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

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21. 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

22. 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

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