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PLAYING AGAINST UNSKILLED TOURNAMENT OPPONENTS
By Kenneth Smith
Ken Smith is considered by his peers to be one of the best tournament blackjack players. He is the author of the new e-book. How to Win More Blackjack Tournaments: Tips, Tricks, and Strategies to Supercharge Your Game. Ken hosts the popular website
www.BlackjackInfo.com as well as the online tournament community at www.BlackjackTournaments.com. He has appeared on TV in all four seasons of GSN's World Series of Blackjack, the Las Vegas Hilton Million Dollar Championship II finals, and in the Ultimate Blackjack Tour. You can subscribe to his free email newsletter at http://www.blackjackinfo.com/news/.
The average skill level at tournament blackjack seems to be quite a bit higher than what it was a few years ago. The reasons for that change are many, including columns like this one, and the strategy discussions that happen at internet sites like BlackjackTournaments.com. I think that the biggest impact has come from the availability of online play. There are now players out there who have played many thousands of tournaments in just the last few months. It is not surprising that the general skill level has increased. After all, practice makes perfect.
Even so, there are still plenty of inexperienced players at the tables in most events. This is especially the case when you attend an invitational event at a casino where you'll often find that much of the field has little, or no, tournament experience. These situations offer great opportunity for the skilled player, but it is important to note how your game plan should change.
Patience, Patience, Patience
Playing the waiting game against inexperienced opponents has even more value than usual. Unskilled opponents are more likely to over bet their bankrolls early in the round, and they are also more likely to misplay their hands with those big bets in the circle. Since they are increasing the house edge against their bankroll, give them plenty of opportunities to self-destruct before you become concerned about any success they might have.
It is actually also true that making big bets is generally a good idea for these players. The less you know about the game, the more aggressive you should play. Thankfully, it's still usually an expensive choice for them. Wait as long as you can before making a move to catch up. I've seen countless times where a big stack player late in the round donks off a big portion of their bankroll with a really stupid play, like splitting 6s against a ten.
Don't Get Fancy
Tournament strategy is full of subtle ways to get an edge over your opponent. However, many of these plays rely on your opponent being savvy enough to play a certain way. The unpredictability of an unskilled opponent often means that the more elaborate strategies aren't worth trying. Perhaps the best example is the Surrender Trap, This tactic involves slightly over betting your lead hoping to entice your opponent into a foolish small bet. However, an unskilled opponent probably won't have any idea that you have over bet your lead at all! There's not much chance of the trap working in that case. In general, stick to the basics against unskilled players.
Choose Your Words Well
Players with little experience can often be influenced by...
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