The World Series of Blackjack
The World Series of Blackjack is the most famous televised blackjack tournament. It was created by a television production company called Planet Grande, and is broadcast on the Game Show Network. The biggest names in the history of the game, and some celebrities, are invited to compete for the title of Champion of Blackjack for the year.
“The World Series of Blackjack will feature the greatest players from qualification contests held at casinos countrywide,” says Rich Cronin, President and CEO of GSN. “The fashionable series, created by Planet Grande, will carry to viewers many hours of thrilling blackjack strategy and accomplishment for its third season one after the other.”
The structure of the tournament consists of 40 players competing over 13 shows, with the winning players remaining and losers going home. The winners eventually play off for the championship when it gets down to the final players.
Season 1 was won by Mike Aponte. He earned $100,000 after beating “Hollywood” Dave Stann. The second season championship went to Ken Einiger. He won $250,000 for his efforts, beating out Kami Lis. Season 3’s championship prize of $500,000 went to Jeff Bernstein, and last year’s event was won by Alice Walker. She also won $500,000.
The event continues to grow in popularity, mainly because people are able to win their way onto the show if they can survive the satellite rounds which are played prior to the event. Casinos are sending their best players in hopes of earning bragging rights that the champ came from their casino. The publicity doesn’t hurt either.
If you are planning on participating anytime soon, here are the rules (as of season 4):
Each player begins with $100,000 in chips.
The initial minimum bet is $1,000, the maximum bet is $50,000.
There are six decks.
Each player gets one “Burger King Power Chip” per round, which allows a player to switch one card with the next card in the shoe. If used on a double-down hand, the player may look at the double-down card and replace it if desired. The power chip was added as of season three.
There are two “knockout cards” in the shoe. Once a knockout card is drawn, the player with the lowest amount of chips after the next hand is eliminated. After the first knockout card, the minimum bet increases to $2,500, after the second, the bet increases to $5,000. The deck is shuffled after each knockout card. If there are only four players when the first is drawn and three when the second is drawn, no players are eliminated, but the minimum bet still increases. The knockout cards also appeared first in season three.
Players can split, double-down & insure for less than their bet.
Players can double-down on anything.
Surrendering the hand is legal, which allows players to give up half their bet and concede the hand.
If a player can’t make the minimum bet, they are eliminated.
Blackjack pays 3 to 2, dealer must stand on all soft 17s and higher.
After 25 hands, the player with the most chips wins.
