Max Rubin - "The Undisputed Overweight Comp Champion of the World" –introduced a new Blackjack format a decade ago and since then, the game has caught up with Blackjack players across the world. As Max puts it, the winner will receive a trophy – ‘The Blackjack Cup’ - and the title of ‘The World’s Greatest Blackjack Player’. Max Rubin hosts the tournament himself and has succeeded in gaining recognition for this unique Blackjack format.
Every year, Max Rubin throws a "Blackjack Ball", inviting Blackjack players from all over the world to pit their skills against each other and come out on top. The ‘ball’ is organized in a secret location in Nevada, where numerous card counters are introduced to a single elite community. The players can meet up with other renowned gamers, socialize with them, learn new strategies and compete like pros to win the coveted trophy. Additionally, these players can be the channel for the introduction of new members in to the Blackjack Hall of Fame.
The tournament is absolutely atypical, evidenced from the fact that entry to the Ball is based on an invitation. The invitation-only event will bring together top Blackjack players from all over the world to experience a whole new format of Blackjack gaming. The variation is essentially in the way the tournament is organized and not in the basic strategy of playing the game. As a player, you would still have to make the 21 to triumph and take home the cup.
Eccentricity is at its best in the Blackjack Ball Tournament. Each invitee needs to get a bottle of chilled premium champagne. The champagne will act as a pass to file into the community room. Without the champagne, there is very little chance that you would get past the security guards at the door, unless you decide to get dirty.
Unlike other popular Blackjack tournaments, there are no long lectures on how to play the game and what the rules are. Strangely enough, Max has found a way to surprise his guests. He reads out a reprint of an article that was written by him for the Casino Player Magazine regarding the 2000 event. Quite an interesting way to get started!
The game is not the only thing on the menu. You would be treated to some lovely dinner, interesting stories and the champagne brought by your co-participants. Post the entertainment, the real game starts. The Blackjack Ball includes a blackjack skills tournament, wherein the winning player, as discussed earlier, receives the Blackjack Cup and the title of World's Greatest Blackjack Player. The grad finale will conclude with the election of a new inductee for the Blackjack Hall of Fame.
The last tournament’s inductees were Lawrence Revere, the author of ‘playing blackjack as a Business’, and Julian Braun, the pioneer of basic strategy/card counting. If you wish to enter into the hall of fame, you know exactly what to do!
Andrew Sanders - Managing Editor