Grand Casino Guarantees $60k First Prize in $150k Tournament

It took me several blackjack tournaments to benefit from my egregious mistakes to realize that what I learned playing regular blackjack was not the way to go in tournaments. Little things that you never pay attention to, like making string bets in regular play is not allowed in tournament play. Once you put out your bet, you cannot cap it or pull it back. It is what it is.

Guess what I did in the last Grand Casino tournament with a seat to the final table on the line? Nuff said. Thus, as Grand gets ready for its next $150,000 event on Dec. 2-4, with its $60,000 first place money guaranteed, it was time to turn to a pro, quite possibly the best tournament player in the world, Kenneth Smith.

Kenneth, who lives in Mississippi and has the most popular blackjack website in the U.S., (blackjackinfo.com) has a great article that you can access online now titled Blackjack Tournament Strategy Basics." I recommend that you read it and digest it if you are planning on putting up $500 to buy-in to the Grand event. Even if you are an experienced basic strategy player.

As Kenneth states in his opening paragraph…"having a little knowledge about tournament strategy can dramatically improve your chances of success." Now we are not going to do your homework here, you have to read the article like he made me do. . Its only four pages long so it should take only minutes to read and maybe a little longer to digest it and store it in your brain for use in Grand's tournament. By the way, Smith has a new message board for players at blackjacktournaments.com

"The tournament keeps growing as the staff now has a lot of experience in planning and implementing it and when unique situations arise, they have the ability to deal with it," said Mike Tobias, director of table games. "Players want a smoothly run event with a prize pool big enough to spend a weekend playing for and that is what the Grand gives them."

The Grand tournament, this event needs a title to make it more memorable, is open to the public, if you put up the $500 BUY-IN. But look at what you get for that money. It covers your hotel accommodations for two nights, a tournament gift and your entry, as well as a great welcome reception with cocktails and hors d'oeuvres in the Gold Card Lounge on the second floor just past Murano's, a top Italian restaurant we can recommend strongly.

Play begins on Saturday morning outside of LB's Steakhouse on the first floor and continues through the fifth and final round on Sunday. If you have played well and made positive use of Smith's tournament advice on his website, here are the stakes after the $60,000 first place money. Second is $25,000, 3rd $15,000, 4th $10,000, 5th $7,000, 6th $5,000 and 7th pays off $2,500. Players finishing 8th through 30th win $500 each. There are also cash prizes for session winners and even for rebuy session winners, which helps make this tournament especially attractive.

There is also a wild card drawing prior to the final round but you must be present and claim your seat within three minutes of the announcement for the big money table. It is worth waiting around for. Wild card winners have been known to win it all.

To reserve a spot call VIP Services at 1-800-550-4473 and use the code name "Blackjack." Players can also make arrangements by contacting a casino host and your registration fee is due at the time you make your reservation. Vanessa Johnson is the new Special Events Manager and Tournament Director is the experienced and capable Rob Winkler.