.10 to $100. Single table tournament winners get to keep the entire pot while multi-table winners split the pot with amounts varying for each winner depending on the tournament type.

The Entry Fee is kept by the house. This is hot Get21 earns money, which means that whether you win or lose they make money. This kind of profit scheme ensures that Get21 offers a fair game since they don’t need to see players lose just to make money. The Entry Fee is generally 10% of the Buy-In.

Payouts
As mentioned earlier single table winners get the entire prize pool. For multi-table winners the prize pool is split depending on the number of players as well as the place you finish. The greater the number of players the bigger the prize pool is(except for special tournaments where the prize is fixed and guaranteed). A greater number of players also means more winners with as many as 27 winners getting a share of the pot for games with 154 or mor players participating.

Bonuses/Promotions
Like regular casinos Get21 has a welcome and referral bonus. They also hold regular promotions usually as part of the Special Scheduled Tournaments. The favorite is of course the guaranteed prize pool tournament.

The Pros
An interesting and very helpful feature Get21 has for its players are the articles or tips from real Pros like David Matthews, Bill Ricardi, Johnny Kampis, and Allen Taylor.

Customer Support
Customer Support is a non-issue at Get21. Though they do not offer live chat you can eamil them or call them at their phone hotlines. Amazingly Get21 has individual phone numbers for 29 countries, which shows how much they value their international customers by lumping them together.

Technorati Tags: Get21, Tournament Blackjack, Online Blackjack Casino, David Matthews, Bill Ricardi, Johnny Kampis, Allen Taylor, Blackjack Tournament Rules

When Get21 started two years ago the idea of having blackjack tournaments poker-style was still a new one. What Get21 had to offer was truly revolutionary. Nowadays blackjack tournaments are all the rage with new variations and rules cropping up. When it comes to blackjack tournaments online Get21 still rules.

Unlike most casinos that offer only blackjack as one of its many casino games Get21 has one and only one game to offer - tournament blackjack. However you won’t get bored playing here because it offers a variety of tournaments.

There are basically two kinds of tournaments: the Single Table Tournaments and the Multi-Table Tournaments. Single Table tournaments have three kinds of tournaments, which are:

• The “Shootout” tournaments - Shoot out tournaments are played with 2-5 players. A player can join the game by clicking on the “Seat Open” button. As soon as the second player joins the table, a 20-second countdown begins and the players receive a buy-in confirmation request in a popup window. Any player who wishes to join the game may do so during the 20-second countdown.
• The “Heads Up” tournaments - “Heads Up” tournaments are for two players only. A player can join the game by clicking on the “Seat Open” button. As soon as the second player joins the table, the players receive a buy-in confirmation request in a popup window. To start the tournament, both players should confirm by clicking the “OK” button.
• The “Sit and Go” Single table tournament - “Sit and Go” Single table tournaments can be played with 3 to 5 players. A player joins the game by clicking on the “Seat Open” button. The tournament will begin as soon as the specified number of players join the table. If, for example, it’s a 5-player game, the tournament will begin only when the 5th player joins the table. Until then the players who already joined, will be in a “Waiting” status.

Multi-player tournaments also have three kinds of tournaments, which are the:

• Sit & Go Multi-Table Tournament - Sit & Go Multi-Table  tournaments works like the single table Sit and Go but with several levels. After each level the player who amassed the most chips in one table continues to the next level. Players do not amass chips from one level to the next. The player who accumulates the most chips in the end of the last hand of the “Final Table” wins the tournament.
• Scheduled Tournaments - Scheduled tournaments work like the Multi-table Sit & Go Tournament except that it has no pre-set number of players so that there is no limit on the number of players that can join. Players are seated at tables randomlyand the tournament begins at a scheduled time that is announced in the Lobby.
• Special Scheduled Tournaments - The special tournaments are essentially the same as Scheduled Tournaments except that you can expect really big prizes here. Prizes of course vary from time to time in terms of the amount of cash prize or the kind of prize. You can also be sure to get stiffer competition in tournaments like this.

Technorati Tags: Get21, Tournament Blackjack, Kinds of Tournament Blackjack, Online Blackjack Casino

Anyway the best places online to play blackjack is not a big surprise if you know your online casinos since they are also the ones always listed among the top casinos in almost any website nowadays. The only real outstanding website is probably Get21 since it offer nothing except blackjack and blackjack alone.

I’ll be giving a more in depth review of each casino/website in the next several posts but for now here’s a quick overview of my top five listed in alphabetical order.

1. Get21 - Chosen this year by Gambling Online Magazine for Editor’s Pick Get21 is definitely the best there is in online multiplayer blackjack tournament. The really cool thing about Get21 is that since it is a tournament site you never have to worry about house odds. Great service, no rip-offs. Of course you need to worry about the other players since it seems to attract the best blackjack players online. Nevertheless with tournament blackjack being all the rage for the moment Get21 is the best place to have fun and hopefully win the pot.

2. Global Player Casino - Known as the home of online blackjack this casino offers seven variations of the game all with different rules and table limits. At Global Player Casino you won’t have to worry about security and customer service and all you need to do is enjoy the game. Table limits start from as low as $1 up to as high as $300. They have everything from single-deck games to six-deck games. You can also of course choose between single player mode or multi-player mode.

3. Intercasino - Intercasino has been on every single Best Casino for Something or simply Best Casino list for several years now. Of course it’ll also be in my best online blackjack casino list. As they say it is harder to stay on top that to get there. Intercasino’s consistency says something about their dedication to giving their customers the best gambling experience possible. I don’t even need to mention blackjack but whatever game you choose to play there you can be sure you’ll have a great time.

4. Spin Palace Casino - Spin Palace Casino is powered by Microgaming, which is known for its great blackjack games. With the new Viper software in place Spin Palace Casino has ALL the major blackjack variants available for you to try.

5. Wild Jack Gaming - Wild Jack is known for being one of the best places to go play blackjack. As the name suggests Wild Jack is about blackjack (although they have a pretty good casino and poker room too). It shouldn’t be surprising since it is also powered by Microgaming. Just last January Wild Jack added five more blackjack games to its repertoire. Aside from being known in the online world for its blackjack games it is also a popular choice for mobile gaming.

Technorati Tags: Online Casino, Online Blackjack, Top Blackjack Casino, Get21, Global Player Casino, Intercasino, Spin Palace Casino, Wild Jack, Mobile Casino

In traditional blackjack games you know that players don’t really play against each other but against the dealer. In tournament blackjack, as the name suggests, the game is turned into a competition between players. Players still need to beat the dealer but also need to beat each others in terms of the amount of money they win.

The basic framework of most blackjack tournament is that players are grouped into different tables at the start of the tournament. When the tournament starts each player gets an equal number of chips and then does his best to win as much chips during the amount of time or number of hands alloted for the first round. The players in each table who has the most number of chips at the end of the round is declared the winner of the table.

Tournaments are basically divided into two kinds: elimination and non-elimination. In non-elimination rounds the above scenario is repeated several times with all the players participating each time. The amount of chips the players win for each round are added up and the player who wins the most chips in total is declared the winner.

Elimination tournaments work more like poker players wherein players get eliminated from the game in each round. The only players who get to proceed are the people who win the most chips at their individual tables. The table winners are then grouped together again and play another round of blackjack with again only one player winning per table. The rest are eliminated and this continues until there is only enough players left for one table. They are the finalists and the player who wins the most chips during the final round wins the tournament. In elimination tournaments chips of equal amounts are given during the start of each round so that the previous amount you win doesn’t affect your standing during the present or upcoming round.

Tournament players do not take home the actual amount they win during the competition. What they take home is the prize money or the pot depending on the tournament rules. Since almost all competitions charge players who want to join you will want to join competitions with plenty of players (if you are good) and with high joining fees if you are to win the pot. If the prize money is fixed fewer players is of course better since you have to beat less people.

Technorati Tags: Blackjack Tournament, Ultimate Blackjack Tournament, UBT, Elimination Blackjack, Non-elimination Blackjack

How long have you been playing blackjack?
I started playing blackjack about a month ago, just two days before visiting the UBT site. (Can you believe her luck? She is practically a newbie and she got a seat at the UBT!)

How much time do you spend playing online every week?
About ten hours a week. (Seems to me like a player with control.)

What kind of strategy do you employ?
I don’t really have much of a strategy other than to bet low at first, until I get a feel for how the dealer’s doing. If everyone else is betting big, I go low and hope they all bust. (What do you think guys? Does this strategy make sense to you?)

How would you rate yourself as a player?
I consider myself just a little below good.

When did you become interested in Elimination Blackjack?
When the first episode of the Ultimate Blackjack Tour aired. I’d never heard of it before. Then I went online and played a game and I was instantly hooked.

What was your reaction when you discovered you had qualified to play in Aruba?
I was in disbelief. It didn’t feel real until I arrived in Aruba.

Which do you prefer, playing online or playing live, and why?
I prefer playing online. It’s more comfortable. I’m at home, I can multitask and I don’t have to dress up for a game. I can just play in my pajamas. (Yeah, the same sentiment echoed by countless online gamblers all over the world.)

What was your most memorable moment in Aruba?
Sitting at the table with the pros. Especially Ken Smith and Anthony Curtis. I’d just learned how famous and good they are and then there they were, sitting at a table with me. (I am sure there are many who would give an arm and a leg for this opportunity as well!)

What surprised you the most about some of the pros you met?
How friendly everyone was. I’d always assumed a pro wouldn’t want to have anything to do with someone like me, but Anthony Curtis came right up to me and started talking.

How has playing in Aruba affected your everyday strategy?
I’d never realized how important chip counting was until I played in Aruba. I used to just throw out a number, but now I know have to be more aware of the chips everyone has before I make my move.

What are your plans/goals for the future?
I hope to keep playing and to win another tournament someday.

Technorati Tags: Blackjack, UBT, Carly McKee, Aruba, Elimination Blackjack

It is thus no wonder that the Ultimate Blackjack Tour has decided to make a stop at this prestigious casino in Vegas. Known to be a trendsetter in the gambling industry, the Palm Casino Resort will host a UBT stop on the 20th of April next year. Russ Hamilton, the founder of UBT and a 1994 World Series of Poker Main Event Winner acknowledges the management’s (Palm Casino Resort) knack for finding the next big thing. He said, “Since its opening, the Palms has never been afraid to try new things, so they make a perfect partner to host the first Las Vegas charter tour stop for Ultimate Blackjack Tour. Initial reaction to the UBT has been overwhelmingly positive and the Palms has a knack for recognizing the next big thing.”

From the other side of the partnership, excitement runs high as the management of Palms Casino Resort gear up for the momentous event even as it is still months away. George Maloof, the owner of the Palms, expresses his thoughts on the matter: “We are thrilled to be a charter member of the Ultimate Blackjack Tour. The series is filled with fun and excitement, which is what the Palms is all about. And the elimination format will bring our customers the hottest blackjack tournament around.”

The formation of this partnership, which is well into the future is proof of how much of a hit the UBT has become. The fifth episode of the first season is still due to air on the 4th of November and a stop is already in the works for April 2007! UBT’s unique format as well as 2 one of a kind episodes seem to be making it big for the show. The Ladies of Blackjack features the best female gamblers, which include Annie Duke, Jennifer Tilly, Monica Reeves and Erica Schoenburg. The other episode, The Legends of Blackjack, gives the viewers a very exciting and intense show when the best players in blackjack meet each other. These include Stanford Wong, Anthony Curtis, Kenny Einiger, and many others.

Furthermore, even the average person like you and me can grab a chance to play an actual part in the show! Just log on to the UBT website and join the free online tournaments they are holding. If you are good – and lucky – enough to win in these free online tournaments, then you will win a seat to the UBT season two final tables! Talk about motivation. See you there!

Technorati Tags: Blackjack, UBT, Palms Casino Resort, George Maloof, Russ Hamilton, Ladies of Blackjack, Legends of Blackjack, free online tournaments

What makes the Ultimate Blackjack Tour more exciting? The proponents of this show have come up with a unique format that brings the excitement to the earlier rounds of the game. Not only does a player have to play against the dealer, he is also set up against the other players. Each player has a total of 30 rounds to prove himself worthy of the Ultimate Blackjack Tour. A player is booted out at the 8th, 16th, and 25th hand.

For those who are not really familiar with the Ultimate Blackjack Tour yet, let’s cover the basic rules. There are 7 main points that will sum the rules up.

• For the preliminary rounds: the maximum bet is $25,000 and the minimum bet is $500. Each player starts with the maximum bet amount in chips as well.
• For the final table: the minimum bet is doubled - $1,000 – while the maximum bet is quadrupled - $100,000. As with the preliminary rounds, the players at the final table also start with the maximum bet amount in chips.
• The game starts on the button and progresses clockwise at each hand.
• Players each have 25 seconds to make their move. At the 10 second mark, the timer will start to count down. However, players have more time (45 seconds) to think of their move for Elimination Hands.
• Elimination Hands are the previously mentioned hands, wherein the player with the least amount of chips in his stack would be booted off the game. Again, these hands are the 8th, 16th, and 25th.
• As an added feature, each player is given a Secret Bet. Each player can use this at any time he wishes during the round.
• The end of the game is reached after 30 hands. Of course, the player with the most number of chips in his stack wins.

At present, the Ultimate Blackjack Tour is on Episode 5. Well to be exact, Episode 5 will be showing on the 4th of November at 2:00 PM EST at CBS. The first four episodes each had different winners, with the pilot show having an all star cast. Some of the biggest names in blackjack were the players in that episode – Ken Smith, Michael Castellana, and Chuck Gorsen to name a few. Ken Smith ended up being the winner. If you call yourself a blackjack enthusiast and you haven’t seen a single episode yet, then it is high time that you did! Otherwise, you are missing out on a lot.

Technorati Tags: Blackjack, Blackjack News, Blackjack Tournaments, Blackjack TV Show, Ultimate Blackjack Tour, CBS, Ken Smith, Michael Castellana, Chuck Gorsen

Undoubtedly many online casinos, if not all, are itching to add elimination blackjack as part of their casino’s offered games. Unfortunately for then Elimination Blackjack is patented by UltimateBet.com so that there is no way for them to offer the exact same game and not be sued for it. Casinos that realize the full potential of tournament blackjack are not giving up. Golden Palace Casino believes so much in tournament blackjack that they have decided to invest $600,000 on RNG Gaming, a company that develops multi-player blackjack software. RNG Gaming developed a new Blackjack Tournament software for Golden Palace casino. The new game offered by Golden Palce Casino is expected by them to “skyrocket in popularity”, as their CEO Richard Rowe puts it. Golden Palace casino wants to be in the forefront of the new and exciting game as it takes off.

It is not only the big and established online casinos that are tapping into blackjack tournament’s money making potential. The online casino Aces.com is also holding blackjack tournaments… for free. So if the game is for free, how do they make money? They are looking in the long term. By allowing players to play for free in blackjack tournaments they attract new players to register in their casino and get keep old ones happy. Once a person is registered you can bet on it that he’ll be playing more than tournament blackjack online. Since there aren’t that many online casinos that offer tournament blackjack already, much less that allow gamblers to play for free, Aces.com is able to draw many players. What makes playing in their tournaments a good investment is that not only do you get to play for free but you also get to win real money. The prize for winning in the tournament is $200. The second and third placer also gets to bring home money worth $100 and $50, respectively. Not bad for a fun and free game. In addition to this 10 lucky players who join the tournament each get $10 each just for playing. When playing tournament blackjack in Aces.com not only will you enjoy but you don’t have to worry about losing money. I’m pretty sure many online casinos will catch on to the idea pretty quick and will be offering tournaments like this in the near future.

Offline, people are also getting the blackjack tournament bug. In an parish Fishers, Indiana they started the St. Louis de Monfort Fall Festival with a game of Texas Hold ‘Em and Tournament Blackjack last Friday, September 22. Though poker games are common in such events tournament blackjack is a new addition that we can expect to see played in more upcoming social events as it becomes even more popular.

Technorati Tags: Tournament blackjack, Elimination blackjack, Online casinos, Texas Hold ‘Em, UltimateBet, RNG Gaming, Blackjack software, Golden Palace Casino, Aces.com