World Series of Black Jack???

DalaiLama · #1 03-26-2005, 02:26 AM

I'm watching the 2005 WSOBJ on GSN, and it's quite possibly the worst show/production/idea I've seen in a while.

Shanemex · #2 03-26-2005, 02:30 AM

There should be a World Series of Keno.

Russ McGinley · #3 03-26-2005, 02:44 AM

Isn't there a World Series of Slot Machines or something? Now that's a pathetic idea.

tek · #4 03-26-2005, 09:02 AM

How about World Championship Rock/Paper/Scissors? Oh wait, they have that...

John White · #5 03-29-2005, 01:26 AM

[ QUOTE ]
How about World Championship Rock/Paper/Scissors? Oh wait, they have that...

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh, is THAT what your avatar is about?

srblan · #6 03-29-2005, 06:20 PM

What makes it such a bad idea? Most (if not all) of these players are advantage players, and it does take quite a bit of strategy to do well in these tournaments.

MichaelOar · #7 03-29-2005, 06:35 PM

A (practicing) advantage player would not be caught dead on this show.

Michael

betgo · #8 03-29-2005, 06:40 PM

What is the skill involved? Are you allowed to count cards? Are there top tournament blackjack players?

MicroBob · #9 03-29-2005, 06:57 PM

The only way you would NOT be allowed to count cards is if they shuffled after every hand. Of course you're "allowed" to.

Yes...there are good BJ tournament players. Stanford Wong has detailed some of the strategies involved.

I haven't seen the show (don't get GSN) but there are definitely +EV and -EV ways to play these things...including crazy, fun stuff like doubling on your "soft" 21 or splitting your T's if it gives you a better chance of winning (or 'only' chance of winning)...not to mention the regular strategy and bet-size as you go along.

Counting cards isn't going to help you out much in a tourney format though...remember, you are playing against the other players...not just against the house.

srblan · #10 03-30-2005, 01:07 PM

Agreed, however, I have watched a few of the shows and I saw Stanford Wong, Mickey Rosa, and a dude they called MIT Mike from the MIT Blackjack Team. There have also been several players in disguises and at one point, one of the commentators mentioned that he knows for a fact that every one of the players in that round had been booted from a casino for counting. In fact, MIT Mike was playing against a woman who had been a pit boss and had kicked him out of her casino.