Who would refuse a prize worth millions by just playing some cards? That’s precisely what the Poker and Blackjack World Champions did. 

In the last 12 months, 45.53% of Americans participated in Casinos and played blackjack, poker, roulette, etc. Isn’t it a huge number in just one country?

Casinos like El Royale casino are more likely to promote these competitions that need skills and effort and can make you the next millionaire.

Among the top Poker and Blackjack world champions, Bryn Kenny has won the most reward, worth more than $57.2 million in his career. These games are not complex to win if you have the skills and know the strategies. 

As Randy Pausch once said,” It’s not about the cards you’re dealt, but how you play the hand”.

Hence, if you want to know how the World Series of Poker and Blackjack works, how to play, and the winning strategies, read this article to the end, as we’ve thoroughly explained everything in detail below. 

What is the World Series of Blackjack?

Before we jump into the main game strategies and rules, you should know the World Series of Blackjack and Poker and where it was held. The World Series of blackjack is a house-banked casino game that was started in 2004 and is currently the world’s most acclaimed casino game.

The championship takes place in Las Vegas, where players and dealers compete for the prize money. The game’s primary goal is to reach close or up to the number 21, so you have the maximum winning chances in your hand. 

What is WSOP?

World Series of Poker (WSOP) is a similar yet skillful game that features many other games, including the most popular Texas Hold’EM. In Poker, you play against other players and not against the house. 

Every year, the WSOP is held in Las Vegas, and various card games are played among the competitive participants. The one who left with the maximum number of chips wins the tournament and is awarded a coveted main event bracelet. 

The World Champions of Poker and Blackjack

History is filled with great winners and champions who showed their skills and made their dream come true in the world of casino games. Enlisted below are some famous World champions of poker and Blackjack who inspire all players. 

World Champions of Poker 

Poker is about winning the pot, a collection of all the bets made by other players. Those who have invested their time and efforts have achieved success. Here is a table showing, for example, the champions’ winnings in the 1970s.

World Champions of Blackjack

Like Poker, blackjack players have also made their mark in World Casino gaming. Let’s quickly look at the champs of blackjack’s previous four seasons. 

How to Master the Poker and Blackjack Tournaments?

Now you’ve clearly understood that poker and blackjack are high-reward casino games. There might be a question in your mind about how you can participate and win millions of prize money.

The answer lies in the winning strategies of both games. So, without further ado, let’s examine the rules and victory techniques. 

Rules for Blackjack

As mentioned earlier, the World Series of blackjack is a closed or in-house tournament of 1 hour in which the participants are either invited or made their place through a satellite tournament. 

Some basic rules follow the gameplay. Let’s have a look at them.

• The game begins with a player having $10,000 chips in the initial season, which then increases to $100,000 in the next 2 to 4 seasons. 
• The initial bet of season 1 begins with a minimum of $100 and a maximum of $5000 which then increases to a minimum of $1,000 and a maximum of $50,000 in the next 2 to 4 seasons. 
• The game has six decks, and a single deck contains 52 cards. 
• At the beginning of season 3, the players are given a “Burger King Power Chip” offer, allowing them to switch or replace their cards if desired. 
• Similarly, the player also receives another “Knockout cards” offer in which he can use two knockout cards in the shoe. Once this offer is availed, the player having the lowest score in the next hand will be eliminated from the game. 
• Once a player is knocked out, the bet is then increased to $2500, and after the second knockout, the bet further increases to $5000, giving higher chances to win more money. 
• Players have the freedom to split, double down on anything, or insure for less than their bet.
• In case a player runs out of chips, there is no chance for them to be in the game. They eliminated.
• The house dealer had to stand on all 17s and higher. 
• At the end of all four seasons, the player who stands with the higher number of chips wins the game and is eligible for prize money.

Some Effective Tips for Winning Blackjack and Poker Tournaments

There is no doubt that blackjack and poker are a game of skills; to win them, you should keep an eye on everyone and everything around you. Therefore, we’ve developed stellar tips and tricks for you so you can handle every game situation wisely. 

1- Knowing the Chip Count

The chip count is one of the most crucial factors while playing poker and blackjack. You should also know the chip count of your opponent players and yours. Why? It is because knowing the chip count of other players will help you place your bet. 

2- When to Bet

Playing with the cards is not an easy task. First, you should know when to bet small, large, or minimum according to the situation. For instance, if you want to keep enough chips behind, you should chip small.

Similarly, if you’re confident that you have the most chips than anyone else, it is not a bad idea to place a large bet. 

3- Keep a Secret Chip

It happens most frequently in blackjack tournaments when all the players are in the last hand. In such a situation, go for a champ move and keep a single token chip behind. In this way, you’ll be able to advance against the house dealer while your opponents have nothing to bet. 

Wait, here is a bonus tip for you. In an extreme case, when you have no more chips in hand but have to bet large against the house dealer, go all in. Simply follow the rule, “When in doubt, go big”. Doing so will surely give you a chance to win the round.

What’s the Difference Between Poker and Blackjack?

Poker and blackjack are both unique casino games in their own way. Although there are some similarities, the differential points are also worth mentioning. 

Below, we’ll discuss how these two games stand alone in the gaming industry and their basic differences.

1- Following the Rules

One of the common differences lies in the concept of strategy or rules of both games. In terms of rules, blackjack is a strict game compared to poker. It is because blackjack players must always stick to the book and must be more technical while playing against the house dealer.

On the other hand, Poker employs different strategic approaches to the game and focuses on creativity instead of strictness. Moreover, blackjack players cannot exploit the set rules and must co-relate with other players to win. 

2- Deviation or Flexibility

Another difference comes in the effective playing style of both games. While poker is a bit more flexible, it gives maximum winning chances to a player. However, to become a poker champion, you should be creative, versatile, and intelligent on the table. 

Whereas blackjack players compete against the house dealer and with other players, they should be deceptive, tricky, and wise to win the game. Thus, they also have to follow strict rules as they don’t have the freedom to decide on their own and or not be flexible enough.

3- Level and Required Skills

Here comes the major difference between the highly popular poker and blackjack. Yes, it is the level of skills of all players. It is certain that poker is a more strategic game and thus demands a higher level of creativity and skills from its players. 

On the other side, blackjack does not demand much from its players. It is a game of deception and inside strategy. The one with higher chips has a 50% game in his hand. However, the same rule does not apply to poker players. 

4- Competition 

To be the last standing person at poker, you must have a killer instinct and a creative mind. Hence, you can say that poker is a highly competitive game compared to blackjack. Poker gets increasingly competitive at the end of the game as the players compete against each other. 

However, blackjack is not that competitive at all. It does possess a level of competition, but this competency is against the house dealer, not with the other players. In blackjack, your only goal is to defeat the house and coordinate with other players if you want to win. 

5- Interaction with Competitors

One of the best things about blackjack is it does not force you to be highly social or interactive with the competing players. It’s totally on your will how much you want to interact with other players in the house. Although conversation with other players makes the game more entertaining, it’s unnecessary. 

On the other hand, poker is a hyper-social game, meaning you should be wise enough to read other players’ minds and strategies. In this way, you can quickly figure out their personality and make it easier for you to win the game. 

Similarities Between Poker and Blackjack

Besides these significant differences, some common points also made them the world’s most popular casino games. 

• Both are highly profitable games. You get equal chances to win millions of prize money. 
• Both are flexible in terms of how much you want to bet.
• The structure of both games is organized similarly.

FAQs

1- Poker VS Blackjack. Which One is Better?

Undeniably, this is the most commonly asked query when it comes to choosing the best casino game. Of course, both are the most popular and profitable games, but poker demands more skills and creativity to win. 

On the other hand, Blackjack is an easy-to-learn game, and you can quickly master it by knowing some strategies and key points. 

2- What are Satellite Poker Tournaments?

For those who don’t know, satellite tournaments are held online, followed by multiple entry games, and the winner gets an entry ticket worth $10,000 buy-in free of cost. These are the lucky tickets for those who cannot afford the buy-in and want to enter the main event. 

3- How Many Tables are in the World Series of Poker and Blackjack?

In WSOP, the number of tables generally depends on the number of players participating in the game. The main event often contains one table at which nine people can easily sit, and of course, they are allowed to move from table to table regularly. 

In blackjack, 2 to 7 players are usually allowed to sit at a table. Moreover, six decks are placed on the table, with 52 cards in each deck.

Final Thoughts

Conclusively, poker and blackjack demand skills and a creative mind from players. As players worldwide play these games, an amateur cannot make it into the main event if they lack the basic strategies and skills. Therefore, unless you don’t put the time and effort into the game, being a poker or blackjack world champion is not for you.