World Series of Blackjack - What's It All About?

Posted Jan 25th 2006 8:15AM by Joanne Lutynec
Filed under: Television, Tournaments, Casinos & Card Rooms, Blackjack

Over the past few years the World Series of Poker has made a huge name for itself due to the rising popularity of the game, the immense prize pools, televised tournaments and recognizable pros. It is hard to go to a store without seeing poker paraphernalia; cards and chips, shirts and caps, even coffee mugs - all emblazoned with poker logos.

Sitting back quietly in the wings, patiently waiting for it's time to shine has been the World Series of Blackjack - an annual event which brings together some of the sharpest minds and brightest talent to be found in the gaming world. They don't have to wait any longer though - they have now arrived.

Anyone who has ever played a blackjack tournament knows it takes a lot more to succeed than simply possessing the ability to count to twenty-one. Players spend years practicing the game, honing their skills, learning strategy and mastering betting techniques.

Watching a blackjack tournament live, it is easy to underestimate these player's abilities. It appears they are going against the grain of conventional wisdom at times, often hitting such hands as eighteen, or splitting a pair of tens - but it is all for a single, higher purpose - to accumulate the most chips possible in a relatively short period of time. All that matters, ultimately, is getting themselves into the money by whatever means possible - even making what may seem to be questionable plays to the untrained eye. Betting strategy is key from the moment the first cards are dealt.

The World Series of Blackjack is the pinnacle of a blackjack player's career. Formerly an invitation-only event, the prize pool has grown from $300,000 in their inaugural year to a whopping $1,000,000 currently.

The Las Vegas Hilton will host this year's event in late February through early March, and the show will be broadcast on GSN - The Network For Games over thirteen hour-long episodes beginning in April.

If you are interested in possibly winning a chance to play in the WSOB, check in with subsequent posts and we will tell you how to enter.

Reader Comments

(Page 1)

1. You can win to be on the show on AOL - www.aol.com/blackjack. Cool!

Posted at 10:47AM on Jan 25th 2006 by nickeo

2. This is possibly the most retarded thing I've seen on TV.

Is there seriously any skill to Blackjack? Card counting? That really doesn't run with a 5 deck shoe, does it?

These kinds of shows are going to have a negative impact on poker getting legalized, too, I believe. The more gambling we put on TV, the bigger the backlash is going to be when the networks push it to the breaking point.

And it's an incredibly boring show to watch, to boot.

Posted at 3:59PM on Jan 26th 2006 by MIster Fingers

3. It takes a great deal of skill if I can reply to the other poster here who thins this might be boring to watch. When poker is shown on TV they have culled out the exciting rounds from the yawners of which there are no doubt many. Blackjack is normally played with even numbers of decks with the exception of single deck so I dont know where you got 5 decks from. As for card counting it can be done with any number of decks but a tournament isnt about counting because its more of a battle against the other players chip stack versus yours. In normal Blackjack you are trying to beat the house not the other players chip total after a certain number of hands as in tournament play. You have to be an expert Blackjack player and also out maneuver your opponents at the table so its a high skill game. Meanwhile I can watch the world series of poker and a nobody who has played online for 18 months can be at the final table so lets not throw rocks about the skill requirements its always the last .01% of expertise that is going to ultimately put you at that final table or at that final hand.

Posted at 2:51AM on Jan 29th 2006 by BLackjack player

4. When I fel like watching TV if there is a poker game on I will watch it, It gives a great insight to peoples minds and how so many players will react under stress and as you know there is a lot of sddress in a good poker game. It takes a lot of concentration to keep a poker face in a game, especially a game with the stakes so high as they are in these tournaments. I know it would be the epitomy of a life time to be sitting at one of these tables if only to just sit and watch. A heart would be forced to double time (so to speak) to play in one of them. TAKES A LOT OF GUTS AND INTESTINAL FORTITUDE.

Posted at 9:25PM on Jan 29th 2006 by Bill Watson

5. i have been playing progressive blackjack at a professional level for a number of years. i have also been in a number of these blackjack tournaments with similar rules. (it's basicaly the chip leader after 21 hands at the table wins.) i can tell you without a shadow of a doubt that it takes virtualy no skill at all to win one of these tournaments. my mother could win and she's never played the game. basic skills may help you but a complete novice could and usually does win these things. it's very very short term so good luck...i still like the odds compared to playing the lottery though.
if they were to ever have a real "master" tournament it would take so long to deal sooo many hands in order for the beginners to drop out and have the real players (not counters but percentage players) take over and show what the game is really about, tedious. this would bore the public and not bring in the weekend wannabes to the casinos so i doubt it would ever happen. someone tell me where to find an extended play tournament and then count me in.

Posted at 10:26PM on Jan 29th 2006 by mike whitney

6. Hooray for GSN and AOL for recognizing that tournament blackjack is not only worthy of their attention but will likely surpass that of poker when it comes to ratings!!! Those of us who take our blackjack seriously have been waiting a long time for this kind of promotion. I've been playing blackjack on a semi-pro level for 20+ years and have been fairly successful($154,000 in one 12 hour session with a $5,000 buy-in). I believe I've earned the right to say that skill, intelligence, knowledge and personal physical and mental fortitude are all requirements for successful blackjack play be it tournament or not. Oh yes, a little luck doesn't hurt!! See you at the tables! D.F.O

Posted at 12:27AM on Jan 30th 2006 by David F. O'Neal

7. To the poster who claims that winning a blackjack tournament takes no skill, and his mother could win one.Here is a challenge you may want to consider bring yourself and you mother to Las Vegas with a whole lot of cash "No Check's" please.And I along with a couple of other tournament players will play you and your mom for all the money you could muster up. Don't worry we will give you bus fare so you can get home after we are done with you.

Posted at 5:44PM on Feb 2nd 2006 by Joep

8. you gotta be kidding me...you are one of those guys eh? you and your tourny buudies want to challenge me (and mom) in an extended tournament and you'll pay for our transportation too. well, i do believe i'll take you up on that. get ahold of me and we'll work it out. if your talking about a challenge to play a 21 hand compitition well then why don't we just flip a coin? but, if we're talking 2100 hands or more with continuous shuffle then YES!

Posted at 12:10AM on Feb 8th 2006 by mike whitney

9. splitter6@aol.com

Posted at 12:14AM on Feb 8th 2006 by mike whitney

10. Actually the more hands the better it is for the skilled player.So your suggestion for a tournament with over 2100 hands is a plus for the skilled tournament player and one that we welcome.As far as your transportation goes we will leave you with enough money for bus fare to get you and mom back home.

Posted at 12:28PM on Feb 8th 2006 by Joep

11. exactly, the more the better. what do you think my point is? duh! anyway, you know how to get ahold of me and i do except your challenge. all we need is a deck of cards with you & your tourny pro pals and some financial fortitude to put were your mouth is.
just the fact that you would disagree with me and challenge me tells me that "i gotcha!" i doubt it but if you & your pals were as good as me (and it's possible but unlikely) it would be a fair contest and interesting. i can tell you're not and i'd side bet that you don't come close to making it to 2100 hands, so if you think you can make a buck off me then stop posting this site and get ahold of me and we'll grind it out. best of 2100 hands wins. now lets talk $$$$$$....clown!

Posted at 8:42PM on Feb 8th 2006 by mike whitney

12. With all the other crap on TV, why not this, don't like it, don't watch it, very easy to use remote

Posted at 8:48PM on Feb 12th 2006 by jw

13. how do i enter?

Posted at 11:11PM on Feb 12th 2006 by michael grasso

14. how do i enter?

Posted at 11:11PM on Feb 12th 2006 by michael grasso

15. Mike Whitney, count me in in on that game and I will pay the taxi fare for you and Mom to get to the bus station as JoeP is willing to pay your return bus trip home. You gave yourself away stating a 21 hand tournament, the game is 21 not 21 hands. 2100 hands with continuous shuffle you propose? I'm sure that wouldn't work in your benifit or Mom's because you both would have no idea about betting strategy.
Continuous shuffle LOL, maybe we should discuss a Slap Jack freeze out not Blackjack and even the odds. Slap Jack and hot tea would make a great evening. Give my best wishes to Mom but I'm sure JoeP and I would be happy to relieve you of any extra cash you have to dispose of

Posted at 1:01AM on Feb 13th 2006 by Chuck E

16. Mike Whitney, count me in in on that game and I will pay the taxi fare for you and Mom to get to the bus station as JoeP is willing to pay your return bus trip home. You gave yourself away stating a 21 hand tournament, the game is 21 not 21 hands. 2100 hands with continuous shuffle you propose? I'm sure that wouldn't work in your benifit or Mom's because you both would have no idea about betting strategy.
Continuous shuffle LOL, maybe we should discuss a Slap Jack freeze out not Blackjack and even the odds. Slap Jack and hot tea would make a great evening. Give my best wishes to Mom but I'm sure JoeP and I would be happy to relieve you of any extra cash you have to dispose of

Posted at 1:02AM on Feb 13th 2006 by Chuck E

17. Mike Whitney, count me in in on that game and I will pay the taxi fare for you and Mom to get to the bus station as JoeP is willing to pay your return bus trip home. You gave yourself away stating a 21 hand tournament, the game is 21 not 21 hands. 2100 hands with continuous shuffle you propose? I'm sure that wouldn't work in your benifit or Mom's because you both would have no idea about betting strategy.
Continuous shuffle LOL, maybe we should discuss a Slap Jack freeze out not Blackjack and even the odds. Slap Jack and hot tea would make a great evening. Give my best wishes to Mom but I'm sure JoeP and I would be happy to relieve you of any extra cash you have to dispose of

Posted at 1:02AM on Feb 13th 2006 by Chuck E

18. chuck e. cheese...are you guys retarded???? read my original post. the game is 21 that is blackjack. most of these tournys are best of 21 hands dealt at a time.
and i said my mom would and could win a tournament because she knows nothing of the game just like most people who enter and usually win these tournaments along with slot tournys etc.a little skill could'nt hurt but these things get ridiculous. i on the other hand do know all there is to know about blackjack especially about money management and progression percentages long and short term. (put kids through school with it) i don't need to count cards in a short term game and i don't care if it's 1 hand held deck or 8 in a machine. so... the more hands the better. got it! guys like you are a dime a dozen and rarely actually put up but garunteed not to shut up. shmucks. so go ahead and post another mind numbing comment or get on with backing up the challenge you've laid out which i accepted. money talks now. since you guys are such hot shots and have offered transportation both ways we'll take first class air.

Posted at 4:46PM on Feb 13th 2006 by mike whitney

19. I just can't resist getting into the mix!!! The usual number of hands dealt is either 15 or 20 depending on who sponsors the tournament! I've yet to see 21 hands.
However I will admit that most of my play is in A.C. not Vegas. At any rate I think I'm ready to take on MOM!!!

Posted at 9:26PM on Feb 14th 2006 by David F. O'Neal

20. yea, she's probably right up to your speed

Posted at 9:08AM on Feb 15th 2006 by mike whitney

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