Author Topic: Sure, capitalize on the poker craze... (Read 9370 times)

Brakus · « **Reply #15 on:** January 18, 2004, 03:14:50 AM »

[quote name=\'chris319\' date=\'Jan 18 2004, 03:11 AM\'] See, television has been around for over half a century. Blackjack has been around much longer than that. Think there could be a REASON TV Blackjack has never taken off in that half century? [/quote]
Well, poker's been around as long as blackjack as, if not longer. Maybe why TV blackjack hasn't taken off is becase NO ONE HAS TRIED IT YET?

Same reason why poker hadn't been televised regularly; no one tried it up until recently.

What's good for poker may not necessarily be good for blackjack. But we'll find out.

DrBear · « **Reply #16 on:** January 18, 2004, 07:34:55 AM »

[quote name=\'Brakus\' date=\'Jan 18 2004, 02:14 AM\'] Same reason why poker hadn't been televised regularly; no one tried it up until recently.
[/quote]
Well, it had been tried, but fairly recent changes - notably the small cameras that allow us to see what everyone's holding - have made it interesting.

Has GSn found some new trick to showing it? We'll see...

Jimmy Owen · « **Reply #17 on:** January 18, 2004, 10:23:54 AM »

I'm holding out for a revival of "Championship Bridge."

joshg · « **Reply #18 on:** January 18, 2004, 11:13:09 AM »

Fresh and edgy for the 18-35 demo:

Extreme Pinochle

'Nuff Said

JOSH

Speedy G · « **Reply #19 on:** January 18, 2004, 12:51:37 PM »

[quote name=\'Brakus\' date=\'Jan 18 2004, 03:02 AM\']Well, if no one watches the show for the competition aspect, I would hope that the commentators would pick up on the player's decisions on his cards. It's a nice way to learn basic strategy, at least.

Perhaps if they can get blackjack experts like Arnold Snyder and Anthony Curtis as color commentators to give more insight. Who knows. I would hope that the commentators would know basic strategy inside out, so that they can explain to the viewers why the player is doubling his soft 17 versus the dealer's 6. In turn that would give the viewers some pointers on blackjack basic strategy... Always split Aces and 8's but never 5's and 10's; never take insurance, even if you have a blackjack; stand on a hard 16 versus the dealer's 2 through 6 (otherwise hit); and so on.[/quote]
"Here's a table of basic strategy. Look for every player to follow this table every time."

Unless you're using Real People, or celebrities who don't know/care about basic strategy, you're not going to see much (if any) deviation from that with a table of experts sitting there. That leaves only the betting, and then it's almost like watching your friends try and get the high score on a video game. You can taunt all you want, but if they ignore you, there's nothing you can do.

That said, who's up for Celebrity Spades Showdown? World Series of Rummy?

DrBear · « **Reply #20 on:** January 18, 2004, 04:44:49 PM »

Admittedly - and I'm still not sold on the idea of this show - the strategy in a tournament is a bit different. You're trying to beat others at the table and advance to the next round or win the final round, so you do some things that you wouldn't do at a normal blackjack table - split 10s, for example, which may be a bad move in the long run but could help you in a close decision in the short term.

Clay Zambo · « **Reply #21 on:** January 18, 2004, 05:15:14 PM »

How 'bout The All-New $10,000,000 Go Fish?

jalman · « **Reply #22 on:** January 18, 2004, 07:08:58 PM »

World Championship Hearts?

National Solitaraire Championships?

Crazy Eights Cup?

Brakus · « **Reply #23 on:** January 18, 2004, 11:23:26 PM »

Quote

Unless you're using Real People, or celebrities who don't know/care about basic strategy, you're not going to see much (if any) deviation from that with a table of experts sitting there. That leaves only the betting, and then it's almost like watching your friends try and get the high score on a video game. You can taunt all you want, but if they ignore you, there's nothing you can do.

There's one thing we don't know yet - if they're going to use real people or use celebrities for this thing. I wouldn't think this tournament would be of the same caliber as the year-long Million Dollar Blackjack tournament at the Las Vegas Hilton. Like I said, we'll all find out soon enough. It's just sad that all you all are crapping on this concept without having seen any sort of preview for it.

Quote

That said, who's up for Celebrity Spades Showdown? World Series of Rummy?

Oh good grief. You just cued all the other regular smart-asses to chime in with their comments.

What works for poker might not work for blackjack -- but then again, it might. We don't know yet, and it pains me that all you all are jumping down GSN's throat about doing blackjack on TV without knowing what the show will be like or what kind of format it will be in.

Everyone here is like "Eww, why blackjack? That's a boring game! Not as exciting as poker! And hey, let's make fun of other card games that would be silly concepts for TV shows, like blackjack!" I thought we left all that immaturity back on ATGS. Too bad some things never change.

I'm willing to keep an open mind about this, and when I see it, I'll decide for myself. Would that you all be as respectful about that as I am when someone else defends whatever other game show they like to watch.

clemon79 · « **Reply #24 on:** January 18, 2004, 11:53:42 PM »

[quote name=\'Brakus\' date=\'Jan 18 2004, 09:23 PM\'] Would that you all be as respectful about that as I am when someone else defends whatever other game show they like to watch. [/quote]
Jeremy, your Wrestling Defense System seems to be running a little haywire. Time to get that checked out, pal.

I have yet to hear anyone "forbidding" anyone else from watching this blackjack show, nor have I heard anyone suggest that anyone else on this board was less of a person if they chose to do so. The only negative comments I have heard suggest that they think the show is going to be boring and that they may or may not watch it as a result.

To take that as a personal affront is going a wee bit too far.

I'll watch at least once. I don't have high hopes, but I would be doing myself a disservice if I didn't at least see if I was right.

goongas · « **Reply #25 on:** January 19, 2004, 01:08:28 AM »

If you play basic strategy in a blackjack tournament the whole way, you will lose. You have to do things like splitting 10s, double downing when you can bust, etc. While I don't think it will be as interesting as poker, tournament blackjack, if done right, could be somewhat interesting, as some of the plays will be dramatic and counter basic strategy.

gameshowguy2000 · « **Reply #26 on:** January 19, 2004, 01:19:10 AM »

[quote name=\'goongas\' date=\'Jan 19 2004, 12:08 AM\'] If you play basic strategy in a blackjack tournament the whole way, you will lose. You have to do things like splitting 10s, double downing when you can bust, etc. While I don't think it will be as interesting as poker, tournament blackjack, if done right, could be somewhat interesting, as some of the plays will be dramatic and counter basic strategy. [/quote]
Uh, I don't get how you can bust when doubling down. When you double down, you only get ONE additional card.

After getting that one additional card, you have to hope that the dealer either busts, or has a hand lower than yours. It's not rocket science.

clemon79 · « **Reply #27 on:** January 19, 2004, 02:02:31 AM »

[quote name=\'gameshowguy2000\' date=\'Jan 18 2004, 11:19 PM\'] Uh, I don't get how you can bust when doubling down. When you double down, you only get ONE additional card.
[/quote]
Okay, Mr. Vegas:

Ler's say - and this is just a hypothetical situation, mind you, I don't want to overtax your brain by citing actual tournament situations - you elect to double when your hand is a hard 12 or larger. (I'm sure you're aware - being the blackjack genius you are - that many Vegas casinos do not limit your ability to double down to a count of 9, 10, or 11, but rather allow you to double on any two cards.) The dealer gives you your one single card, and it is a picture card. Please to be answering the following questions:

1) What is the numerical value of a picture card in the game of blackjack?

2) When that value is added to the hard 12 that this hypothetical hand was at when you doubled, what would that bring your hand to?

3) Would that total be considered "busting" in blackjack lingo?

You might want to use small words when you answer that third one. After all, some of us might have a hard time understanding your great wisdom when it comes to gambling parlance, and I want to be sure that I understood what you said when you explained it to me the first time.

(Let me know if you need help with the concept of "hard 12.")

JVatPSU · « **Reply #28 on:** January 19, 2004, 09:43:45 AM »

4 Words:

World Series of Craps starring Christopher Walken played by Kevin Pollack.

Just think... Kevin Pollack's explanation of the game would take an entire segment! :-)

-- JV
(the expert is some 74-year old guy from Hoboken whose drinking a Canadian Club and smoking a moneymaker (no pun to the 2003 WSOP champion) and swears that he doesn't know John Gotti personally).

Matt Ottinger · « **Reply #29 on:** January 19, 2004, 10:48:37 AM »

[quote name=\'Brakus\' date=\'Jan 19 2004, 12:23 AM\'] Everyone here is like "Eww, why blackjack? That's a boring game! Not as exciting as poker! And hey, let's make fun of other card games that would be silly concepts for TV shows, like blackjack!" I thought we left all that immaturity back on ATGS. Too bad some things never change. [/quote]
If you don't like it here, you're welcome to go back to Usenet. In the meantime, please watch your choice of words on THIS forum, which is privately run (your post has been edited for content).

Also keep in mind that when "everybody" disagrees with you, it's not a collective effort to persecute you and it's not that the entire world is close-minded. It might just be that you're wrong.